Travellers share their horror stories of ‘vile’ holiday rentals
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Staying in a cosy holiday rental can be the perfect way to spend a well-deserved and much-needed break.
Cheap. Comfortable. Stylish. At least, that's how it's sold in the ads.
However, some holidaymakers have been left sorely disappointed—and sometimes downright disgusted—after discovering that what's promised in the advertisements isn't always what you’ll arrive to on check-in.
We here at the SDC have been looking at some of the traveller horror stories shared on social media, and the results are sure enough to make your toes curl.

One Airbnb guest was shocked to enter a room that certainly wasn't on the listing; instead, they found what can only be described as an X-rated dungeon.
'Kind of odd,' they mused.

Another traveller shared a photo of their 'disgusting' Airbnb, remarking that the whole place was 'filthy', the food in the refrigerator was in no way appetising, and every crevice of the mattress was 'full of dirt, crumbs, and hair'.
Meanwhile, one unlucky holidaymaker was left surprised when the room they reserved had convenient CCTV monitoring points set up. Nothing to fear, however, as it turned out that it was apparently a prank set up by the previous tenants.
In other cases, travellers complained that what they found didn't even closely resemble anything like the Airbnb they'd reserved.
Even more, some devious Airbnb hosts pounced on the opportunity to increase their rates after learning their guests were from out of town, with one traveller revealing the extra charges they were lumped with.
Meanwhile, some were left gawking at the bizarre designs of their holiday villas. One found a 'decorative plaque' in their bathroom that 'jokes about the despair of having no toilet paper—but there was indeed none stocked'.

Other guests were shocked to find a bizarre kitchen layout (complete with an oven that couldn't possibly be opened due to the kitchen counter blocking) and even a suspicious wall feature that left them asking: 'Is it a joke?!'.
By far, the worst offenders were those whose holiday villas offered a completely unexpected sight: a hot tub that now only reeked of something foul but also had a thick layer of mould visibly growing inside. (Sorry for the mental image, folks.)
If you're looking to book an Airbnb for your next holiday, then make sure to take extra precautions and vigilance. Read reviews thoroughly. Compare different price quotes, and inspect the photos closely.
As some of these examples show, not all holiday rentals offer the same quality or service, so make sure you use these unfortunate experiences to your advantage and have a holiday you won't soon forget—in a good way, of course!
What are your thoughts, members? Have you experienced anything similar to these cases? How did you deal with it? Share them with us in the comments below!
Cheap. Comfortable. Stylish. At least, that's how it's sold in the ads.
However, some holidaymakers have been left sorely disappointed—and sometimes downright disgusted—after discovering that what's promised in the advertisements isn't always what you’ll arrive to on check-in.
We here at the SDC have been looking at some of the traveller horror stories shared on social media, and the results are sure enough to make your toes curl.

On social media, travellers shared the most ‘disgusting’ holiday rentals they've ever seen. Credit: TikTok/kerbirae.
One Airbnb guest was shocked to enter a room that certainly wasn't on the listing; instead, they found what can only be described as an X-rated dungeon.
'Kind of odd,' they mused.

Another traveler posted a photo of their 'disgusting' Airbnb, describing it as 'filthy', with unappetizing food in the fridge, and a mattress riddled with 'dirt, crumbs, and hair' in every crevice. Credit: Reddit.
Another traveller shared a photo of their 'disgusting' Airbnb, remarking that the whole place was 'filthy', the food in the refrigerator was in no way appetising, and every crevice of the mattress was 'full of dirt, crumbs, and hair'.
Meanwhile, one unlucky holidaymaker was left surprised when the room they reserved had convenient CCTV monitoring points set up. Nothing to fear, however, as it turned out that it was apparently a prank set up by the previous tenants.
In other cases, travellers complained that what they found didn't even closely resemble anything like the Airbnb they'd reserved.
Even more, some devious Airbnb hosts pounced on the opportunity to increase their rates after learning their guests were from out of town, with one traveller revealing the extra charges they were lumped with.
Meanwhile, some were left gawking at the bizarre designs of their holiday villas. One found a 'decorative plaque' in their bathroom that 'jokes about the despair of having no toilet paper—but there was indeed none stocked'.

When they arrived, a traveller discovered their room was ‘filthy’ and 'full of dirt, crumbs, and hair'. Credit: Reddit.
Other guests were shocked to find a bizarre kitchen layout (complete with an oven that couldn't possibly be opened due to the kitchen counter blocking) and even a suspicious wall feature that left them asking: 'Is it a joke?!'.
By far, the worst offenders were those whose holiday villas offered a completely unexpected sight: a hot tub that now only reeked of something foul but also had a thick layer of mould visibly growing inside. (Sorry for the mental image, folks.)
Key Takeaways
- Holidaymakers are sharing their worst experiences with holiday rentals, including mouldy, dirty interiors and unexpected, unpleasant surprises.
- One guest was shocked by finding an erotic dungeon in their Airbnb that was not mentioned in the rental listing.
- Another traveller found their Airbnb's hot tub unclean and unpleasant.
- The guests shared the shocking conditions of their accommodations on social media, receiving sympathetic responses from other users.
If you're looking to book an Airbnb for your next holiday, then make sure to take extra precautions and vigilance. Read reviews thoroughly. Compare different price quotes, and inspect the photos closely.
As some of these examples show, not all holiday rentals offer the same quality or service, so make sure you use these unfortunate experiences to your advantage and have a holiday you won't soon forget—in a good way, of course!
What are your thoughts, members? Have you experienced anything similar to these cases? How did you deal with it? Share them with us in the comments below!