What happens if a guest damages your short-term rental and they booked through Booking.com? Good news: they now offer host protection. But it’s not as great as it sounds...

In this episode, we break down the truth behind Booking.com’s new damage policy, what’s covered, and why you still might want to stick with deposits.

5 Key Takeaways:

• The Damage Policy Breakdown: Booking.com now offers a host damage protection program, but it’s filled with fine print and limitations.

• Deposits vs. Damage Program: Learn why collecting a deposit might offer stronger protection than relying on Booking.com’s mediation process.

• The Shocking Fine Print: Discover what’s not covered—like extra cleaning, pet damage, smoking, or even rule violations.

• How to Set It Up (Step-by-Step): A walkthrough on how to activate the damage policy within the Booking.com extranet settings.

• Our Recommendation After 50,000 Guests: Hear why Tim and his expert team still favor deposits and what evidence you can’t use in a damage claim.

This episode is a must-listen for any host using, or considering, Booking.com. Knowing how to protect your rental can save you thousands and major headaches.

Resource Links:
Check out our videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShortTermRentalRiches
Grab your free management eBook: https://strriches.com/#tools-resources
Looking to earn more with your property (without the headaches)? Chat with our expert management team: https://strriches.com/management-services/

Pricing your short-term rental is no easy task—but with the right tools, you can maximize revenue and occupancy. In this episode, Tim welcomes Anurag Verma, co-founder of PriceLabs, to discuss how dynamic pricing has evolved, why data-driven decisions matter, and how hosts can optimize their strategies in an increasingly competitive market.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How PriceLabs grew from a beta tool to managing 450,000 properties worldwide

• Why pricing flexibility leads to higher earnings

• The most underutilized feature in PriceLabs that hosts should be using

• How AI and automation are shaping the future of dynamic pricing

• Actionable tips for setting the perfect base price and fine-tuning your strategy

Why Listen? Whether you’re a new host or an experienced property manager, this episode is packed with insights to help you optimize pricing, increase bookings, and stay ahead of market trends.

Resource Links:

Check out our videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShortTermRentalRiches

Grab your free management eBook: https://strriches.com/#tools-resources

Looking to earn more with your property (without the headaches)? Chat with our expert management team: https://strriches.com/management-services/

Relevant Tags: #DynamicPricing #PriceLabs #AirbnbOptimization #ShortTermRentals #RevenueManagement #VacationRentalSuccess #STRInvesting #HospitalityTech #RealEstateTools

Hosting on Airbnb is an amazing way to make passive income, but it’s not always smooth sailing. Most guests are great, but every now and then, you’ll get a guest who leaves you completely speechless. Airbnb horror stories are rare, but when they happen, they’re unforgettable. Recently, Brian Chesky, the CEO of Airbnb, shared a bizarre guest complaint—someone wanted a refund because a ghost was "harassing them." Funny enough, the Airbnb listing actually mentioned the ghost (his name was Stanley). But as wild as that sounds, I can tell you—we’ve dealt with way crazier things in our short-term rental properties.

In this episode, I’m sharing some of our craziest Airbnb guest stories, from guests checking into the wrong unit to naked people in common areas—and even a dead raccoon hidden in the walls. Whether you’re an Airbnb Superhost or just starting your STR business, these stories will give you a real look at what it’s like behind the scenes. Plus, I’ll share some Airbnb host tips to help you avoid your own guest nightmares. Let’s get into it!

• Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky’s Ghost Story—We Have Our Own!
  A guest once requested a refund because a ghost was “harassing” them, even though they booked the listing because of the ghost. They left a 3-star review a full year after their stay!

• The Naked Guest & Her Life-Size Unicorn
  One of our cameras caught a guest standing completely naked at the top of a shared staircase—with a giant unicorn prop next to her. Just another day in Airbnb hosting.

• Wrong Unit Mix-Ups Happen More Than You Think
  From guests entering occupied units to one guest knocking on every door in a gated community, Airbnb check-in issues are more common than you’d expect.

• The Worst Airbnb Smell Ever—A Dead Raccoon in the Walls
  Guests complained about a horrible smell in one of our vacation rentals. After weeks of searching, we found a rotting raccoon inside the walls. Definitely one of the worst hosting surprises ever.

• A Guest Walked in on a Couple in Their Own Bed
  A guest returned from making a cocktail on a shared terrace, only to find a couple in their bed… in the middle of the act. Turns out, the other guests had walked into the wrong unit and made themselves at home.

If you’ve been an Airbnb host, you probably have a crazy guest story of your own. And if you’re new to short-term rentals, don’t worry—these Airbnb nightmares are rare, but they do happen. The good news? With the right guest screening and Airbnb hosting strategies, you can avoid bad guests and make your STR business run much more smoothly.

Need help managing your short-term rental and you don’t want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we’ll see if we can help.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well.

You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!