Booking a holiday home online has now become the most common way of organizing holidays. Sea view apartments, chalets in the mountains, houses surrounded by nature: just a few clicks on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com or Abritel are enough to find accommodation anywhere in the world. But behind the convenience there are also increasingly frequent risks.
According to an OpinionWay study carried out for Airbnb, in 2024 around 6% of French people declared they had been the victim of a scam linked to tourist rentals, with an average loss of around 1,600 euros. Between false advertisements, non-compliant accommodation and deposits never returned, holidays can quickly turn into a nightmare.
Here are the 8 most frequent problems reported by travelers and what to do to avoid them.
The accommodation does not correspond to the photos
This is probably the most common case. The online images show bright and well-kept apartments, but upon arrival you find houses that are dirty, ruined or very different from those advertised. Mold, bad smells, non-working appliances, beds other than those promised or missing rooms are among the most frequent complaints.
Even seemingly minor details can make the difference: a very noisy road never mentioned in the advert, no wifi or a real distance from the sea much greater than that declared.
In these cases you need to act immediately: photograph everything, keep a copy of the original advert and immediately contact the owner or platform via written messages. Evidence is essential to obtaining a refund or alternative accommodation.
Ghost houses and false owners
One of the most widespread scams involves non-existent ads. Scammers copy photos from other sites or publish apartments that are never actually available, then request payments via bank transfer or systems external to the official platforms.
Once you receive the money, it disappears. Prices that are too low compared to average, requests for urgent payment and communications only via private chat should always raise suspicions of fraud. This is why it is important to never leave the payment system of the official platforms, which at least offer protection and assistance tools.
Deposit withheld without reason
Many travelers say they have lost part or all of their deposit due to alleged damage that was never caused. Sometimes small scratches, missing towels or problems that were already present before arrival are complained about.
To avoid disputes, it is best to document the state of the accommodation as soon as you enter and shortly before leaving the house. Photos and videos can make the difference in the event of a complaint. Preserving all conversations with the host is also essential, especially if the owner tries to change their version of events after the stay.
The hidden costs that increase the price
Many users only discover at the last moment additional costs that they had not considered: high cleaning costs, extra charges for sheets and towels, extra costs for late check-ins or energy consumption to be paid separately. The initial price shown in the ads often does not correspond to the final figure. Before booking it is therefore essential to carefully read all the conditions and check the actual total of the stay.
Sudden cancellations
It happens especially in high season: the owner cancels the reservation a few days before arrival, perhaps because he has found someone willing to pay more. For those traveling with children or who have already purchased flights and transport, the problem can become enormous.
For this reason it is better to choose platforms that provide immediate assistance and relocation to alternative facilities. Reading the cancellation conditions carefully before booking can also avoid unpleasant surprises.
Safety and hygiene issues
Not all accommodation meets adequate standards. Some travelers report insect infestations, dangerous electrical systems, faulty locks or unhygienic environments. In these cases it is no longer just about comfort, but about actual safety.
If the apartment presents concrete risks, you must document everything and contact the platform immediately. In more serious cases it is advisable to leave the accommodation immediately.
Online scams and data theft
In recent years, fake sites that perfectly imitate official platforms to steal banking data and personal information have also increased.
Victims often receive apparently authentic links via email or messages that link to cloned pages. To avoid problems it is important to always check the site address, avoid suspicious links and use protected payment systems or virtual cards.
The fake reviews
Online reviews are often decisive when choosing a holiday home, but they are not always reliable. Some owners buy positive comments or have negative ones deleted.
Just reading the overall score is not enough. It is best to check the most recent reviews, compare the photos uploaded by users and be wary of ads with overly enthusiastic comments that are all similar to each other.
How to really protect yourself
The most important rule remains one: never leave the official platforms for payments and communications. It is precisely there that most of the protections available in case of problems are concentrated.
Taking screenshots of the ads, carefully reading the conditions and documenting the state of the accommodation as soon as you arrive may seem excessive, but it is often the only way to avoid losing money and ruining your holidays.
