Off the Grid – with Air BNB

Here I go again…this time Virginia for wandering Shenandoah National Park. When you are 600 miles away how else do you find someplace to stay? TripAdvisor? Nah, they cater to the hotel business. I want some place quite, no on the highway, with kitchen facilities. Oh yeah, need to be pet friendly ’cause Sparky is most likely coming along.

So this time I found a place ‘off the grid’ meaning no electricity. What was most interesting to me was a composting toilet. There is a generator to supply electricity for lights and AC. Location has postal address of Elkton but it is just across the river from the village of Shenandoah.

I looked at lodging in the NP but as is typical it gets pretty pricing even before adding in the daily extra cost for a dog. Choices were rooms in the lodge (no cooking facility) or a limited cabin options only at Lewis Mt. (On a side note that campground was originally set up for ‘Negroes’back when facilities had to be separated by race.) Cabins have electricity but cooking options are outside grill.

So the little one room off the grid cabin is a relatively new structure out past the corn fields and pastures. I was puzzled by the house site having an electric type fence around it with a sign ‘Keep the gate closed at all times’. What marauding critters were we likely to encounter? Driving down the two track I didn’t see any horses or cattle. I noted I crossed a cattle guard on the first section of driveway. My quandary was which side of the fence to park the car – safe inside the perimeter or leave it outside the gate. First night I secured it inside.

The dog needs walking around after the long ride. This place touts a river view so I look. Clearly I’m on high ground but where’s the river? There is a sign affixed to the fence ‘River trail left’; it points it point to the wooded cliff edge! I don’t see any path, leave it for later. Time to work the door code and go inside. Yes, a small room, there is the composting toilet, a double bed and a futon blocking the French doors and the side view. I find the generator instructions so get electricity as I need the fridge and soon will need lights. Never started a generator but it was straightforward; then had to switch the circuit breaker. Unpacked, filled the fridge, dinner time. My but that generator is loud.

The composting toilet works on a very simple basis. Urine runs into a bottle of sorts. For solid waste and toilet paper a lever opens the hole to the pit. After deposit crank the handle to mix compost material. Make sure you don’t urinate too much overfilling that bottle – extra cleaning charge incurred! I dutifully looked at the bottle after each use. Should it get full you can unlatch it and dump in the woods, per the instructions.

Exploring Shenandoah NP covered under travel section. Let me dwell longer on this cabin.

Renting any rooms can always be a surprise. Pictures will be dated, facilities older and dirty. Risk of noisy neighbors in hotels. Bedbugs anywhere. What bothers me about Air BNB is over-the-top descriptions, reviews all too high so assume they are filtered, and off site property managers running a few locations, although they don’t even seem to live close by. Initially I had the impression Air BNB was a way people could garner some income from unused rooms and facilities, vacation homes. Now it consists of places purchased or constructed for investment income. And then there is the pricing: a hotel has one fee, extra pet fee and those visitor taxes that have to be paid. Air BNB posts add on cleaning fees, service fees, administrative fees, and of course pet fees. Often a place with a higher daily rate will turn out to be the cheaper option. And Air BNB really promotes accommodating a bigger group of people; of course if we have a gang going it makes the per person rate cheaper. Puts me at a disadvantage; I put significantly less wear, tear, use on a property. Plus I’m just a really good, conscientious renter.

Okay here are the problems encountered: generator really annoying, having to switch circuit breaker and turn generator on and off. No way could I sleep with that racket! I did have a head lamp and flashlight along but needed a battery camp lamp. The fridge didn’t keep cool especially as the generator was turned off when I left (weren’t supposed to let it run over 10 hours) Had to use ice in my coolers. Walking the dog around the immediate area found toilet paper and compost dumped on the property. UGH! Futons are very uncomfortable to sit on; no chair in the place. Furry pillows and area rugs – so unsanitary especially in pandemic times. And where the heck was I supposed to put my clothes?! Only hooks were at the shower. No closet, luggage rack, clothes tree.

I haven’t left a review yet. Am I just to picky? Suspect most people with a review and just don’t bother as they won’t stay there again. I don’t want to leave a really awful review but clearly there are deficiencies on this place. As the place is 75 miles from D.C. I expect that’s where most people come from. Guess big city folk find it cute, romantic, a nice diversion for a weekend. I was there 4 nights and no looking for a romantic getaway.

In conclusion I will just have to contend myself with paying more. While driving around I did once again check private cabins, motels. Prices were comparable and most have small fridge, microwave and coffee maker. And a better location. But they are not on Air BNB, not on TripAdvisor/VRBO.

Oh yeah the fencing is to keep cows out. Never saw any. Would have been helpful to know, and then keep your car safe.

Shelley’s Garden Room Boston – Another Unforgettable Airbnb Experience

Coming back from the Azores, landing at Boston’s Logan Airport after 9 pm. No flight out until the next day. So in anticipation of this dilemma I found a place to spend the night prior to my trip. Hotels were pretty full (had no idea it was the time of the Marathon) and big city expensive. Best I could do was a room fairly close to the airport according to the map: Lance and Shelley’s Garden Room on Saratoga Street, East Boston, $88. The photos look fine, but they always do. Try to determine what the host is NOT showing you in the photos.

So I arrive, get thru customs as once again Global Entry proves it’s worth. Baggage is a long wait; why is my small bag always the last one on the conveyor belt? While I did change my outgoing flight back on Sept 29th as I came thru the airport, when I was overseas I received an updated schedule from Delta showing 2 Boston to Detroit flights. I was unable to send a message, didn’t have international cell calling so knew as I had an overnight anyway I would stop at the counter when I landed.

Once again circumstances working against me. The airport shuttles were not working. I had to walk from Terminal E to A; any of the other alphabet terminals would have been much closer. The first escalator was broke had to find the elevator. Then the long trudge thru the corridors, thru the parking garage, another long corridor then a 90 degree turn down another hall to an escalator then down to ticketing. Now out to the taxi stand as the host told me to take a taxi instead of an Über. Had to wait for more taxi to be summoned and got a somewhat surly African who didn’t seem to want to load my bag in the trunk. After I gave him an address he left I presume to get directions (wouldn’t happen in an Über). Then we drove on and out onto an expressway. Nothing indicated there would be tolls along the way. Very hard to see out of my screened in cramped in back seat. Driver asked me directions after exiting xway – I have no idea. I do text my host to let them know my progress as requested.

We get to a short block of 3 narrow, tall frame houses, very dark hard to see where 389 is. I see the fare is $8.65 so I get my money out prepared to give him some tip. He tells me the fare is $11.25. How? Then he starts shouting about the toll charge and tells me to look in the cab to see toll charge, or something. Accent and mask, I’m not clear what he’s saying. I get my bill change, no coins. Fine, be gone!

So now I stand alone on the dark street of only 3 houses, and an elevated highway looming overhead. I have my sheet of late check in instructions clutched in hand. Before me stands a white vinyl picket fence, hard to distinguish the gate placement but I find it. Instructions are to unlock the gate and proceed down the passage to the rear. There is no latch mechanism on the front. I lean over the top and peer at the back using my hands trying to find a latch, a bolt, a hinge. I’m not finding anything that moves, nor does the gate. 3 young men get out of a car and one asks if I’m here for the BNB, yes I reply, but I can’t get the gate open. He comes over to help, so nice. He fumbles around and says I don’t know, can’t get it open and joins his mates off into the dark beyond. I have no recourse but to go up the front steps and ring the doorbell. Scenes from horror movies I’ve watched flit thru my weary brain.

Infamous gate. Picture this passageway unlit at night.

Up I trudge…I press the lit doorbell once, and wait, and wait. Dare I press again? Finally the door opens and there appears a pale white face with a big grin and says: “Oh, you didn’t read the instructions!” I saw this scene in a movie, I’m sure, so have I left reality?

Not what I expected to be greeted with. I replied that the gate won’t open. She, Shelley I presume, flits lightly down the stairs over to the gate. First she pushes it, then she kicks it and it opens. I hold up my instructions and say “Kicking is not in the instructions.” I concede this was probably not a helpful observation, but I DID most certainly read the instructions. Shelley says “someone closed the gate”; oh, a defective gate is a nice trick to play on unsuspecting new guests.

Down the long dark passage to the back door where Shelley says “I suppose I should put in the door lock combination too.” What a bitch. I do tell her I’m very tired, had a long flight. I go up the steps thru the open door to see the very steep, very narrow staircase looming in front of me. I have my knee brace on but stairs I take cautiously. Shelley offers to carry my suitcase but I say no, I just want her to leave.

“Don’t you want to see the bathroom” she chirps. I can’t remember how or if I responded as I cautiously went up the stairs somewhat like Igor dragging a body. At the top she gives me a quick tour in my dazed, overtired state. Into my garret room I went; Mimi in La Boheme had a palace in comparison. The window of the warm room was difficult to open; I realized it was a storm window where I needed to first coordinate holding the side clips while raising the window.

I quietly explore the upstairs. I see other rooms with beds, a large sitting area and kitchen but no other guests. Those bedrooms are bigger, have multiple beds. Bathroom nicely updated.

Had to repack my suitcase, reorder my stuff, charge the phone, check messages, use the bathroom, try to figure out how to use the Über app, then hit the bed. I messed up with Über and inadvertently ordered a car for immediate pick up, then couldn’t figure out how to cancel got charged for late cancellation, queried getting charged as I was a first time user who messed up then got a refund but felt sorry for Larry who showed up in 2 mins! Let me go to bed. tomorrow is another day.

Now that my flight didn’t leave till after lunch I had plenty of time but I chose to leave this cursed place with the brittle landlady. I had my breakfast with me, no cooking, no shower. I did meet two other guests and stayed to talk with them awhile in the kitchen. Both were there to run the marathon. One from outside Albuquerque, the other LA. Enjoyed our chat.

Quietly, as best as I could, I went down the stairs. Planned to order the car once outside as they came so quickly it would take me too long to go down the stairs without falling (don’t forget I had a suitcase). I inched my way carefully out the door and started down the stairs. I noticed a door to the main living quarters was partially open. I was outside taking a breathe of fresh air thinking I made a good escape when that big round white grinning face poked out thru the door opening!

“How about a free ride to the airport?'”

I stopped midstep and said with a smile, “Well that would be nice.”

I’ll give you one if you apologize for being rude. We all want good reviews, don’t we?”

“I’ll take an Über” was my reply and I left.

In the daylight as I waited in front I saw what a dive this place was. There was a huge elevated highway looming over the house. Weeds protruded from the front dirt out between the picket fence. Back in my room I realized this bedroom was the enclosed former second story covered porch overlooking a garden gone to hell.

I had a lovely ride to the airport in a spanking new, clean car and no driver shouting at me. She wanted me to add my tip to the vehicle charge but I prefer to get cash and let the driver do as they pls. The flight home went well, easily caught my connection, landed home airport and called a friend. It was good to be home, one of the best aspects of travel.

The cat ran away from me when I entered the house but soon was around meowing for food (doesn’t like that new low calories stuff). I picked up Sparky-dog from the kennel. He was beyond ecstatic to see me! Gotta love dogs for that unbounded love.

My BNB host is considered a Superhost. Actually all I think that means is they rents a whole lot of rooms. In retrospect part of the problem I had is I’m a well seasoned older traveler. I’ve done the hostel bit in my youth, I share roommates on Road Scholar trips, but AirBNB falls in this internet area where you can’t trust the photos, reviews are skewed as everyone wants good review and will forgo the truth, descriptions embellished, besides which the add on fees are getting ridiculous. Can we trust anything on the internet? Not Amazon reviews, not Yelp where your review will be removed as not reflecting an actual experience because an owner complained, not ebay where the buyer rules. Will people tire of overinflated descriptions and return to hotel chains where people might be held answerable? It has all added a new complication to travel. Maybe I have to reconsider camping.

Rustic – on AirBnB

How do you define rustic? I see this term used on AirBnB rentals, generally lower priced units. I look for inexpensive, pet friendly, rural places. Don’t need a lake, but would like a nice view. Don’t need lots of amenities, but want clean and better than a tent or pop-up trailer. I require a basic kitchen as I don’t eat out and the places are go don’t have restaurants nearby.

So I’ve had a couple of ‘rustic’ rentals via AirBnB. Let me tell you what I’ve found. These are places built before lots of electrical needs and very basic plumbing. This means lots of electrical strips, potentially overloaded outlets, and add on make do showers. The last was more like what I picture a hinting cabin for the boys than a $97/nite cabin. They’re usually one large room with alcoves for bedroom and bath. The shower often a strange configuration without light, raised above the floor for the drain and plumbing. You might get mice, evidenced by the little turds and scrambling at nite (yeah, it kept the dog up at nite). Septic gases seep up when a sink full of water drains – that was not the broccoli I ate and I can’t blame the dog who is in bed). Rustic means an aged, poorly remodeled cabin they’re trying to put a nice spin on.

Didn’t there used to be a time when AirBnB claimed they visited the rentals to check on them? Sure that has long passed mainly due to the overwhelming number of rentals they have.

Something else you should know about AirBnB. If you click on a specific rental too often the price will go up. I question the host about this as I saw the price change from $92 to $99 nightly. Host told me he understood it to be a result of decreasing availability upping the price. However I shifted my dates by one day and got $97 rate. Still rip off. Isn’t that illegal to change the price like that?

Puzzling are the reviews, people who do not comment on the wacko bathroom faucet where the handles turn in different directions, scalding hot water and no plug in the sink to fill with temperate water. The nylon dish towel that is impossible to dry with. Big screen TV on top of full size refrigerator impossible to watch, tiny low toilet, sticky painted concrete floors. I’ve always suspected people in general prefer to leave a nice review as opposed to an honest one (unlike Amazon where most are fake).

Here is a tip: search for rentals in general, outside of AirBnB. I was lazy about getting a booking and availability was scare, and Upper Peninsula pricing high. So while on my trip I had a list of those other rentals and checked them out. Very useful! Most require cash payment but that’s no problem. And they don’t tack on cleaning dees, administration fees, service fees that really raise the price on AirBnB. Yet these places are fully booked!

So now you know. Enlarge those photos and think about he views they’re not showing you. Also take a look at the area on Google Earth, check out the place, street, area.

Air BNB

I don’t have experience with this entity. Several years back I booked a flat in Treviso through what was then HomeAway – a French outfit. Now owned by VRBO (actual homes owned by owner). The Treviso rental was lovely- not a flat I’d chose to live in long term, but well suited for a short stay. Gelato across the street, bakery just a few doors done. But that early morning street cleaning noise nearly did me in!

So now I’m trying to learn the ins and outs of Air BNB. Early February had a rental in northern Michigan just to finally get away after so many pandemic cancelled trips. Did winter hiking which was so fabulous I didn’t care that it was 9 degrees! The rental was very nicely decorated and comfy but finding it was a problem. Had the address but it was down a dirt road and there was no address posted at the drive on on the house (there was a second house further down which clearly wasn’t the rental). If you are renting a property rule one is make the address visible. And the photo on the website showed the more attractive back of the house, not the front facing the drive.

Next problem, property descriptions are lyrical. Focus on all the features. Nothing alerts you as to how close it is to a main road. Fortunately it was winter because in summer the traffic noise would make the deck unpleasant. Also car lights from that road hit my bedroom window. You know people up north Michigan apparently head out for work very early.

Would I stay there again – only in winter. Oh and the bathroom sink faucet broke off! Yes, the handle had clearly been glued on. How does one break a faucet handle? It is at the back of the sink. Don’t want to think about that too much. However he kitchen was very well outfitted with pans, pots, wide range of utensils, etc.

Now to my current quest. Be aware of the game property owners play with the fee schedule. Once upon a time there was just a rental price. Maybe taxes differed in some locations. Now there is a list of fees and they vary widely. Service fee, administrative fee, taxes, cleaning fee (even before the pandemic). So you really have to get that breakdown since a property that posts a higher per day rate may actually turn out cheaper. That’s dishonest. If it is one or two people going those tacked on fees make a real difference. Effectively they discourage singles or couples and encourage a big group of people to rent.

So once again I’m heading to northern Michigan, this time Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Oh yes, let me complicate the picture on that I’m going with my dog. (Some do not charge extra; a place I was interested in charges $20/day for dog. Strike that one.)

Well I found one that seems suitable with decent looking accommodations, just south of Sleeping Bear. I know that area well having camped there often. The preliminary map shows the property south of the Platte River; sounds good. You only receive an exact location after you pay. I booked it (went through something akin to applying for Global Entry with Homeland Security to verify my identity for Air BNB). Then I received the location along with different photos than what was shown on the posting, and exact location. It may be on the river but is right on highway 31! And the photo is an ugly winter photo of a tacky looking big garage and some type of housing with plastic over the porch. Huh?

Now let me cover the cancellation policy. Free Cancellation! If you cancel before a specified date this free deal is 50% refund and administrative fee. So exactly what is free about the cancellation.

I messaged the property owner questioning how the accommodation I booked relates to the ugly photo. Can’t really cancel without being penalized. It is dishonest for hosts not to disclose their proximity to a major road.