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A guest staying at an Airbnb was surprised to find strict regulations regarding cooking with certain ingredients and cleaning up blood while reading the rental property’s rules after checking in.
Mia Clark and her spouse, Ralph, have requested to use pseudonyms. They had arranged a weekend trip to Rome and reserved accommodations in the Travestere area of the city.
According to The Independent, the lodging was described as “a charming and tastefully adorned space”. It was not just a vacation rental, but an actual residence, something that Ms. Clark believes is better for supporting the local community.
The couple, who are used to encountering unusual rules during their travels, were not bothered by the odd rules at their Airbnb listing in Italy. However, upon arrival, they were taken aback by the unexpected terms and conditions.
The detailed ‘additional rules’ for this Roman home
Ms. Clark expressed surprise after carefully reading the house rules which stated that cooking with garlic, curry, and other spices is not allowed due to the lingering smell that can last for days.
“We make an effort to follow the rules of someone else’s home, but is it not excessive to dictate to guests what they are allowed to cook? This is particularly concerning if the rental includes a fully functional kitchen.”
The travelers were not only drawn to the dietary limitations.
Furthermore, Ms Clark mentioned that there were additional guidelines for cleaning in case of blood spillage.
I can only imagine what types of visitors had previously occupied the apartment.
The duo found the situation amusing and stated they would return for a brief visit. However, they acknowledged that the rules regarding food preparation may have been inconvenient if their stay was longer.
A representative from Airbnb stated to The Independent: “We have simplified the process for hosts to communicate their guidelines to guests, ensuring that they are aware of what to anticipate. Any unique requests or cultural norms can also be added as supplementary rules. We hope that no accidents occurred during this Italian journey and we trust that the guests followed the host’s suggestion for a wonderful nearby restaurant.”
The topic of cooking regulations has been conversed on Airhosts Forum, a webpage that defines its purpose as “devoted to linking hosts with fellow hosts”.
A user expressed that they do not have a rule against cooking food with strong odors. Does this imply that using garlic is not allowed? What may be considered “smelly” to you could be pleasant to me.
One person stated, “I cannot tolerate the scent of cooked broccoli, but other hosts may have a different opinion. And what’s the issue with the aroma of curry?”
Unusual regulations surrounding the rental of private accommodations on platforms such as Airbnb have been brought to the forefront in previous instances.
In May, a Reddit user shared a post about an Airbnb host who had strict rules on the number of suitcases and use of kitchen appliances for guests during their stay, deemed as “crazy.”
However, a host of a vacation rental property, not listed on Airbnb, received criticism for their strict labeling of rules throughout the rental, causing a guest to feel as though they were not truly on vacation.
Becky Levin Navarro posted a TikTok video that has been watched over five million times, questioning if there is a limit to the number of rules that can be shown.
Source: independent.co.uk
