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A guest staying at an Airbnb was surprised to find strict rules upon arriving, including restrictions on cooking with certain ingredients and guidelines for cleaning up blood.
Mia Clark and her spouse, Ralph, who have requested to remain anonymous, had made arrangements for a weekend trip to Rome. They reserved accommodation in the Travestere district of Italy’s capital city.
She informed The Independent that the lodging was “a charming and beautifully designed space.” It was not just a vacation rental, but rather someone’s actual home, which Ms. Clark believes is more sustainable for the local community.
Although the couple is used to encountering unusual rules, they were still taken aback by the terms and conditions of their Italian Airbnb listing. They have grown accustomed to quirky rules while traveling frequently, but this particular listing caught them off guard.
Ms. Clark expressed surprise upon reading the house rules, which stated that the use of garlic, curry, and other spices for frying and cooking was not allowed due to the lingering smell that can last for days.
While we make an effort to follow the guidelines of someone else’s home, it seems excessive to dictate to guests what they are allowed to cook. This is particularly true if the rental property includes a fully functional kitchen.
The limitations on food options were not the only thing that interested the travelers.
Additionally, Ms. Clark stated that there is another rule which outlines detailed instructions for cleaning in case of blood spillage.
I am curious about the previous guests who may have stayed at the apartment before us.
The duo found the situation to be quite humorous and expressed interest in returning for a brief visit. However, they acknowledged that the regulations regarding food preparation may have been burdensome had they stayed for a longer period of time.
An Airbnb representative informed The Independent that the company facilitates hosts in communicating their guidelines to guests for a seamless experience. Any specific requests or cultural practices can also be included as additional rules. It is hoped that there were no incidents while cooking during this Italian trip and that the guests followed the host’s suggestion to dine at a wonderful local restaurant.
The topic of cooking regulations has been debated on Airhosts Forum, a webpage that labels itself as “devoted to linking hosts with one another”.
A user stated that they do not have a rule against cooking “smelly” food. Does this imply that using garlic is not allowed? What one may consider “smelly” could be considered pleasant by another.
Someone else commented: “I can’t stand the scent of cooked broccoli, but others may have a different opinion. And why is the aroma of curry considered a problem?”
Unusual regulations surrounding the rental of a personal room or residence through platforms such as Airbnb have been a topic of interest in the past.
In May, a Reddit user shared a story about a restrictive Airbnb host who only permitted guests to bring up to two suitcases and restricted their use of kitchen appliances during their stay.
An individual who hosted a vacation property – not through Airbnb – received criticism for their strict labeling of rules throughout the rental space. A guest felt that this took away from the vacation experience.
Becky Levin Navarro posed the question on TikTok: Is there a limit to the number of rules that can be shown? The video has garnered over five million views.
Source: independent.co.uk