At StellarStay, we love helping our guests celebrate life’s special moments—birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, or just getting the family together for the weekend. There’s nothing better than seeing people make memories in a beautiful home-away-from-home.
But here’s the thing: for all of that to go smoothly, honest communication is key—especially when it comes to how many people will actually be at the property.
We believe success in short-term rentals doesn’t come from chasing every booking. It comes from protecting the properties we’re entrusted to manage, maintaining high standards, and cultivating respectful relationships between guests, hosts, and homeowners. In fact, it’s exactly this discipline that allows us to create long-term profitability—not just for us, but for the owners who’ve trusted us with their homes.
As professional hosts, we put a lot of trust in Airbnb—not just in their platform, but also in the Support team that’s supposed to back us up when things go wrong. Unfortunately, that trust doesn’t always hold.
Recently, we experienced a situation that highlights a difficult truth: Airbnb’s conduct is not always consistent, and some of their representatives lack the training or experience needed to properly apply the platform’s own policies.
At StellarStay, we’re passionate about creating amazing experiences for our guests, and we truly enjoy going the extra mile whenever we can. We love seeing families and friends come together, and we know that plans sometimes shift. However, there are moments when we have to gently say “no”—not because we want to, but because we’re bound by platform policies and the responsibility we carry as stewards of someone’s home.
When you walk into your Airbnb, there’s nothing quite like that fresh, clean feeling—beds made, floors shining, and everything in its place. Cleanliness matters. A lot. And trust us—your host cares just as much as you do. But sometimes, nature, weather, or regional quirks play a little role in how things look or feel. So let’s talk about how to keep your review fair, thoughtful, and helpful for everyone.
Leaving a review after your stay is one of the most helpful things you can do — both for fellow travelers and for the hosts who put their heart into creating memorable experiences. But when it comes to Airbnb’s Accuracy category, many guests aren’t quite sure what they’re really being asked to rate.
Booking a vacation rental on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO can be exciting—you’re one step closer to your getaway! But we’ve seen time and time again how a little oversight at the booking stage can lead to big frustration later. Whether it’s confusion over the cancellation policy, surprise fees, or unexpected house rules, these issues often stem from skipping the fine print.
At StellarStay™, we want your travel experience to be smooth from start to finish. So here’s a friendly guide to help you avoid common pitfalls and book with confidence:
When it comes to leaving a review after your Airbnb stay, every star counts. Your feedback not only helps future travelers, but also directly affects the host’s standing on the platform. While most of the rating categories are pretty straightforward, one often causes confusion: Location.
We take great pride in providing our guests with luxurious and comfortable retreats across various locations in multiple states, all while maintaining respectful relationships with the local communities. Unfortunately, a recent experience at one of these properties, The Stilt House, has underscored the vital importance of adhering to house rules, local laws, and rental platform policies.
Recently, one of our guests, Stephen, faced a challenging situation. Due to severe weather, his flight was canceled, preventing him from reaching The Park House. Unfortunately, Airbnb determined that Stephen’s situation did not qualify for their Major Disruptive Events policy, which can sometimes provide compensation for extraordinary circumstances. Stephen also didn’t have travel insurance to cover his unexpected expenses and, despite our offer to cancel his reservation as soon as possible so we could try to rebook the dates, he chose to keep the booking active. Since his reservation wasn’t canceled, it was considered a standard booking, and we received the full payment as usual, even though Stephen never made it to the property.
