Out of curiosity, how does paying with Apple Pay circumvent this issue? I’m 6 months into a year-long nomading trip and would love to avoid a similar fate as OP.

And is Apple Pay alone sufficient to solve the issue, or is it the combo of debit card AND Apple Pay?

Never use a debit card outside of your home country (or really for any purchase). Credit cards have far stronger consumer protections and don't provide direct access to your bank account.

I charged back on debit cards quite often. Outside and inside my home country. But agreed; use credit normally; less hassle. I would’ve not paid these things like OP has and charge it back; let them come after me (they won’t anyway).

My understanding is that Apple Pay just gives permission to pay the presented bill. Unlike adding a Credit Card which they can charge without notice. The trick I am using is Gift Cards. I've been in a 1.5 year-long nomading trip so far and paying with Gift cards only.

> The only problem is there is no sensible replacement available for it.

Hotels? They are already a regulated entity in most parts of the world for good reason.

Yep. Airbnb's heyday was 2010-2014.

There are too many money-grubbing, anti-social, weirdo hosts who don't clean the linen. In a hotel, at least you have recourse and can switch rooms.

Honestly that early to mid 2010 period was a great time to use VC funded services. They all pretty much ended up going south once they had to make money for real.

For 2-5 days, sure. But for 1+ month, it's way more expensive than what AirBnB proposes. If you are digitally nomading around the world, there are little options left.

Maybe talk to locals? Look at local ads. Maybe it is a good thing in a way. Would make travelling more esoteric and less like ordering a latte

That's what I do. I start the relation with AirBnB then hit a deal with them later. You can do the "talk" but you are shopping around and AirBnB allows you to be very efficient at that.

Probably depends where but everywhere I have been, just walking into a small hotel and doing a deal with the owner was almost always cheaper than any airbnb around given similar quality/size (and includes breakfast usually and of course cleaning daily; in Thailand they even threw in laundry once a week).

And yes, indeed talk with locals if no hotels: I stayed for cheap/free for months with locals who were just lonely.

FYI long term hotels are a thing. I've encountered them in most areas I've visited. There is one near me that charges $190/week. Some don't offer housekeeping, etc, however they are quite common. The one near me includes all utilities except any type of TV, and does not include housekeeping.

My first home away from home was a long term hotel FYI. They are definitely common, they just tend to fly under the radar, especially since many allow pets and possibly smoking depending on the area.

Not for larger families, if you have a family of 4 or 5 than you'll need two rooms which will double the price.

Yes, the host owns the asset that is monetized. They are more important to keep happy than a guest, because the host controls an (often) million dollar bit of capital.

It sucks as a guest, the only solution is to either accept that you are just a magstripe or to stay in a hotel.

Long stays are difficult but I recommend furnishedfinders.con as an alternative.

There are plenty of alternatives to AirBnB. Even booking.com has single apartments from individual owners who set their own rates. Last vacation I took (skiing in France) they were cheaper than AirBnB.

There is also https://fairbnb.coop/ and independent vacation rental websites.

Friends booked a house through booking, the house was not what promised, they complained to Booking that forwarded the complaint to the owners saying they can't be involved.