An Airbnb guest was shocked to find nearly 'every surface' of the home covered in rules: 'It almost felt like it wasn't a vacation'

14.08.2023 - 18:43 / insider.com / An Airbnb

Over the past year, Airbnbs have become synonymous with tedious check-out chores and sometimes, strict rules. It's a qualm that's pushed some travelers to reconsider using the short-term rental platform altogether — and one woman's viral TikTok video has exemplified some guests' frustrations.

In the video, TikToker Becky Levin Navarro walks viewers through her rental property in Wimberley, Texas, pointing out several items that have been marked with laminated signs. The signs, which are taped to beds, cabinets, countertops, decorations, and other surfaces, warn guests against touching or moving them.

One of the signs in the video fixed to a cabinet says the hutch is antique and fragile, and asks that no one touches it or pulls on its knobs. Another sign says one of the home's decorations is "10,000 years old, and will break" if anyone looks at it "the wrong way."

The video, posted on June 27, has more than 5.3 million views.

"The rules displayed all over the house just killed me," Navarro wrote. "It seemed like every room and every surface had a note. It almost felt like it wasn't a vacation with so. Many. Rules."

The video struck a nerve as baffled viewers flooded the comments. Some TikToker users said that the breakable items shouldn't be in a rental home, while others said the property seemed more like a museum than a place to vacation. Navarro did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

While Navarro didn't identify the specific Airbnb or VRBO she was renting, it appears to be a rental property from Hill Country Premier Lodging, a vacation-rental management company based in Texas. The company also did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

Photos on the property's website — as well as its listings on VRBO and Airbnb — show the signs that Navarro pointed out in her video. The listing also states that the home, nicknamed the Rio de los Suenos, is equipped with a drawer microwave, which Navarro points out in her video.

When asked for comment, a representative for Airbnb directed Insider to their guidelines for setting house rules, which are meant to help protect hosts. House rules typically include those around pets, events, smoking, and other regulations, but hosts are able to write their own specific requests, as well.

"If you have special requirements that aren't included in the set of standard house rules, you can write them under additional rules," the site states. "It's best to avoid overwhelming guests with too many rules, but you can add anything important about local customs or health and safety."

Almost all of the reviews across the property's listings are overwhelmingly positive, but Navarro doesn't appear to be the first person who noticed the signs and labels.

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