Vacationing in an expensive location

[LibraryLady]

Here is a web site that matches you up with someone who is willing to rent a bedroom in their home.

https://www.airbnb.com/?af=469641&c=brd ... _na_hp_txt

The organization has been around since 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirBnB

Just to look around--I put in NYC and found things from $55 to $160 for the dates I selected.

[Red Oak]

I don't think I what to be on that transaction guest or host.

[John in Plano]

B-I-L and S-I-L were talking about a similar service, could be the same, last weekend while in town. They live in Brooklyn and said they know an individual who rents a bedroom out using a service. IIRC Hotels and the cities don't like them because they don't collect the taxes charged when staying at a hotel.

[RaisinCain]

I don't think I what to be on that transaction guest or host.

+ a jillion. Too many things to go wrong on either side of that coin.

[RaisinCain]

This thread reminded me of a creepy deal that happened to my wife and I.

1999: We are vacationing at Disney World and go to eat at this Benihana-type place. We were both 35 at the time, and this lady at the table with us just becomes enamored with us for some reason. The whole meal this woman is ignoring her family and kind of leaning in to us; it felt like we were being interviewed for a job. She is from NY, and goes on and on about how we should come visit; why, you can even stay at our home! We just kinda say "yeah, that would be great" and she gives us all of her contact info. We didn't give her anything, not even our last names, and after that night we thought that-was-that.

About two weeks later I'm at home and the phone rings. "Hello sir, did you stay at Disney World last month?" "Yes", "Oh I'm SO GLAD I found you; I'm the woman from NY and I was wondering when you two could come up for a visit?". I thought it was my wife pulling my leg so I said "How about next week?" "OH GREAT! Here's my address again in case you need it!". I am now realizing this is not my wife, and basically gave her the old "Don't call us, we'll call you". She acted offended and hung up. Now this was before the Internet made it real, real easy to look up info on somebody, so I don't know how this lady found us. But man, that is creepy no matter how you slice it.

I'm sure if we would have taken her up on her offer the cops would have eventually found my head in her freezer. Scary!