Why I Stopped Using Airbnb in Medellin (And What I Use Instead)

A first-person account from a frequent Medellin visitor

I’ve been traveling to Medellin regularly for five years. Over that time, I’ve tried most accommodation formats the city offers: Airbnb, Booking.com properties, hotels, and eventually direct-booked apartments. The progression toward direct booking wasn’t ideological — it was pragmatic. The platform accommodations kept producing the same friction points, and eventually I found a better way.

Here’s what pushed me away from Airbnb in Medellin specifically, and what I use instead.

The Airbnb Fee Problem

The first time I noticed it was when I was comparing the total cost of a 5-night stay. The apartment was listed at $120/night. By the time Airbnb added:

• Service fee (guest side): 14–16% of the booking subtotal
• Cleaning fee: $80 (a one-time add-on that’s effectively a nightly cost on short stays)
• Currency conversion markup: Airbnb’s exchange rate is typically 2–3% worse than the actual rate for international bookings

…the apparent $120/night apartment was costing me $165/night all-in. For a 5-night trip, that’s $225 in fees that add nothing to my actual stay.

The host receives maybe $105 of that — Airbnb takes 3% from the host as well.

When I did the math and realized both the host and I were losing money to a platform that provided no on-the-ground value once I was booked, the logic of direct booking became clear.

The Communication Friction

Airbnb’s messaging system is designed for the platform, not for the guest-host relationship. When I needed to ask about early check-in, extend my stay by two nights, arrange an airport transfer, or ask which nearby restaurant the host actually recommends — every message went through Airbnb’s app.

The host couldn’t share their phone number or WhatsApp until after I’d booked (a platform rule designed to prevent off-platform bookings). So pre-booking questions — the questions that actually help you decide where to stay — happened through a slow messaging interface.

In Colombia specifically, WhatsApp is how everyone communicates. The Airbnb messaging layer between me and a host who’s two blocks from my apartment felt anachronistic and inefficient.

After switching to direct booking, I had my host’s WhatsApp within minutes of paying the deposit. Pre-arrival questions, check-in logistics, restaurant recommendations, help getting an Uber to the airport at 4am — all handled on WhatsApp with response times measured in minutes, not hours.

The Review Anxiety Problem

Airbnb’s double-blind review system — where host and guest reviews are only revealed after both parties have submitted — sounds fair in theory. In practice, it creates a mutual anxiety that subtly distorts the relationship.

I was always vaguely aware that the host would rate me, and that this rating would follow me on the platform. This produced small behavioral modifications I didn’t love: worrying about noise levels, leaving the apartment more sparkling than I’d normally bother, not asking questions that might reveal ignorance.

When I stay in a direct-booked apartment, the relationship is simpler. I’m a paying guest. The host is a professional. Neither of us is performing for a mutual ratings system.

The Cancellation Policy Rigidity

Airbnb’s cancellation policies are structured for the platform, not for the realities of travel. I had a trip extend by 4 days because of work (the good kind of problem). Adding 4 nights to my existing booking should have been simple — call the host, confirm they’re available, pay for the extra nights.

On Airbnb: the host had to create a new listing modification request, I had to accept it through the app, and there was confusion about whether the cleaning fee applied again (it did, apparently). A 10-minute phone call became a 45-minute platform interaction.

With direct booking: I messaged the host, confirmed availability, and they sent a simple payment link for the additional nights. Done.

What I Use Instead — medellinlodging.com

My last three Medellin trips have been booked through medellinlodging.com directly. It’s a property management operation in Provenza, El Poblado — a penthouse and accompanying unit, professionally managed by local hosts who live in the city.

What the direct booking experience has actually looked like:

Before arriving: I messaged via WhatsApp with questions about WiFi speed (I need to work remotely), the neighborhood, and whether an early check-in was possible. I got genuine answers, not platform-optimized responses. The WiFi is 200+ Mbps fiber — they sent a screenshot of a speed test.

On arrival: The host met me at the apartment, walked me through everything, gave me their personal WhatsApp number for anything during the stay. Not a key lockbox and a “contact us if needed” message.

During the stay: I needed to extend by 3 nights. One WhatsApp message, one payment link, done in 15 minutes.

The price difference: Booking direct eliminated the Airbnb service fee (14%) and the host’s platform commission (3%). Some of that passed to me as a lower rate; some the host kept — fairly, since they’re now not sharing their revenue with a platform that does nothing on-the-ground.

The Calculation for a Week-Long Stay

Let’s be specific about the money. A 7-night stay at $150/night:

Via Airbnb:
– Nightly cost: $150 × 7 = $1,050
– Airbnb guest service fee (~15%): $157
– Cleaning fee (typical): $80
– Total: $1,287

Via medellinlodging.com direct:
– Negotiated 7-night rate: $140/night × 7 = $980
– No service fee
– Cleaning included
– Total: $980

Savings: $307 on a 7-night stay. That’s two excellent dinners in Provenza, a Guatapé day trip with private transport, or 30 specialty coffees at Pergamino. Real money.

Who Should Book Direct

Anyone staying 5+ nights: The fee structure makes direct booking increasingly attractive as stays lengthen. On a 1-night stay, the math is closer. On a week, the savings are significant.

Anyone who communicates by WhatsApp: If you’re already planning to ask your host questions (you should be), get their WhatsApp from the start. Direct booking gives you this immediately.

Groups: The 14% service fee on a $3,000 group week is $420. That money funds your group’s restaurant budget for two nights.

Anyone who values direct human communication: The platform layer between you and the person responsible for your accommodation adds friction that doesn’t benefit anyone who’s actually staying there.

The Booking Link

If you’re planning a Medellin trip and want to book direct, medellinlodging.com is the starting point. The reservation system is at reservas.medellinlodging.com. You can also just reach out via WhatsApp — their contact information is on the website — and book the old-fashioned way: by talking to the person who will actually host you.

Book your stay at medellinlodging.com — no platform fees, direct communication, better rates.

Ready to skip the platform fees? Check availability at medellinlodging.com

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