Regulation and compliance

At StellarStay, our goal is to provide warm, beautiful, welcoming homes — and to protect the properties entrusted to us by their owners. Some guests occasionally feel unsure about security deposits, so we want to address the topic clearly, kindly, and transparently.

Below is everything you need to know, with zero stress and full clarity.

Planning a trip should be exciting — but unexpected events like severe weather, travel disruptions, or personal emergencies can quickly complicate travel plans. Many guests are surprised to learn that Airbnb’s refund policies are not based on whether they can travel, but on whether the reservation location is directly affected by a qualifying disruptive event.

Travel days can be busy, and we know guests want a smooth, easy arrival where everything “just works.” However, vacation rentals operate very differently from hotels. Each home is unique, each community has its own expectations, and check-in instructions are tailored specifically for your reservation.

To make your stay seamless, it’s essential to review everything we send you.

On January 4, we terminated an employee for unethical behavior. This individual had been working with us remotely from outside the United States and, during his employment, had access to certain partner platforms, vendor systems, and short-term rental accounts as part of his development responsibilities.

Immediately following the termination, we implemented comprehensive security measures, including revoking all known access and rotating credentials across all systems, including our VRBO account.

At StellarStay, we’re always here to make travel smoother, easier, and more enjoyable. Sometimes a simple request—like checking out late—opens up a helpful conversation about how short-term rentals actually operate behind the scenes.

Here’s a friendly real example from one of our properties that shows why late check-outs aren’t always possible, what the best alternative is, and how we make sure guests still feel supported every step of the way. 💛

At StellarStay, we’ve always believed that Airbnb’s success depends on fairness, transparency, and the protection of both guests and hosts. But what happens when Airbnb fails to uphold its own rules—rules designed to ensure trust and authenticity on the platform?

This is our story.

🏡 A Simple Mistake Turned Into a Nightmare

A guest, Fabiola, stayed at our property Darvany Haven for one night.

At StellarStay, we love making every stay smooth and stress-free — but there’s one area where we have to draw a clear line: mail and package deliveries.

We understand how convenient it might seem to send something ahead of your trip, but allowing mail delivery to vacation rentals creates a surprising number of risks for both guests and property owners. That’s why we don’t allow packages to be sent to any of our properties unless you’ve received explicit permission from our team.

Starting October 27, 2025, Airbnb will roll out a new, simplified single service fee structure. While this change may sound technical, here’s the good news — nothing changes for guests except for a clearer, more transparent price breakdown.

Let’s take a closer look at what this means for you as a StellarStay host or owner.

If you’re a short-term rental host, property manager, or industry partner in Colorado, mark your calendar for Saturday, November 15, from 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM MT. The Colorado Short-Term Rental Association (COSTRA) is hosting the annual Colorado STR Summit in Denver — and this year’s theme, “Where Heart Meets Strategy,” promises to bring together the best minds and biggest hearts in the STR community.

When it comes to Airbnb reviews, “Communication” is one of the most misunderstood categories. It’s not about whether you liked every message — it’s about how clearly, promptly, and responsibly the host communicated.