Regulation and compliance

At StellarStay, we take the check-in process seriously. It’s the first real interaction guests have with the space — and when done right, it sets the tone for a wonderful stay. That’s why we offer clear communication, easy access, flexible options, and a warm welcome.

So when a guest gives 4 stars in the “Check-in” category even though everything went smoothly — it raises a fair question: What went wrong?

Let’s take a look at how to rate this category accurately and fairly.

At StellarStay, we believe in two things above all: transparency and cleanliness. That’s why, after every single turnover, our cleaning teams complete a detailed, time-stamped inspection report.

📸 These reports include photos and notes (yes, even when something small like a blanket is missing) so we can prove the exact condition of the home before check-in. It’s our way of ensuring fairness—for both guests and hosts.

At StellarStay, we love helping our guests celebrate life’s special moments—birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, or just getting the family together for the weekend. There’s nothing better than seeing people make memories in a beautiful home-away-from-home.

But here’s the thing: for all of that to go smoothly, honest communication is key—especially when it comes to how many people will actually be at the property.

We believe success in short-term rentals doesn’t come from chasing every booking. It comes from protecting the properties we’re entrusted to manage, maintaining high standards, and cultivating respectful relationships between guests, hosts, and homeowners. In fact, it’s exactly this discipline that allows us to create long-term profitability—not just for us, but for the owners who’ve trusted us with their homes.

As professional hosts, we put a lot of trust in Airbnb—not just in their platform, but also in the Support team that’s supposed to back us up when things go wrong. Unfortunately, that trust doesn’t always hold.

Recently, we experienced a situation that highlights a difficult truth: Airbnb’s conduct is not always consistent, and some of their representatives lack the training or experience needed to properly apply the platform’s own policies.

At StellarStay, we’re passionate about creating amazing experiences for our guests, and we truly enjoy going the extra mile whenever we can. We love seeing families and friends come together, and we know that plans sometimes shift. However, there are moments when we have to gently say “no”—not because we want to, but because we’re bound by platform policies and the responsibility we carry as stewards of someone’s home.

Leaving a review after your stay is one of the most helpful things you can do — both for fellow travelers and for the hosts who put their heart into creating memorable experiences. But when it comes to Airbnb’s Accuracy category, many guests aren’t quite sure what they’re really being asked to rate.

We take great pride in providing our guests with luxurious and comfortable retreats across various locations in multiple states, all while maintaining respectful relationships with the local communities. Unfortunately, a recent experience at one of these properties, The Stilt House, has underscored the vital importance of adhering to house rules, local laws, and rental platform policies.

Recently, one of our guests, Stephen, faced a challenging situation. Due to severe weather, his flight was canceled, preventing him from reaching a property under our management. Unfortunately, Airbnb determined that Stephen’s situation did not qualify for their Major Disruptive Events policy, which can sometimes provide compensation for extraordinary circumstances. Stephen also didn’t have travel insurance to cover his unexpected expenses and, despite our offer to cancel his reservation as soon as possible so we could try to rebook the dates, he chose to keep the booking active. Since his reservation wasn’t canceled, it was considered a standard booking, and we received the full payment as usual, even though Stephen never made it to the property.

Here at StellarStay, we’re passionate about creating truly special stays for our guests, but every now and then, we have to make tough decisions to protect the quality experience we promise. Recently, a guest named Roy booked with us, requested an early check-in, questioned the cleaning fee, and asked for further discounts on what was already a great rate. When we politely declined and chose to cancel his reservation, he seemed surprised and even apologized, hoping to rebook. While we’re grateful for his interest, we ultimately decided it was best to stand by our decision.