I've been using airbnb for years and had really great experiences up until this last month. I ended up in dirty, loud, bare places with dozens of decent reviews, from Mexico now to London. I understand I'm making compromises on quality when I pay only $90 a night, but I've literally been kept up all night by blaring tvs, Skype calls, yelled conversations, and no amount of 'please be quiet, I have a 3am flight' is working.
I just canceled my Berlin airbnb because the host decided I should have a 7pm check in time after we agreed on noon, and, as I mentioned, I'm taking a 3am flight. I pushed back, reiterating why I wanted a reasonable check in, and was told my business wasn't needed. I got a great deal on a 5-star hotel near the Reichstag for the same. Exact. Price.
Please, lend me your secrets. Am I being too much of a pushover? Does everyone just put up with this because they get some decent places once in a while? I'm about ready to spend the next three weeks of my travels in hotels and hostels instead.
Edited to add: two weeks ago I got an airbnb room in Cancun (cheapest flights to the Yucatan) from the highest rated place on TripAdvisor and airbnb. I arrived late and soon cockroaches came out from everywhere and my door would not lock. I couldn't get a call through to the host OR airbnb. I took photos and emailed them to airbnb and didn't get a response FOR A WEEK.