AUSTIN, Texas — Planning a trip can quickly turn into a scramble when a short-term rental host cancels at the last minute, and consumer advocates say what guests do next can determine whether they get their money back and find a new place to stay.
Austin resident Zach Tufenkjian said he has had two Airbnb stays canceled in the last couple of months. “Each time it’s just been a huge hassle and just a really difficult situation,” he said.
Texas Watch Executive Director Ware Wendell said his organization is hearing more about guests dealing with last-minute cancellations. “That’s a very troubling trend,” Wendell said. “It should be a two-way street. But where hosts are just canceling for no good reason or because maybe they think all of a sudden there’s a lot of demand that weekend.”…