I booked an apartment in Kyiv through AIR B AND B.

[HUAJIAO]

Last edited Fri Mar 25, 2022, 09:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Of course I will not show up but Air B and B has an arrangement where you can book rooms or apartments in Ukraine. But without you showing up, the host gets the rental fee anyway. A cool way to support Ukrainians under siege.
https://www.airbnb.com/

I booked several nights not far from the city center in a very nice apartment for $22/night. Since then the host and i have corresponded several times. He sent his wife and 4 year old daughter to Portugal and his parents to Poland. He sent me a few photos of them and he will send my 'rent' to his wife. Before they left they had been hiding in the subway to escape the bombing.

ON EDIT: And Air B and B is waiving ALL fees!

[DanieRains]

1. I Have Rented About 20 Rooms In Kyiv And Other Cities In Ukraine So Far

On Air B and B.

These folks are insanely grateful.....

Someday I will visit to help rebuild, and say hi to all of them.

[HUAJIAO]

2. Wonderful!

I hope I can visit also. And now I have an open invitation, if his place is still there.....

[Quakerfriend]

3. That warms my heart

I’ve heard that some scammers have gotten involved in this unfortunately. I’m so glad you have been able to chat back and forth with them too.

[HUAJIAO]

21. Warms my heart, too.

[mitch96]

4. So you just go to the Air BnB website and click Kyiv? This sounds like a great way to donate..nt

[HUAJIAO]

5. Yes, or whatever city you choose, assuming it is still there...

[global1]

6. What Kind Of Cut Of The Money You Pay Goes To AirBnB?.....

Or are they donating their cut to the cause?

[HUAJIAO]

7. I'm not sure. That is a good question.

[femmedem]

11. They're waiving the fees.

?Thousands of people globally are now using Airbnb to donate to Ukrainians by booking rentals and letting the hosts know that they’re not actually visiting, and that these are solely direct donations. In addition, Airbnb has stated it is waiving fees in Ukraine, so 100% of the money goes directly to Ukrainians in need."

https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/business/airbnb-waiving-fees-ukraine-donations-risk/#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20Airbnb%20has%20stated,directly%20to%20Ukrainians%20in%20need.&text=%E2%80%9CWe%20can%20confirm%20we%20are,the%20company%20tweeted%20March%203.

[HUAJIAO]

16. thanks for clearing that up, about the fees. I knew thousands of people were doing it..

Air B and B is also arranging places for refugees, or rather lets you register to accept refugees.


I hope some folks here will take part in one of these ways to help.

[femmedem]

10. Airbnb is waiving all fees for Ukraine rentals.

https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/business/airbnb-waiving-fees-ukraine-donations-risk/#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20Airbnb%20has%20stated,directly%20to%20Ukrainians%20in%20need.&text=%E2%80%9CWe%20can%20confirm%20we%20are,the%20company%20tweeted%20March%203.

[paleotn]

8. That's what it's about. Bravo!

[HUAJIAO]

20. It's a small thing. But all the little things add up.

[paleotn]

25. Indeed they do!

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Wow! Wonderful way to help, Kudos!

[HUAJIAO]

19. It feels so good to make a direct contribution to someone.

You can do it, too !!

[Rhiannon12866]

22. Thanks! I've been checking out numerous efforts - it's a great sign that there are so many!

And I was talking with a friend last night about the president's announcement that the U.S. is prepared to welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. And my first thought was that cities and towns in the U.S. could step up to sponsor families. I have no doubt that my city would and the town where my grandmother lived has a sister town in the Caucasus Mountains and is very proactive. Sounds like this could work, to me...

[HUAJIAO]

23. Only 100,000 ???

And NOW lets see Biden somehow get jet fighters to Ukrainians... and more anti-tank and anti-aircraft ordinance and whatever else they want. If Putin isn't stopped here he aims to take down Western Democracy....

[Rhiannon12866]

24. That's the thing - and I think this is also those who already have family here

But if willing cities and towns stepped up, we could safely sponsor so many more. From everything we've seen and heard, Americans are solidly behind the Ukrainians. My dentist even brought it up this week, though I already knew that she's "one of us..."

[Katcat]

12. Haven't tried that but

I did go to Etsy and buy a lovely scarf from a UKRANIAN shop.

[liberalla]

14. That's a great idea too! Thanks.

[HUAJIAO]

17. Wonderful way to pitch in.

[erronis]

13. I've heard about this. Knowing AirBnB, I'd really like to see an audited accounting of where the

money from these rentals really goes.

If it's not at least 95% to the purported Ukrainian owners (and who knows), then it's just another skimming operation.

[liberalla]

15. See posts 10 & 11... that might answer your question...

[HUAJIAO]

18. "The Washington Post reports that on March 3 and March 4,

more than 61,000 nights were booked in Ukraine from people around the world, according to an Airbnb spokesman, who added that the total booking value was nearly $2 million."

[former9thward]

26. Beware of scammers

The company has processes in place to verify hosts. Airbnb asks for people’s names, date of birth or government ID for certification.
Still, getting thousands of people to book stays through Airbnb that they don’t intend to use means the guest will never meet their host, and as a result, never know if that person is real or not.

“Were I a Russian scammer, I would be setting up fake Airbnbs in [Kyiv] and Odessa as fast as I could to cash in on those noble intentions,” one person tweeted.

Airbnb didn’t return Protocol’s request for comment about what steps the company is taking to ensure hosts in Ukraine are verified, aside from its usual protocol.

Airbnb has set up a platform that allows people to help those in need. But it’s easy to take advantage of people’s generosity, especially when you don’t even know the person you’re giving to. Hosts who say they live in Ukraine are posting tons of listings titled “Kyiv needs you” and “Book and help Ukraine.” But before you put money down, make sure the host has been around for some time. And read the listing extra carefully.

https://www.protocol.com/newsletters/sourcecode/airbnb-ukraine-response?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1