Please, Don't Call It an Airbnb

When we purchased our Tuscan villa, Campo Sasso, which later appeared on the wonderful TV show Fixer to Fabulous Italiano with hosts Dave and Jenny Marrs, people immediately started asking us:

"So, are you going to Airbnb it once the renovation is done?"

Of course, I knew exactly what they meant. But every time someone refers to a home as "an Airbnb," it sends a chill down my spine.

I understand how these things happen. Some brands become so successful that their names enter our everyday vocabulary. We don't ask for a tissue; we ask for a Kleenex. We don't search online; we Google it. And now, apparently, every short-term accommodation has become an Airbnb.

From a branding perspective, it's quite remarkable. Imagine having your company name become synonymous with an entire category. That's marketing most businesses can only dream about.

But I think Airbnb is slightly different.

When someone calls a property an Airbnb, it suggests that the property belongs to Airbnb, or at least that it was found through Airbnb. Yet Airbnb doesn't own the property. In most cases, it's owned by an individual, a family, or a local business operating independently of the platform, and often struggling to secure direct bookings.

Campo Sasso isn't on Airbnb.

So no, we're not Airbnbing it.

To be honest, I've always found the name slightly confusing anyway. I bet none of these places have air beds, and they don't usually serve breakfast either.

Over the years, Airbnb has evolved from a clever way for people to share spare rooms into a global marketplace containing everything from spare bedrooms to luxury villas, castles, treehouses, and occasionally places that probably shouldn't be rented to anyone.

The platform's success is undeniable. It changed the way people travel and opened up opportunities for countless property owners.

The Airbnb platform grew out of control and turned into a monster that destroys communities.

I hear so many people tell me they've opted for an Airbnb because they want to "live like a local."

But now neighborhoods have become less local, and the texture of entire cities has been forever altered. What began as a positive and innovative concept has become a source of controversy in many destinations struggling with housing shortages and overtourism. In some places, visitors are effectively renting the skeleton of a local community that is slowly disappearing.

And here's the thing: Airbnb doesn't know you. Despite its community-friendly tone, Airbnb doesn't care about you. It's a platform. It can suspend a host or a guest at any time, often with little explanation. That's not necessarily good or bad—it's simply the reality of a giant online marketplace.

So no, Campo Sasso isn't an Airbnb.

It's a villa.

More specifically, it's a professionally operated short-term vacation rental. And somehow, we hope to keep renting it successfully without ever appearing on Airbnb at all.

Casa Vacanze: Campo Sasso

Since I've now finished my little rant, let's talk about what Campo Sasso actually is.

In Italy, a short-term vacation rental is called a Casa Vacanze—literally, a vacation home.

A vacation home is an accommodation rented on a short-term basis, typically with minimum stays of three to four nights. Larger properties, such as villas, are often rented by the week.

Compared to a traditional hotel, a vacation home usually offers much more space and practical amenities such as a kitchen, laundry facilities, gardens, and outdoor living areas. The trade-off is that there are generally fewer services than you would find in a hotel. A genuine Casa Vacanze is intended to be self-catering accommodation rather than a fully serviced hotel.

In Italy, vacation homes can be operated professionally by individuals, small enterprises, or agricultural operations (like the many wonderful agriturismi).

Vacation rentals must comply with specific regulations that define what they can or cannot do. Like all legal accommodation providers, we are required to display a CIN (Codice Identificativo Nazionale), register guests with the authorities, and collect the applicable tourist tax.

So while Campo Sasso may not be an Airbnb, it is proudly a Casa Vacanze.

And for the moment (and let's hope for the long haul), the only way to book a stay is directly through our website.

We'd love to personally welcome you to our little corner of Tuscan paradise.

Campo Sasso – not an Airbnb!

www.camposasso.com