A devastating hurricane wasnt all that ruined a Georgia moms dream vacation, but an unyielding Airbnb hosts refusal to issue a refund.
Kaitlynn Thayer, 33, took to TikTok to air her frustrations with an Airbnb host who refused to waive the fees for her familys stay to Floridas coveted Ameila Island - even as category three Hurricane Milton was fast-approaching the Sunshine State.
The mom-of-five says she booked the days-long trip back in June and could not wrap her head around the hosts lack of empathy and humanity, over their refusal to refund.
The trip was set to kick off on the same day of Miltons landfall with weather outlets predicting torrential rains and winds topping 160 miles per hour the Guyton-native asked the host to push the trip out a few days.
Kaitlynn Thayer, 33, took to TikTok to air her frustrations with an Airbnb host who refused to refund her familys trip to Florida s coveted Ameila Island - even as category three Hurricane Milton was fast-approaching the Sunshine State
Thayer claimed she wanted to ensure the hosts house had power and that the Georgia-based family would not be using resources of those affected by the coastal storm.
She claims to have contacted the host in the days ahead of the trip to express her concerns but felt that the host was trying to ignore the situation entirely.
To Thayers requests. the host allegedly told her that her familys long-planned trip could be moved to the days following her planned dates - but the 33-year-olds unique family arrangement made the hosts suggestion unrealistic.
In the near four-minute video, Thayer shared that she has three biological children and two foster children who require extensive and hard to get paperwork in order to cross state lines - a feat she would be unable to accomplish on such short notice.
Thayer and her husband, David, 38, claim they were very thankful for Airbnbs Escalations Team who notified them of the refund
Left without another option the distraught mother contacted Airbnb who told her if the host is unwilling to refund the trip there is nothing we can do.
I just feel like that is super tough, she said following the short-term rental companys response.
We are not the only people I know this is happening to right now. We are staying safe, we are keeping our children safe, were being responsible foster parents and at the same time trying not pay for a vacation we are not taking, she added.
In the day following Thayers now-viral complaint video, she posted an update stating the host was not willing to refund or compromise but due to a state-issued evacuation order Airbnb policies required a full refund to be granted.
Thayer and her husband, David, 38, claim they were very thankful for Airbnbs Escalations Team who notified them of the refund.
The popular rental company has a Major Disruptive Events policy to address situations like that of the Thayers.
The trip to Floridas Ameila Island was set to kick off on the same day of Miltons landfall with weather outlets predicting torrential rains and winds topping 160 miles per hour. Pictured: Ameila Island, Florida
When asked about the policy an Airbnb representative told the DailyMail.com: To support our community, our Major Disruptive Events policy is currently in effect for impacted areas of Florida, such as those experiencing government travel restrictions or large-scale utility outages.
This policy means hosts can cancel eligible stays without consequences, and guests who have an eligible booking can cancel for a refund.
The policy also allows a host to cancel a trip without fees or other adverse consequences. It also states that if a reservation is canceled the host does not receive a payout for the canceled dates of the reservation, or, if the payout has already been made, the refunded amount will be withheld from the next payout.
Several users on TikTok have since used the platform to share their thoughts on the situation, with some relieved for the Thayer family while others werent as sympathetic.
Thats why you get vacation insurance. Airbnb owner still has to pay their mortgage and all the bills associated with the property regardless of weather. Thats why most require a 30 day cancellation, one viewer commented.
Another wrote: I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. We live like 40 minutes from there. I do know evacuation was issued late Wed. Night for parts of the island. They definitely should refund.
Regarded as one of the more powerful hurricanes of the 2024 season Hurricane Miltons merciless fury left many in the Sunshine State grappling with the ruinous aftermath.
Homes along Floridas coasts lie in ruins as neighborhoods have been left drowning in storm surge and streets are choked with debris and devastated by downpours with as much as two inches accumulating per hour.
The US National Hurricane Center called the Category 3 hurricane dangerous and catastrophic after it hit sustained winds of 160 miles per hour when it made landfall late Wednesday evening.
Communities across the state were warned to evacuate as the western coast of the southern peninsula was expected to be leveled with at least 117 tornado warnings ravaging the area, with dozens reported to have materialized.
More than three million homes and businesses were without power Thursday morning as the first casualties were reported even before Milton made landfall.
The wreckage continues as residents scour the areas assessing the irreversible damage caused by the ninth hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.