If you aren't willing to accept some kind of reduction from hotel accommodations, you aren't willing to save money.
It's one thing renting a room in the host's own living apartment (like the old couchsurfing) and another renting a room in a shared rented-out apartment. The latter one might be plagued way more by the mentioned fake reviews.
This - I wish they had categories for "host lives here too" and "this is a boarding house." You can usually figure it out by scrutinizing the reviews, but I'd like to see it overtly stated.
Ahhh, I see your point. I misunderstood you.
Thanks for explaining!
I’ve never had this happen, it was always at host’s place. Granted, that was some years ago, maybe things have changed!