We Discovered A Hidden Camera In Our Airbnb Vacation Rental

Imagine arriving at your dream vacation rental, ready to unwind and enjoy a well-deserved break, only to discover an unsettling truth – a camera lurking in the room. That’s what happened to us previously at an Airbnb.

While such a scenario may seem like something out of a spy movie, the unfortunate and disheartening reality is that cameras inside vacation rentals have become a growing concern for travelers worldwide. In this article, we delve into the steps you can take if you find yourself in this unsettling situation as we did, and how to safeguard your privacy and security while traveling.

Hidden cameras are not just confined to vacation rentals either. We know someone was arrested years ago for placing a hidden camera inside the women’s locker room at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Anara Spa. An employee was found guilty of the crime.

Airbnb prohibits indoor security cameras starting next month.

Last week, Airbnb made a significant policy change by announcing a complete ban on indoor security cameras in vacation rentals, effective April 30. The decision at last focuses on the company’s decision to support guest privacy. It reverses a previous stance that allowed surveillance devices within its accommodations, including in Hawaii vacation rentals.

Until now, cameras were permitted by Airbnb in common areas of vacation rentals, such as hallways and living rooms. However, Airbnb said that hosts needed to disclose the presence of these, ensure their visibility, and not place them in private spaces, including bedrooms and bathrooms. Despite regulations, concerns about hidden cameras in vacation rentals continued to cause discomfort for guests who viewed them as an invasion of privacy during their vacation stays.

For hosts, these cameras often served as a means to deter disruptive behavior, such as large parties, and to remotely monitor activities within their properties. However, using surveillance technology raised concerns among privacy advocates and guests alike. In response to these concerns, Airbnb has opted to prohibit indoor security cameras entirely, aligning itself with the stance already taken by platforms like VRBO.

The new policy eliminates indoor cameras while requiring that guests be advised of the use of outdoor monitoring devices, including sound monitors and outdoor cameras, before booking. That’s complicated since it was seen as a way for Airbnb hosts to be good neighbors by not allowing loud noise and parties, and it comes even after Airbnb implemented its anti-party policy.

Some say that it will remain challenging to enforce such rules effectively, as there have been repeated instances of hidden and unrevealed cameras despite prior disclosure rules. Airbnb says it will continue to investigate reports of violations and may penalize hosts found breaching their policies.

Our shocking discovery of a camera inside our Airbnb rental.

The camera we saw on our last day at an Airbnb was not disclosed but not entirely hidden. It just wasn’t at all obvious. It was pointed towards the living and dining area and balcony. The Airbnb host texted us at the airport to say our luggage was still in the living room, which was beyond the agreed checkout time. We advised him the luggage was with us and had already been checked in for our flight. That’s when he, perhaps inadvertently, brought up the camera he was watching. He subsequently apologized stating that he had been looking at footage from several hours earlier. We had a delayed reaction and then started thinking about whether or not we were being watched during our stay. It still leaves a bad feeling just writing about it.

Discovering a camera in your vacation rental can be a profoundly invasive experience, no matter at what point in the stay it is revealed. Nonetheless, it can leave you feeling violated and vulnerable. Whether the camera is concealed in a decoy device or visible, in our case at least, there was a breach of privacy because we didn’t know about its presence. The first reaction is one of disbelief, followed by a sense of anger.

How to find a hidden camera in your Hawaii accommodations.

Ensuring privacy in a Hawaii vacation rental or elsewhere is paramount, but detecting a hidden camera can feel daunting. An easy way, if you’re concerned, is to travel with a small, hidden camera detector that can be purchased for about $30 on sites like Amazon. Another less sure idea is to use a flashlight to check for reflections that may be a hidden lens. You can also try scanning the Wi-Fi network for any unexpected devices.

Take immediate action if you find a camera.

This is especially true if it’s hidden. Document the evidence by taking photos or videos of the camera and its location. This will serve as crucial evidence should you need to report the incident to the authorities or seek assistance from the rental platform.

Next, contact the rental platform or the property manager to report the discovery. Platforms like Airbnb have strict policies regarding hidden cameras and take such incidents very seriously. They will initiate an investigation into the matter and may offer support in finding alternative accommodation if needed.

You may also want to check directly with your vacation rental company to ask if interior cameras are installed or ever used. It’s something we never thought about doing until it happened to us.

Have you had any experiences with hidden cameras?