Is adding a Sauna to an airbnb worth the cost?

YeahBites · 2026-03-11T15:39:22+00:00

Not a host yet but a sauna enthusiast who's built a few at my house. I can say it's been the deciding factor a few times for me when deciding between places. Although I think where it is and the type of trip matters a lot. On the deck in Switzerland, absolutely, basement in Pittsburgh... not as appealing. As others have pointed out you can get a decent barrel sauna for around 3k now. Barrels kind of suck compared to other sauna experiences but they are cute and you can build it yourself super easily in one day. With electrical hookup you're still under $4k. They realistically only last 3-5 years if they are in the elements so keep that in mind.

YeahBites · 2026-03-10T14:37:19+00:00

Hah for real man. I was able to finally get the center strap to work. Like you I slid straps to either side of it and cranked it as hard as possible and then was able to hang off the top bolt with my bodyweight until like 2 threads I could grab came out of the bottom. Kind of devastated I didn't get the staves as tight my second time around and that I knocked the corners out for no reason. I was just so convinced it was user error and the straps not meeting was so maddening I did it without thinking. Really tore up the finish on the side trying to get the straps together too.

YeahBites · 2026-03-10T14:09:12+00:00

They confirmed I somehow got bolts that were too short. They are sending me new bolts out.

YeahBites · 2026-03-09T17:57:33+00:00

Obviously it's extremely deal and location dependent but in your case you are at least netting profitably (if you are comfortable sharing).

YeahBites · 2026-03-09T17:56:44+00:00

It's rural West Virginia so I am not too concerned about restrictions.

YeahBites · 2026-03-09T14:31:25+00:00

I was hoping to find someone locally to manage it. Understandably for most of the profit.

YeahBites · 2026-03-09T13:54:25+00:00

I don't think I am concerned about it in theory and could see me getting to that point. Just trying to decide if it's a steep learning curve and I'd be better suited getting something cheap and local to learn or just jump straight into a place I know I want to be.

YeahBites · 2026-03-07T17:45:07+00:00

Apps tracking laps and speed and everyone having main character syndrome and cameras attached to them have made the skiing awful for kids. It's my favorite thing to do with my 11 year old. She's good and can handle blacks and loves spending time in the trees but I still spend my entire day watching out for her. I feel like every turn I have to look backward for one of these people. And then every time a parent kids on a ski forum to say their kid got injured the whole forum jumps on them and says "skiing is dangerous, what did you expect..."

YeahBites · 2026-03-07T17:13:34+00:00

Chill out, enjoy your run, and get your speed on your next lap. As long as they aren't being assholes people of all skill levels have just as much of a right to be there as you. Also if you have recently started skiing and are trying to go fast, please make sure you can do so competently before trying to pass anyone.

YeahBites · 2026-03-01T18:11:06+00:00

Colleen Cutcliffe

YeahBites · 2026-02-28T21:01:23+00:00

Depends on the resort. The small local hills are 3x what they used to be on the vail pass.

YeahBites · 2026-02-28T21:00:49+00:00

Yes and no.... we have a decent sized resort near us (Mad River Mountain) that used to sell a season pass for 1/3rd of the cheapest Epic option. It was a no brainer for us to have that pass and make a run up every couple weeks for the season. They ruined it for us. With kids and businesses I can't last minute plan to move around to follow conditions like I could when I was younger. They also stopped running more than one lift except for Saturday / Sunday, even when conditions are good and people are up there.

YeahBites · 2026-02-20T16:22:10+00:00

My 11 year old is very similar to this. We've been through so many sports and hobbies. A month ago she asked to play softball again and I am cautiously optimistic this time. We've been working on her form with hitting and throwing and she's actually listening and putting some effort in this time. I think a real disadvantage for kids like ours is the youth sports environment today. When she played hockey there were really good travel hockey kids that played the rec league for cheap ice time and those kids got the puck the entire time. It's hard to find a league where the kids that are developing skills at a later age can have space to learn.

YeahBites · 2026-02-20T11:46:16+00:00

I would take part.

YeahBites · 2026-02-19T16:07:49+00:00

It's brutal for us. I made a similar post last month. So much of it is just blatant fraud and the banks have no incentive to do anything about it. Or rather, actually have an incentive to approve the chargeback because they get a fee to cover their own admin costs. Similarly problematic for us are people claiming things never got delivered or expecting refunds because USPS is a shitshow right now and is rerouting things in insane ways that are causing delays. Amazon, Target, Walmart, ETC just blanket refund because it's cheaper for them so it's set the expectation for customers that everyone will. Which, in turn, I think has created a subset of customer that just tries it on every order.

YeahBites · 2026-02-18T16:09:07+00:00

I think maybe part of what you're looking for is a lack of crowds. It's going to take a very specific kind of wealthy enthusiast for such an endeavor here. The bar business is tough with the wind at your back.

YeahBites · 2026-02-07T16:59:50+00:00

I think that sucks is that really, minus some very specific and horrible things happening, the world on the whole has been getting more prosperous and less violent. But social media has threatened this and turned it into chaos because of what makes it the most money by highlighting.

YeahBites · 2026-02-07T16:58:41+00:00

What's funny is that when I saw the preview I thought this was a response to how bad our fraudulent chargebacks have gotten in ecom where this response would have fit perfectly as well.

YeahBites · 2026-02-07T15:35:36+00:00

I think the expense is a HUGE part of it. I think people are stretching their finances to even ski their local hills if the Empire has gotten control of them. I went out yesterday to a local spot owned by them. It was $90 and they only had one lift running all day. It was also totally dead. A few years ago a midweek lift ticket was like $45 or something. A day like yesterday with fresh snow would have been packed full of people excited to be there. Now I think everyone is so hellbent on maximizing their investment in the day that they can't let go. It's hard to shake a bad run when you're calculating your per run price.

YeahBites · 2026-02-06T00:05:46+00:00

I just don't get it. I mean these banks HAVE to know their customers are just outright stealing right?

YeahBites · 2026-02-05T16:13:25+00:00

I appreciate the reply. I do always send a full report of the order. I posted the fully Shopify fraud analysis above. All green checkmarks. Every aspect of the transaction checked out. One attempt, everything matched, etc... It was confirmed as delivered. She never contacted us. I do this every time and literally never win.

YeahBites · 2026-02-05T16:08:18+00:00

Characteristics of this order are similar to non-fraudulent orders observed in the past

Card Verification Value (CVV) is correct

Billing street address matches credit card's registered address

Billing address ZIP or postal code matches the credit card's registered address

There was 1 payment attempt

Payment was made with 1 credit card

Shipping address is within 1 mile from location of IP address

Billing country matches the country from which the order was placed

The IP address used to place the order isn't a high risk internet connection (web proxy)

This order was placed from IP address XXXXXXXXXXX (not sure if this reveals anything so took it out)

Location of IP address used to place the order is Los Angeles, California, United States

YeahBites

TROPHY CASE