The rise of rental properties has changed the way we travel, with many guests now choosing to stay in other people's homes instead of hotels.
While it can be cheaper and more spacious, there are dangers to renting a stranger's place for the night given you never truly know who is watching.
It's a lesson a young group of women were horrified to learn when they found a minuscule camera in the bathroom of their Airbnb rental property - hidden in a very discreet location.
The discovery turned their celebratory birthday staycation into a living nightmare and made them feel "violated, scared and disappointed".
Kennedy Calwell, 26, was spending the weekend at the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, in Canada, with 14 friends for a 30th birthday.
One of the women felt "paranoid" that there were cameras in the house, so whipped out her flashlight and started investigating the property.
After checking all the showerheads, picture frames and doorknobs, she found a tiny camera hidden in the bathroom, tucked away inside a plug socket.
Needless to say, the women felt terrified, having showered the night before in the bathroom, not knowing somebody could've been watching.
Kennedy said: "My friend had been watching TikToks the day before we got to the Sunshine Coast about hidden cameras and how small they can be, so she decided to search the house and found one in the outlet in the bathroom pointed at the shower and toilet.
"We felt violated, scared and disappointed as what was supposed to be a fun weekend turned into something darker."
The group contacted the police and officers searched the rest of the house, before sending the cameras off for analysis.
"The owners claim the cameras were not put there by them. I don't know anything about them. It could have been a previous guest though," Kennedy said.
"Some people online are being gross and asking to see the footage, but for the most part, people have been grateful because they didn't know you could fit a camera inside an outlet."
She added: "Now they know. I'm happy I could help spread the word."
Airbnb said in a statement: "We ban hidden cameras and previously refunded the guest as we investigate this allegation."
The holiday home and apartment rental website reads:
- Intentionally concealed recording devices (such as hidden security cameras) are never permitted.
- Airbnb prohibits security cameras or recording devices that are in or that observe private spaces like bedrooms, bathrooms, or sleeping areas.
- You must indicate the presence of all security cameras or other recording devices in or around a listing, even if they're not turned on or hooked up.
- Undisclosed security cameras or other recording devices are never permitted.
- You must also always disclose if an active recording is taking place.
Have you found hidden cameras in your Airbnb? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
