40,000 euros per night: Fantastic offers for apartment rentals in Vienna
A shocking advertisement on Booking.com surprised users this week. An ordinary apartment in the Vienna-Hering district was listed for an astonishing price of 40,000 euros per night. This means that anyone wishing to stay for five days would have to pay more than 134,000 euros — a sum closer to the cost of a luxury villa in Monaco than to a simple apartment in the city.
The apartment described with the simple title "Very spacious apartment near AKH" was not exceptional at all. The pictures showed white-painted walls, ordinary furniture, and a simple kitchen. The building did not have a rooftop terrace, a pool, or a spa — nothing justified this astronomical price. However, the ad appeared publicly on one of the most famous booking sites in the world.
According to the description, the 130 square meter apartment has three bedrooms, each equipped with a double bed and a sofa bed, accommodating up to ten people. Amenities included a coffee machine, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, and even a high chair for children. The bathroom only contained a shower, towels, and a hairdryer. There was no living room, no balcony, no internet, and of course, no additional luxuries.
When Booking.com was asked to clarify the reason for this strange pricing, the response was: "After inspecting the property, we can confirm that there is no evidence of suspicious behavior. Please note that service providers set their own prices and availability." However, shortly after this statement, the ad suddenly disappeared from the platform. Officially, the company insisted that "there are no anomalies," but the removal of the ad raised users' suspicions.
This incident raises a broader issue: to what extent should service providers be granted the freedom to set prices? While price freedom is a well-known principle, charging €40,000 per night for an ordinary apartment seems like a blatant exploitation — especially in the context of a housing crisis. For many, the incident raises questions about whether Booking.com should impose stricter oversight to protect consumers from absurd or misleading offers.