No matter how well we plan, we are bound to make at least one small mistake when traveling. One of the most common mistakes people make is misjudging the vibe of their stay just by looking at the pictures they posted on the booking site. There are several examples of epic Airbnb fails online, and one German woman’s experience would be a hilarious lesson for all travelers. Sonja Dennig, a 28-year-old travel influencer – who goes by @sonnyloops on TikTok – posted the video of her “sea view” Airbnb and caused a stir online.
The video from late July shows Dennig entering the Airbnb room she paid for in Westerland, Germany. Right next to the bed was a window that offered a beautiful view of the ocean. It’s only when Dennig gives us a closer look at the window that we realize the “ocean view” is actually fake. As the camera pans up, we can see the poster of a beach landscape illuminated by a lamp above. Dennig couldn’t contain her laughter as she saw her Airbnb booking fall through in such a hilarious way. “We got totally ripped off on Airbnb,” the overlay text read.
The video was viewed almost 4 million times in a few weeks and people were totally amused. “I think they made the best of the situation, it looks better than a white plastic wall. But when booking, a photo like that is misleading,” said @nickname534. “I would still take photos and pretend I had that view,” joked @__steffyxy. “Well, if it’s too warm outside with the beach and sun, at least it’s nice and cold in the basement apartment,” joked @vasili_vase. “At first, that view looked so real that I almost booked it,” added @cryptomedia2025.
Just as anyone who sees the video initially thinks it’s a real ocean view, Dennig was fooled. This might be the perfect example of the saying “appearances can be deceiving.” What the couple thought would be a great place for a weekend getaway turned out to be the basement of the Airbnb. “We thought, ‘Wow, what an amazing view we have,’ but look, it’s just a photo. We’re just in the basement,” Dennig told The Sun. “You’re lying in bed, it’s midnight, but you think it’s either evening sun or morning sun. It’s pretty amazing,” she added.
In a follow-up video, Dennig recounted what their “ocean view” looked like when they opened the window. Her partner walked through the window and stood on the other side, which was so crowded that only one person could fit inside. He looked into the light as if he was enjoying the sun and even made gestures as if he was swimming in the ocean. Dennig, in the background, couldn’t stop laughing as her boyfriend pretended to enjoy the fake ocean view. The couple’s experience might be the best lesson for people who act hastily after seeing dreamy hotel room pictures online. Looks like we have to dig deeper before booking an Airbnb these days.
You can follow Sonny (@sonnyloops) on TikTok for travel and lifestyle content.
