Let’s be honest—when new neighbors move in, our first instinct is to snoop. Who are they? Are they quiet or noisy? Nice or a total nightmare? Some people even hover near the door, hoping to catch some intel. But imagine if the place next door or upstairs is an Airbnb. Now that’s a headache—constant churn of strangers stomping in and out, many of them completely clueless about things like basic noise manners or not treating the floor like a drum. Guilty as charged, we Americans probably win the loud-and-oblivious award.

Last winter, I went to England with a friend and stayed in this adorable, historic Airbnb in an older, grand building. Europe’s got homes that have stood for centuries, filled with stories—and apparently, some extra guests and past residences who are still attached to their “homes”. My friend handled all the booking, so I just showed up ready to relax. The unit was super cute, bright and modern with a French window, modern kitchen appliance and a stair to go up to the bed Looks like a half size loft, but being a medium, I quickly realized we weren’t alone.

It was a full-blown spirit convention in the first few days after arrival. Figures came down the stairs, through the walls, even scurried around like little ghost animals. None of them were menacing, but the vibe was definitely, “Ugh, new people again?” Airbnb life must be rough for both incarnated and spirits who just want some peace.

The sleeping area was in this loft space with steep stairs leading up to it, and let me tell you, that staircase was prime ghost real estate. I saw a portal, an invisible doorway to another realm which located in different areas, at the top leading straight to another realm—basically, a supernatural expressway. Another portal was near the fake fireplace, where the first night I saw a tall big older man who seemed to have lived there (or somewhere in between walls / realms) for hundreds of years. He didn’t mean harm; he just popped by like, “Who are you, and why are you here?” I had to introduce myself and assured him we were nice girls and would leave soon. He must’ve liked my vibe because he disappeared and never came back.

The first night, I couldn’t sleep with all the commotion. By night two, I got smart and used my protection ritual before bed. That worked wonders—peace at last.

A Late-Night Visit from the Lady In Blue

Two nights later, just when I forgot about the activity in the unit, my friend and I, still running on U.S. time, had a silly little bicker over food. It was late, and we forgot about the echoing wooden floors. I swear I thought we were mindful enough tho! Oops. Apparently, our ghostly neighbors didn’t appreciate the late-night drama and she prolly sense the unease about the bickering which obviously bothers her enough to come check. 

Right as I was falling asleep, bam, my consciousness got yanked out of my body. I found myself standing at the edge of the loft by the end of the bed, facing frontal to a lady in a royal blue pencil skirt and blazer, matching blue hat, and long cigarette, red lips with old era make up. She was straight out of another era and had that no-nonsense Downton Abbey energy. Without saying a word, she telepathically asked, “Why so loud and messy (disturbed energy) earlier?” Busted. I apologized profusely and promised we’d be quieter. Satisfied, she allowed me to return to my body. Next day I woke up feeling like a kid who got scolded by a teacher. My friend and I agreed to be on our best behavior after that.

For the rest of the stay, the activity dialed way down. Shadows still flitted up and down the stairs, but the spirits mostly left us alone. Toward the end, things were so calm that I was finally able to sleep soundly.

Funny enough, the upstairs unit was also an Airbnb, with people even more constant lugging suitcases in and out. Stomping floor and all that. We joked that the spirits were probably busy dealing with them instead of us.

The issue is, if your earthly neighbor complains about your noise, they have to knock your door to let you know, but if your disturbed neighbor is not earthly, they just come in anytime, make sure they deliver the message in any way they want. Privacy doesn’t exist in the spirit world.

Nevertheless, One afternoon, while my friend was out, I decided to offer assistance to any spirits in the building who wanted to cross over. Not a single taker and I got a sense that they thought I was a busy body, and a few rolling eyes vibe. They were perfectly happy right where they were, and I figured it who am I to tell what is better for others, right? 

Respecting the Neighbors

Airbnb is a genius invention, giving people unforgettable experiences—but it’s not always a win for the permanent residents, living or dead. So, next time you book a short-term rental, remember: keep it down. You might not just be disturbing the neighbors—you could be annoying the ghostly lady in the blue skirt, too. Trust me, you don’t want her showing up at your bed in the middle of the night.

Till next time……

Kari Light ❤

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Photography: Kari Light in Spain, Summer 2024