By Soo Kim

Copyright newsweek

A video revealing the stark difference between the exterior and interior of a vacation rental in Bosnia has gone viral on TikTok.The clip, shared by Nadina (@nanadinaih), a TikTok user from Toronto, Canada, begins with a shot of the building’s worn-down facade. Moments later, her husband is seen walking up a stairwell before opening the door to a brightly furnished, modern apartment. The clip has had over 4.4 million views since it was shared on September 5. The caption shared with the post simply says “contrast.”Nadina, who did not share her age or last name, told Newsweek that she had mistakenly referred to the property as an “Airbnb” in her video, but it was actually booked through Booking.com. She said that the couple stayed for just one night during a summer trip to Bosnia after their original reservation fell through.“We were in a pinch that day to find something because our prior booking didn’t work out. This one had great reviews,” Nadina said. https://www.tiktok.com/@nanadinaih/video/7546593145316756753 The poster chose not to disclose the specific city where the rental was located, citing the privacy of the building’s residents and owner. But she said that the city was large and well-known.“The city had many buildings that still had remnants and scars of the war as this one did, so when we saw the facade in the pictures on Booking.com, we weren’t swayed in booking it,” Nadina told Newsweek.Inside, the couple found that the rental “matched the photos exactly” as they had seen online. “The apartment itself was great—clean, comfortable, and very nice,” Nadina said. “It was only one night, but it was very comfortable.”There are broader trends in the travel and lodging industry, where guest satisfaction often depends heavily on cleanliness and comfort, regardless of external appearances.The 2025 State of the Industry report by the American Hotel and Lodging Association found that cleanliness continues to rank as a top priority for travelers, often outweighing even price or location in guest satisfaction surveys.Despite ongoing staffing shortages in the hotel sector, with 64.9 percent of U.S. hotels still reporting challenges, total employment in the industry is expected to climb above 2.17 million this year, contributing more than $128 billion in wages, salaries, and compensation, the association reported.For Nadina and her husband, their rental experience was both memorable and personal, not just for the comfort of the rental itself but also for the reminder of the region’s history.While the viral video highlighted the contrast between the exterior and interior, the experience carried a deeper emotional weight for the couple. Nadina said that they felt “intrigued” but also “heartbroken” when they first saw the building.“It was a bit of a challenging day because of this, to be honest, especially given that my husband was a refugee as a result of this very war,” Nadina said.Her husband was born in Bosnia and came to Canada as a refugee during the conflict, while Nadina was born in Romania and later immigrated to Canada after the revolution there. She said their shared background shaped their perspective on the experience.Nadina added that the building reminded both of them of their childhoods in Eastern Europe. “It was nostalgic cause it reminded us of our childhoods in Eastern Europe—the style of blocks, the stairwells, the smells, the repairs needed. So, it was oddly comforting and intriguing. But what was particularly interesting was that not every building was like this. Many were refaced, especially in that area, so this building kind of stood out.”“Being Eastern European, we both understand the complexities of darker histories and war, and part of our trip this summer was about learning more and visiting places in his home country,” Nadina said. “Even with our backgrounds, though, seeing for yourself the remnants of war can be really challenging.”A stock image of a couple with two suitcases standing outside an apartment complex.Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.