Airbnb is super awesome and a cost-friendly way to travel. And you can meet some really cool people. But here is some advice to keep in mind before you book.
1. Pick where you want to go, specifically.
When visiting a place, the location of your accommodation can be a game changer. Spending an extra buck to be closer to the city center can totally be worth it. It can be economically lucrative because you could potentially avoid paying for a metro. And it could open doors for after-dark activities by having more options within walking distance.
2. The nature of the trip can be indicative of whether to rent an entire home or apartment, private room, or shared room.
If it's a fun girls weekend and you and a few other girlfriends are rendezvousing for a couple nights, it might be worth it to rent an entire place. If it's a couple's night, it also might be worth a little extra to make sure you’ll have your desired quiet time. But, if you’re a couple or a group of friends traveling, staying in a private room or shared space can be a great way to get a good night sleep at hostel prices with a little more privacy and usually a homier feel!
3. Refer friends -- it adds up!
When creating an Airbnb account if you sign up using a friends referral code you will save $20 on your first stay! And, the person who referred you will as well. So use that code. If you don’t have an Airbnb account already and you’re thinking about making one, you are more than welcome to use my promo code and save $20. Here it is!
4. To instant book or to not instant book?
Some hosts offer the option to book their place immediately; this is a good option when you are in a crunch for finding a place and when you’re sure of where you want to stay. It can be nice to receive confirmation immediately. But in my experience, there is no harm is engaging a host about their listing, and it can be informative and or reassuring about your stay. Airbnb even offers a bulleted list of things to mention when first contacting a host.
5. Read the “About This Listing” section very closely.
This is where hosts will tell you about their place. Sometimes, hosts will try and sneak information into this section. For example, once under an “Entire Place/Apt” listing, which usually means the accommodation will be vacated during your stay, a woman noted that she actually lived upstairs with her cat, but would stay in her section of the house during the stay. So, definitely read this section thoroughly if you’re looking for something specific, like a house with a washer and dryer, WiFi, or a house without a cat lady.
6. Read up on with whom and where you’re staying.
Some hosts are more involved, some just hand you a pair of keys. Some provide breakfast and coffee -- some just water. It can be hard to get a real read on the host from their information section, but the comments section can provide useful information about the true nature of the host and their home. If there are any caveats to the seemingly perfect listing, they will be listed in the comments section, and any unmentioned plus sides to the particular place will be noted there as well. Some hosts do not have reviews because no one has stayed, or no one has written a review. I usually do not stay with these hosts as it can be a bit of a gamble, but it's your trip!
