Ever been six pages deep into a 30 page paper and considered leaving it all behind for a ticket to no where? Recently we have seen an explosion in the idea of young travel and an even bigger boom in romanticizing becoming a "wanderer." Whether you're a college student questioning if you can afford groceries, or fresh into the real world with a car and house payment, exploring the globe seems financially out of the question.
As I was practically choking down my discount TV dinner the other night, procrastinating from any sort of school work, I realized that my Facebook was becoming flooded with advertisements about student travel and "cheap all inclusive tours of Europe." What part of that doesn't sound appealing? Different organizations, study abroad programs and the occasional "Spring Break 2K17 Tour de Vodka" would pop up on my feed but none seemed like something I would trust with a $300 down payment. 9:30 had turned into almost midnight and just as I thought I was finishing up dreaming about boarding a plane anytime soon, something popped up in the corner of my browser: Airbnb.
Brian Cheskey and Joe Gebbia are two names I could bet my last dollar that most of you haven't heard. The ingenuity and refreshing ideas of Airbnb was crafted from these two gentlemen in 2008. However, it's been within the last 2 to 3 years that their company has expanded to more than 34,000 cities and just about 200 countries. Let me break it down and tell you how you, your friends and about 7 million other people are going to spend your next summer excursion. Worry free, comfortably and affordably: that's how. By the use of their smartphone compatible app, or website, you simply sign up and you're half way to the Italian Riviera.
Searching through properties and hosts is a breeze. With listings with detailed pictures, host statements and security assurance it already becomes a win, win, win situation. A host? Where am I sleeping exactly? The ingenious idea of Airbnb is that it allows a global community of travelers, young and old to have a homey feel no matter if they are 3 states away or even in a different time zone. Hosts that are signed up through Airbnb offer up their properties for the duration of your stay. It can sometimes almost be a game of some sort trying to make out if a hotel room will be clean and you almost never see the statements about the roach problem on the 7th floor. In my opinion, I think honesty is the best policy when it comes to traveling, and of course other things. In comparing the two, there of course is a wide variety of where and when you'll be staying and just how much you'll be paying.
Marketing not just to college students, but to the entire world has increased the intrigue and allure of this company. Recently, they have completed an almost entire revamp process for the face of Airbnb. This not only appeals to us young aspiring travel connoisseurs, but those celebrating a 30th wedding anniversary or even business globetrotters. So next time your heart is screaming Morocco, but your bank account is telling you to save up for that one Starbucks you get a week, check into Airbnb and be on your way.
