Now let’s be clear: Airbnb didn’t sponsor me to say the following- it’s simply my opinion that is based on my personal (and professional) experience of booking and using accommodation.
I travel a lot and have worked as a Travel Consultant designing bespoke holidays in the past, so I have a fair amount of expertise on different accommodation options and what they have to offer, and what to look out for when it comes to choosing and booking specific places.
For my own personal travel in the past I used to rely mainly on hostel/backpacker type accommodation and hotel/motel style accommodation, but when Airbnb came along it was a game changer for me. Here’s why:
Value for money
Airbnbs truly do provide the best amenities and location for your money. If you’re a couple travelling together, or travelling as a family or as a group of friends, Airbnb easily beats any affordable hotel or hostel on price. This is true almost regardless of where you travel to. We’ve used Airbnbs in destinations ranging from the most expensive cities like New York (where we paid US $57/£44 pp/night for a private room for two) right through to some of the most affordable destinations in Eastern Europe such as Sofia in Bulgaria (where an entire apartment for 3 people set us back only US $17/£13 pp/night!) The only time it is probably cheaper to not use Airbnb is if you are travelling solo and booking dorm beds in hostels, but of course that comes with certain trade-offs in terms of comfort, privacy and security.
Location
Being able to stay somewhere centrally located within a city is always a bonus when it comes to exploring, particularly if the place is within walking distance of the main draw cards. Many Airbnbs are based in the heart of the most sought after city destinations. This means you can access a lot of the main attractions easily and majorly save on transport costs as well. Of course hotels are often well located too, but Airbnbs are more widespread, and allow you to feel less like a tourist, and more like a temporary local.
Facilities
Airbnbs offer facilities that you would expect to find in your own home, whether you choose to share those facilities by booking a private room or have them all to yourself by booking an entire place. The same can’t necessarily be said for affordable hotel rooms, that are usually equipped with just the basics, and aren’t usually kitted out with full kitchens or laundry facilities like most Airbnbs are. Hostels on the other hand usually have these types of facilities, but you have to share them and they don’t offer the same privacy.
Unique Experiences
Airbnb offers a complete range of ‘home away from home’ type accommodation, from stylish apartments through to really unique stays. There’s no identical, mass produced hotel rooms to be found, but rather individually decorated places that have character, and that are based in living, breathing neighbourhoods. This means you get to live as if you were a local for a few days, and soak up the atmosphere of the area while you’re there.
Easy booking
It’s not hard to make an Airbnb booking- simply go to their website or app, choose ‘stays’ rather than ‘experiences,’ plug in your dates, the number of travellers and your destination, and hit search. You can add any additional search criteria that might be relevant- such as the type of place, or your preferred budget per night- to help you find something that is ideal for you. I find it easiest to filter for places that are ‘insta-book’ and to prioritise places that have been listed by a ‘superhost’ – someone who has been recognised for offering a guaranteed, good experience to guests many times over. If your plans are liable to change check the cancellation policy of the host before booking, as these can vary. When you complete your booking you can choose to pay up front, or pay half up front and half closer to the time of your stay. Then once your booking is secured, you’re good to go, with all the details stored in one place on the Airbnb app.
Ease of access
Before your stay the host will give you details in advance about how check in works. There is often someone who meets you to let you in, and give you the keys to the place or sometimes the keys might be left at a local business for pick up, for example at a nearby restaurant. My favourite places however are the ones that allow us to simply collect the keys from a secure lock-box, as that means we can pick up the keys and let ourselves in with no hassle and at our own convenience. This is much easier than having to deal with complicated check in procedures, and restricted check in hours, as is often the case when checking into hostels or hotels.
Honest Reviews
Airbnb shares genuine reviews from travellers, and uses past guests scores to inform the rating that each place is given. This means you know how past travellers found the place, and can check whether they made any specific comments about it before you book. The important thing is that the reviews are mainly positive. I wouldn’t necessarily be put off by one bad review, but I would check that most of the recent guests were reasonably happy with the experience they had, as a valuable indicator that I’m likely to feel the same when I stay at the place. Out of the almost eighty Airbnbs I have stayed in so far I have only had one or two disappointing experiences- the rest have been overwhelmingly positive. By using the tips above, and making the most of Airbnbs booking filters, I have learnt how to find exactly what I am looking for.
As you can see I’m a huge fan of Airbnb for my own travel. I wouldn’t be able to afford to travel as much as I currently do, if it wasn’t for Airbnb making it accessible, and I don’t think I would enjoy my travels as much. I hope that this post helps you choose the best accommodation options for you and make the very most of your travel experiences.