AirBNB has opened opportunities to stay in better locations, often (but not always) for less cost than a hotel. Cost should not be the only factor to consider AirBnB. Location opportunity and the experience are often more important.
But, you have to understand, quite often, you get what you pay for.
Original perception was, staying with hosts, getting local advice, and having a more homey experience. Ummmmm.
40 odd European bookings later, I can share some reality.
As there are good and bad hotels, rooms, and hotel staff, there are often worse AirBnB.
At least with a hotel, you know the location you are staying before booking. Yep, quite often, you don’t know exactly where the accom will be even at time of booking, netherlone the day before arrival.
There is seemingly some sort of privacy protection going on, but that is just the start of it.
If you try booking on AirBnB’s website or app using the Map function, understand the Flags can be blocks away from the reality, on opposite sides of the railway lines or a river, or inconvenient to the transport you expected to use.
Then there are good and bad host communications. Some Hosts respond promptly, others you don’t hear back from. Ones that respond promptly provide some comfort to expectation, but that doesn’t mean the accom meets the same standard.
A lot of Hosts have created an AirBnB business, owning or leasing a multi room or multiple apartments, then renting out rooms on AirBnB. So quite often, you never meet the Host; but for the most part, the Hosts I met and coffee conversations enjoyed, have become some of the fondest memories of my travel.
So here are my AirBNB tips.
Booking on AirBNB is about trying to make an informed judgement.
Read the reviews and read between the lines.
Guests are often too polite, so saying little is not a good thing. Some reviewers will mask a complaint within commentary, eg Loved the views from this top floor apartment, and got my cardio done at the same time. Read, lots of stairs, no lift.
Examine the photos, or consider why there are a lack of photos or the listing is filled with lifestyle shots instead of showing you your bed, and the bathroom condition.
Look at how long the host has been on AirBnB, then consider how few or how many reviews are there. You don’t have to review your stay, so if you don’t want the aggravation of speaking your mind, you are less likely to leave a review.
Read the description carefully. Make sure the essentials for you are there. Wifi, bed, parking, washing machine, lift etc. if you are unclear and really want to pursue that site, send the host a message rather than a booking request. Ask precise questions, and expect complete answers.
For example, is free parking, in a garage, on the street, free between 8pm to 8am only, requires a permit ? Is wifi available throughout the apartment, or just in one spot. Is it Their wifi, or piggyback off the restaurant downstairs requiring a facebook login multiple times a day ? Yes, that happened.
Click “Make A Booking Request”, and you can often then reveal more of an address in the next window on the right under the photo. You can go back from there without finalising, but you may be clearer of the location then. Copy the address into Maps and see if it’s where you want to be for the purpose of your stay.
Do they charge for using the washing machine ? just because it is listed, does not mean its free to use I found. Is there a dryer ? if not, make sure you have enough time to get your stuff dry and consider the climate for drying. Cold and rain can be a problem. Heated floors however can help dry things on a clothes airer overnight.
Save or print a copy of the listing when you book it; description & house rules wording, and photo’s. Don’t just save the URL, as details can change between booking & arrival. That can help you compare, if what you arrived to is what you expected and booked.
Many I encountered are share accom with multiple rooms, and the room and bed you expected, may not be what you are allocated. Having original booking details to refer to can sort that out quickly.
Like renting a car, I suggest taking photos of the condition you arrive to before unpacking. Then take photo’s as you leave so no claims can be made if you have left everyting as you found it, good, or bad.
IF something goes astray or is not what is expected, talk/message/contact to the Host first, it could be a simple misunderstanding; but if you need to take it up with AirBnB, do so within 24hrs of arrival. AirBnB Corporate I found to be very professional and helpful.
AirBnB has opened up a new travel experience; but should always be compared to Hotel opportunities for the same location; or at the very least, do the research and ask the questions to make sure what you expect, is what you experience.