Not to toot my own horn here but I happen to be excellent at finding the perfect airbnb, no matter where we stay. If you’ve read my post about airbnb’s vs. hotels (linked here) then you’ll know that I prefer to stay in airbnbs over hotels. Not only do they tend to be cheaper but you truly get the feeling like you’re living like a local. So how do I find the perfect airbnb?
#1. The Vibe
For example, I am a sucker for midcentury furnishings so if I’m staying in a big city, I like to find a spot that incorporates that. However, when I was going to Joshua Tree, I knew that I wanted something in the middle of the desert, something a little bit more unique. That’s exactly how I ended up with the airstream. If I’m visiting Hawaii, I know I’m going to want something that’s close to the beach and something with a bit of a tropical feel. So I found a surf cottage that’s right on the water.
#2. Location
This leads me to my number 2 point. Think about where you want to be. What part of the city do you want to be in? Are there certain tourist attractions you want to be close to? Do you want to save money on transportation and walk everywhere? Is the neighborhood safe? Are you wanting a quieter more peaceful vacation or do you want to be in the heart of the action? These are things you’ll want to research
#3. Price
How much of your trip budget are you wanting to spend on your airbnb? If you’re willing to splurge a bit to get a luxury airbnb because you want that to be part of your experience, go for it. If you aren’t too picky about the lodging because you won’t be there too much, you can find airbnb’s for as low as $50 a night.
#4. Privacy
If you like your privacy, I recommend going with a home that is rented out as a whole rather than just a private room. However, if you’re looking to save some money, staying in a home with a private room is your best option. The few times I’ve done this, I really did not see the host so it was essentially like renting out the whole home anyways. I’ve also rented out a guest house or pool house that is right off of the main house and loved it.
#5. The amenities
Before most of my trips, I like to stock up my cooler with foods like fruit, sandwich toppings, and breakfast supplies to save money. When doing this, I really prefer my airbnb’s to have a kitchen so that I can cook myself meals and refrigerate my food that I brought with. Do you want a kitchen? Wifi because you need to do some work? Do you want a swimming pool or hot tub? Do you want safe parking? These are things to think about.
#6. Reviews + the host
If a home doesn’t have any reviews, I tend to shy away from it. It could be one of the greatest airbnb’s I’ve ever stayed in but I prefer to read the reviews from other’s about their stay. Not only does allow you to gauge what the stay is like but what the host is like as well. There have been times where I never met the host and I was more than okay with this. I’ve also stayed in homes where the host went out of their way to come introduce themselves and answer any questions that we may have had. What do you prefer in a host?
#7. The date
Some of the more popular airbnb’s book up months in advance. If you have the flexibility, check out multiple different dates to see what shows up. This gives you a little more freedom and a few more options. I’m not gonna lie, when I’m booking, I’ve always got dates in mind and I’ve never had an issue finding exactly what I’m looking for.
Other than what I’ve recommended, my biggest advice when picking out an airbnb is be patient. There are so many places listed. It’s probably going to take a little time to find the perfect spot for you. But once you do find it, you’ll be amazed at how it can really make your trip one to remember.
XO.
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