(I could probably end the post right here, don’t you think?)
It took my family some time to wrap their heads around me staying in Airbnb rentals. “You mean you’re staying in a stranger’s house? Sleeping in their bed? Eating in their kitchen?”
I’ll be the first to admit that it is a little weird to sleep in someone’s bed, but I’ll wager you’ve never thought about all of the other people who’ve slept in your hotel room, right?
Airbnb is one of the reasons I can travel so often. While I could possibly save more money by couchsurfing or staying in a hostel, it’s not really the way I want to travel. Not to mention, I’ve found that renting a private Airbnb costs about the same amount or just slightly more than renting two beds in a multi-gender hostel room or a fully private hostel room. Paying a little extra for the comfort and security of an entire unit holds more value than saving an extra $10 or $20 a night.
Of course, I don’t solely travel using Airbnb. When I’m staying in a place for only a night, I generally will choose a hotel over a rental, because a hotel is always open and has a luggage check (great for those late nights or early mornings!), and it takes a lot of effort for an Airbnb host to turn around their rental for the next guest. For this reason, many Airbnb hosts have a minimum stay of two nights or more. I’ve also found that during certain events or weekends, it may be cheaper to stay in a hotel than an Airbnb rental. For example, out of the five or six trips to NYC I’ve taken in the past few years, I’ve only stayed in an Airbnb once; for every other visit, I’ve found better rates at decent hotels.
While cost is a huge factor in determining where I go and where I stay (thankfully neither Michael nor I am willing to go into debt over a night at a hotel!), the experience is highly important as well. When selecting a place to stay, I look for a clean space and a safe location. I like to live like a local for a few days and stay in a more residential area with easy access to sights, public transit, and grocery stores and restaurants nearby. It has taken me hours to pick a place to stay (researching neighborhoods, looking through photos, scrutinizing reviews), but it always pays off with a truly memorable experience.
By staying in Airbnbs I’ve met cats from California and France:
I’ve spent time with both chickens and family in locations where I couldn’t afford hotel lodging (Oakland and Tampa):
I’ve enjoyed sun-filled spaces in notoriously dark countries (Norway) and taken elevator selfies in more places than I can count (Luxembourg).
Most importantly, using Airbnb has allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and truly live like a local for a few days at a time – even if that means having to sit through yet another set of instructions on how to use the television remote.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON CHOOSING AIRBNB
Next time you are planning a vacation and considering accommodation options, give an Airbnb rental a chance! Do your research, read the reviews, and interact with the host over their messaging service. Need a further incentive? Sign up using my referral link, and you’ll save $40 off of your next $75 trip!
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Update for 2024:
While I still choose an Airbnb stay once or twice a year, multiple factors have swayed me into choosing hotels more and more in the decade since I started using the homeshare platform. Cost is by far the biggest factor, as short-term stays are commonly more expensive than hotel stays. But beyond the bottom line, convenience plays a role too. Hotels offer travelers the chance to check in and head out, but Airbnb stays often eat into my limited travel time. From lengthy check-in instructions (how many times do we need to learn how to use the remote?) to a laundry list of cleaning expectations, sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle.
So, when might I decide to choose an Airbnb over a hotel these days? When hotel prices are particularly elevated due to large events (say, when Taylor Swift is in town), when I’m staying somewhere for four or more nights and an Airbnb might provide more comforts at a better price (like when I spent a week in Guadalajara), or when an Airbnb provides a much more unique experience than a hotel would (such as a rainforest tiny home in Puerto Rico).
But where you’ll now find me sleeping most often are at boutique hotels, which combine a unique, destination-specific experience with the convenience of a hotel at a (usually) friendly price. Truly, it’s the best of both worlds.
Where to next? Why not give one of these related posts a read:
- How to Find Cheap Flights
- 20 Questions You Should Ask a Potential Travel Partner Before You Leave Home
- How to Split Travel Costs When One Person Makes More Money
- What Happens When You Cancel a Non-refundable Trip?
- Dinner Party Survival Kit: 20 Travel-Themed Conversation Starters
- 5 Easy Things You Can Do Today to Save for Your Next Trip
- A Travel Blogger’s Review of the Solgaard Carry-On Closet
- How to Pack the Away Carry-On
- I won a trip! (Now what?)
- Checking In: Hotel Reviews
- All Travel Guides Sorted by Destination
- Exclusive Discounts + Promo Codes
- All of My Personal Item Packing Lists
Have you used Airbnb during your travels? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments below!
