(I could probably end the post right here)
It took our families some time to wrap their heads around us 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 bet you’ve hardly 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, and I’ve actually found that renting a private Airbnb costs about the same amount or just slightly more as renting two beds in a unisex hostel room or a 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 afforded me the opportunity 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.
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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 our referral link, and you’ll save $40 off of your next $75 trip!
Have you used Airbnb during your travels? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments below!
