One of my favorite types of accommodations when traveling is booking stays through Airbnb. Airbnb is a website that helps you find apartment or room rentals for short-term stays during your travels. They can be cheap rentals, mid-ranged or more higher end depending on the neighborhood, but regardless you’re most likely going to be able to find something within your budget. Plus, you get to live like a local!
Why Book an Airbnb?
Airbnbworks almost like any other booking site, except it allows you to connect with people offering rentals. It’s great for anyone traveling whether alone, as a couple or even with an entire family because it works as a convenient alternative to hotels. You have the option to cook your own food, fit a few more people than you would in a hotel room and possibly be much more conveniently located in an area that you want to be near.
For my trip to Argentina, Rand and I booked a studio Airbnb in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires for 14 nights. The stays costs us $48 a night we are in walking distance to the adorable cafe scene, to boutique shopping and some of the best parilla restaurants in Buenos Aires. Even though we have so many great dining options near us, there are also nights where we want to go grocery shopping at the neighborhood carneceria and the produce shop and cook up recipes that are new to us in our little kitchen.
Tips for Booking an Airbnb Stay
You shouldn’t wait until the last-minute to book an Airbnb stay. The renter needs to prepare the space for you whether they need to have it cleaned, bring in clean towels and sheets or just arrange time out of their day to bring you the key. It’s not a hotel! Another reason you should not wait until the last minute is because not all reservations are instant. You may only be “requesting” to book so if that is true in your case, then you will have to wait for a response from a renter which can be nerve-racking especially if you are not always going to have wifi or cell phone data service throughout the day.
Before we arrived at our rental in Palermo, we had been corresponding with the renter through email and texting through Watsapp to figure out the best time to meet to get the keys. Sometimes the renter will not be able to make it and they’ll leave a key with a business next door or have a neighbor meet with you. Just make sure to confirm a time so they’re not waiting for you all day and you’re not stuck out on the stoop waiting for them!
Read the Reviews
When your looking through the different apartment options, the reviews for each option you are considering can be a great resource to help determine whether the rental is for you or not. Maybe the rental has noisy neighbors, is in an unsafe neighborhood, or maybe the place was not clean when they arrived, but on the other hand they may have had their best rental experience there. Either way, it helps to read the pros and cons that people who have actually stayed in the unit have taken the time review. If there are no reviews for a renter, you may want to go with a different location especially because you don’t know what type of situation may be ahead.
Create a Profile
While you may be skeptical about renting an apartment online, the renter may be just as skeptical to rent to a stranger! Setting up a profile with Airbnb can help give both parties an idea of each other’s personalities and get a better introduction. One other thing to remember is that it’s not a hotel! The renter does not have to accept your request to stay in their property, so if you have a profile set up they may be more likely to rent to you.
Get Free Money Towards Your Booking
I do have an Airbnb that earns both myself and anyone who signs up using it a $25 credit towards a stay, so if you do decide to use it I would really grateful! The referral link is www.airbnb.com/c/saksu5
If you enjoyed this post, why don’t you follow Adrift Anywhere on Facebook or subscribe to get updates on budgeting tips, travel advice and tips!
I used Airbnb twice while traveling in Italy! Both times, it was actually less expensive than booking a private room in a hostel. In Cinque Terre, we actually had a full apartment to ourselves!