While doing my fair share of traveling over the years, I learned that there are times when you want more space. When traveling with my daughter when she was younger, a hotel room was sufficient. As she grew older, we needed more of a Residence Inn/suite life situation where she could have her own room to herself. There are tons of vacation timeshares and hotel condos that give that option, and I think we’ve stayed at them all. I’ve found that when traveling now, an AirBNB is optimal for our needs.
I appreciate space and having a living room and kitchen at my disposal. If I want to cook meals, I like to have that option. Having a home to ourselves is key for a great time, and it’s comforting. Hotels are nice, but you don’t always want to ride the elevator with others, or share common spaces because–well, pandemics and things of that nature.
We’ve been opting for AirBNB‘s more and more these days, and oftentimes, you can get a whole house or apartment for what you would pay for a hotel. Yes, there are other extras like cleaning fees, but for us, it’s worth it.
If you have upcoming travel planned, you may want to stay in a vacation rental instead of a hotel. I’m sharing 8 tips to help you select the right AirBNB, because yes, I am kinda-sorta a pro.
Let’s get right to it.
Location
Yes, it’s true what they say–location is everything. One of the first things I look at when searching for the right AirBNB is to see what it’s in proximity to. If I have a car, it’s not much of an issue, but if I don’t, want to be close to the areas I will be spending the most time in.
When we went to Nashville last year, I selected an AirBNB that was centrally located to downtown because we were going to frequent the area.
Ratings and Reviews
My better half always reads the reviews first before he chimes in if he likes it or not. You can get easily fooled if you are going by photos alone. The ratings and reviews will tell you the full story of what you need and want to know about the property and the host. Do not skip this step.
Parking
I could write a blog post alone on parking. I recently rented an AirBNB for my daughter’s birthday at a loft apartment, and the garage was located underneath the property. It was February and there was fresh snow and ice on the ground and to access the garage, you had to go down a steep incline–we slid so much and almost hit a vehicle.
We also stayed in another AirBNB where the parking spot was in an alley–a very narrow one at that. So always keep parking in mind when selecting an AirBNB. It’ll save you a lot of headaches.
[ Read: Birthday Behavior Road Trip To Nashville Music City ]
Communication
When reading the reviews, always check for comments on communication. It’s important that you have a host that communicates with you and gives you all the information you need to make your stay memorable and as stress-free as possible.
Non-negotiables
Know what your non-negotiables are, meaning what you have to have in your AirBNB. Do you require a washer and dryer, WiFi, a smart TV, or dishwasher? Whatever your non-negotiables are, make sure that the AirBNB has what you need. If it’s not listed in the description, you may want to reach out to the host via message.
Budget
For me, the budget is a deciding factor. I usually look at a hotel at the location I am traveling and see how much they are going for. Then I look on AirBNB in my preferred area and I scout the prices. Most of the time, I’ve found that the hotel and the AirBNB’s I am looking at cost about the same. What can cost more is the cleaning fee, which you don’t pay for when getting a hotel, but you get more space (I always select the whole house, not a room) and more privacy, which usually is worth the extra amount.
Hosts
I like to check out the hosts of the AirBNB, and also look for comments about them in the reviews. Sometimes, the hosts are owners of the home or the guesthouse you are renting, but there are instances when it’s a property management company taking care of the listing for the property owners.
Cleanliness
Now that we are living on the other side of the pandemic, health, safety, and still cleanliness is key. Make sure when you are picking out an AirBNB that you pay close attention to their Clean and Tidy ratings. You may even see some listings with a Covid-19 certification, meaning that it passed AirBNB’s rigorous standards.
AirBNB has become my preferred way to lodge when I travel, and I think it’s a great alternative to hotels, especially when traveling with other people. I hope that my tips to help you select the right AirBNB come in handy.
Are you an AirBNB enthusiast? What do you look for when selecting the right AirBNB?
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