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As you learned in my last post, I absolutely love staying in Airbnbs on my vacations. Between the amenities, the prices, and the location, I really believe it’s hard to get a better deal!
However, it is possible to stay in an Airbnb that is, well...not so great. In order to have a good trip, you need to make sure you choose your Airbnb carefully. Keep reading to hear my top 5 tips for booking the perfect Airbnb for your trip!
1. Read the Reviews
This tip is fairly obvious but definitely worth mentioning. I typically advise that you do not stay at an Airbnb without reviews, but I have stayed at one without reviews before and it was actually a great little place (she was new to airbnb, but was an awesome host!); however, there is no guarantee. You can get great deals if a person is just starting, but you also have to prepare yourself for a place that might be a little (or a lot) below average if this is not an experienced Airbnb host.
Usually it is best to stay with a host that has a lot of reviews. When reading reviews, you should look at the overall score as well as each score category: cleanliness, communication, check-in, accuracy, location, and value. I would argue that the two most important categories are location and cleanliness. Pay special attention to the most recent reviews, but also to the reviews from the same season you are planning to travel in case they mention special festivals, traffic, etc.
If you do your homework reading the reviews, you will most likely have a good idea of what the Airbnb is really like.
2. Stay with a Superhost
Airbnb has a Superhost system that makes it easier to find the best possible places to stay.
In order to be a considered a Superhost, an Airbnb host has to have a 90% response rate, less than 1% cancellation rate, maintain an average rating of 4.8 or higher, and have hosted at least 100 nights. If a host meets this criteria, they are given a “Superhost” badge on their profile that looks like a little medal. It will also say “Superhost” on each listing they post.
I have stayed in several Airbnbs with Superhost status over the past few years and they were all wonderful. I think the Superhost system is very helpful in determining a good place to stay, especially if you are new to Airbnb. When searching for your next Airbnb, go to the top bar and click ‘filters’ and scroll down until you see the option for Superhosts. You can filter your results so that you only see Superhost options and then you can narrow it down from there.
I have yet to stay with a Superhost that didn't go above and beyond my expectations, so I highly recommend it!
3. Look at Pictures with a Critical Eye
Let’s face it, we are much more likely to book an AirBNB if it has professional, well-lit pictures than one with blurry photos from weird angles.
I have found that AirBNB hosts that take professional photos of their property tend to exhibit that same professionalism in other parts of their hosting “business.” However, we live in a time where it is so easy to take professional pictures, so you shouldn’t base your decision on good pictures alone. Just because a listing has beautiful professional photos doesn’t mean that the place is super nice.
Most of the AirBNBs I have stayed in are accurate to the pictures I saw, but some pictures can be deceiving. We stayed at a place in Ireland that had really great pictures on their listing. It didn’t look like the most luxurious apartment, but it was a great deal and looked clean. Some of the reviews were critical, but I just figured those were some super Type A people who were expecting a high-end hotel for the price of an affordable Airbnb. I mean, the pictures looked good, so it had to be nice, right?
Unfortunately...no. Some things that were broken and dingy and didn’t really seem like the picture at all. This is where I will refer back to my first tip...read the reviews! If the reviews are negative but the pictures look amazing, always trust the reviews.
4. Choose an Amazing Location
As I mentioned in my last post, the locations Airbnbs offer are one of the main reasons I prefer them over hotels! Because Airbnbs are known for offering amazing locations with good prices, you can often stay within walking distance from the places you want to visit. To find an Airbnb with the best location, I recommend using the map view when searching. You can zoom in on the map and choose the best property within a short distance from the places you plan to visit.
Some listings will say they are “walking distance from the city center” or “just down the road from the main attractions” but you should always check the map to see if that is true. Terms like “walking distance” and “just down the road” are very subjective and it’s possible you will be unpleasantly surprised when you see how far away it really is. If you use the map, you won’t have to wonder.
Please note that Airbnbs are sometimes the private residence of the host, so specific addresses to the home are not posted publicly. Instead, Airbnb will send you a message after booking that contains the address of where you will stay. Before you book you can view a map with the general area of the house/apartment. This is usually towards the bottom of the page when booking, and you will be able to see the neighborhood the home is in as well as how close it is to major highways, etc.
5. Consider Your Priorities
It is so important to consider your priorities when choosing which Airbnb will be best for your trip. A great place for someone else may not be exactly what you need for your specific vacation.
For example, if you are planning to be on the go for most of the day and will only use your Airbnb for sleeping purposes, you might opt to save money and stay in a shared space right in the city center instead of renting an entire apartment with rooms you won’t need. You could use that money you saved towards a fancy dinner or a fun excursion! However, if you are going on a beach vacation with friends and are looking to spend a lot of time in and out of the rental, you might choose a nicer, more expensive place to get that luxury beach house feel.
The key to finding the right space for you is to search in the correct category. Airbnb has basic listings, plus listings, and luxe listings. As you can imagine, each category is more expensive than the last. If you are looking for a nicer stay instead of just something basic, it would be worth your time to look in the plus or luxe categories. If you are like me and just looking for the best value, then the basic listing is the way to go.
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No matter what type of trip you are planning, Airbnb has something for you. I use it almost exclusively now (unless I find an irresistible hotel offer, which isn't often) and I highly recommend that you check it out! Have you ever stayed in an Airbnb? If so, tell me your best or worst story in the comments! If not, here’s $40 towards your first trip.
If you missed my last post about the reasons I believe Airbnbs are better than hotels, you can check that out here.
Happy travels!
Sincerely,
Katie