Renting an Airbnb can be a bit stressful. Will the rental look like the photos in the listing? What if the owner is crazy? What if I don’t like the neighborhood?
If you are asking yourself these questions, just know you are not alone. I have been a member of Airbnb for 12 years, and I am happy to share what I have learned from my travel experiences. Hopefully, this will make your next trip more enjoyable and stress-free.
Before You Book:
- The more photos in the listing, the better.
I generally avoid anything that has fewer than six images. I want to see every nook and cranny. How clean is that bathroom? What are the beds like? Is there actually a kitchen? - Read as many of the listing’s reviews as you can, but do remember to go into this with an open mind.
What one person may have despised, another may love. For example, when I stayed in Toulouse, France, I wanted to be right in the center of it all, which meant noisy late-night crowds. One reviewer hated all the noise, but I came prepared with earplugs and loved my stay. Five stars. - Google the street view of the listing.
What’s the neighborhood like? Is this somewhere you feel comfortable staying? Where is the entrance to the rental? - Carefully read the listing’s rules and description.
You don’t want to arrive and find you missed something important in the listing. - If you have any questions or concerns, contact the host.
In a previous post, I shared nine questions you may want to ask your Airbnb host before booking. Maybe you need clarification on bed size or when check-in and check-out are? Don’t forget that if you are traveling internationally, there may be a language barrier, and those auto translators can make mistakes.
When You Arrive:
- Upon arrival, be sure to take a video of the entire home or space.
While I’ve never had an issue with a host accusing me of breaking something during a stay, it can happen, and I have heard some horror stories. If you do find something broken or missing, take photos and videos and contact the host immediately. Make sure they know. - Accidentally break something?
Be honest with your host. They will eventually find out anyway, and it’s better to be upfront about it. - Lock your luggage.
Before you head out to explore the city, lock up your luggage. It’s just a small precaution I like to take. - Do not share your rental location on social media.
You never know who is watching. Better to be on the safe side and save those photo shares for when you leave. - Keep an eye on those keys.
When I travel, I attach my rental keys to a little hook in my travel purse. Losing a rental key could result in hefty fees as they may have to change the locks.
When You Leave:
- Clean up.
I know there’s a cleaning fee already in place, but be kind and clean up any spills or messes. Follow the checkout guidelines. - Leave a review.
Help the next traveler by leaving an honest review. It takes a lot for me to give anything less than a 5-star rating, but if the space was truly horrible, share your experience. If it was delightful and amazing, definitely share your joy.
Well, that’s it! I hope my tips for booking with Airbnb were helpful. Happy travels!
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