Y’all,

Airbnb is the bomb.com and if you have never used it, you’re missing out. We started using airbnb when it was fairly new. I think the first time I used it was either on a visit to Boston with my family for my brother-in-law’s graduation from MIT (hey-oh, Chuck is super smart) or on a long weekend visit to Asheville, NC (hey-oh, the Biltmore is amazing). In Boston, my family had a whole house in Cambridge to ourselves and it was awesome because we could cook our own dinner, which saved a lot of money from super expensive Boston restaurants. In Asheville, Austin and I stayed in an extra room at an older woman’s apartment right on the edge of town and it was awesome. She gave us tons of suggestions for restaurants, hikes to do in the nearby national forest, places to camp in said forest, and was overall so helpful and accommodating, even down to the tiny toiletries in our room.

Every experience I have ever had with Airbnb has been outstanding. It’s generally cheaper than hotels, you get insider info about your destination from your host, it’s much more personal and home-y than a hotel, and it’s super easy to use. Of course, you hear some stories from people here and there about not so awesome experiences but you also get that from hotels sometimes. On Airbnb, people leave reviews, there’s a superhost rating some people can earn so you know they’re probably a better option, there are photos and lots of info, and you’re supporting a local resident rather than a big hotel chain or corporate resort. As you can see, I have a lot of love for airbnb.

If you’ve never used it you may be concerned about staying at an airbnb that’s an extra room where the resident will be present vs having a whole home to yourself. I get it, you don’t want a housemate on vacation, but what if that housemate was also like a hotel concierge that gave you recommendations, snacks, wine and provided breakfast? Not sounding so bad, huh? Every time we have stayed with someone who was actually present, they have taken the time to make us breakfast, give us wine or snacks upon arrival, sat down with us and drawn out maps or lists of suggested activities, and also left us alone when we wanted to do our own thing! So even though it might not seem glamorous to shack up with someone, it has its benefits too!

The view from our AirBnB of the fortress in Salzburg, Austria

In Chile, we stayed at an Airbnb with a guy named Pierre. He was French and worked at a pisco distillery and was gone for long hours. We practically had his place to ourselves, but we would make dinner each night while there and share with Pierre when he got home from work, having a glass of wine together at his dinner table. It became our routine and was one of the most relaxing weeks we spent in Chile. Thanks, Pierre!

Austin relaxing on the dock outside our AirBnB at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Basically, I just want you to know that Airbnb can fit anyone’s travel style, needs, comfort level, etc. There are so many benefits to having a local at your side to ask anything and everything about your destination. Because their reviews reflect solely on them and their hosting abilities and hospitality, they have a vested interest in going above and beyond because if they don’t it only comes back to hurt them, not a big hotel company. All that being said, I hope I’ve convinced you to give it a shot. Here are a few tips to consider when using Airbnb:

Choose Superhost

When searching, I suggest turning on the superhost filter. This will ensure you get only well-experienced hosts with lots of good reviews who go above and beyond to make your stay comfortable and fun.

Location, Location, Location

Do some research on what area you’d like to stay in in the destination you are visiting then use the map feature to search for Airbnbs located close to the sights you’re hoping to see. That way you won’t have to worry as much about transportation and it’s likely if the area is a little touristy, it’ll probably be a little safer/cleaner.

Choose your style

Airbnb can be luxurious or cheap and hostel-esque. Use the price filter to find places that fit your comfort level. Are you cool with a tiny apartment, sharing spaces with a local resident or would you rather have a whole house with a boujee view to make you feel pampered? They’ve got both and everything in between!

Reviews are your friend

Always always read the reviews. They are there for a reason after all. You don’t want to choose a place that has great pictures and descriptions just to get there and find out the pictures weren’t so accurate or the place wasn’t clean and tidy. Reviews will give you an honest view of what to expect, but also, remember to take complaints like about the size of the place or little things with a grain of salt. Are you really worried about having a mansion-sized Airbnb if you will only be spending time there to sleep? Also, always leave a review, that's the only way your host can show people what an experience at their place is like so it helps them out too!

Get to know your host

Most times, I’d say that if people are willing to host random strangers in their homes, they will be cool with getting to know you. Take advantage of that! Maybe they’ll invite you to do something with them or meet their family or teach you about the customs and history of the place you’re visiting, or share some amazing home-made food with you. Regardless, it can’t hurt to connect with another person. :)

If you've never tried Airbnb, I hope you feel a little more confident about giving it a shot now. Thanks for reading and happy travels!

- Sami