Everything You Need to Know About Booking an Airbnb
Looking for everything you need to know about booking an Airbnb? Over recent years, booking an Airbnb has become a popular way to book accommodation on a trip. It can be quite apprehensive thinking you’re looking to stay in someone else’s home, and quite different from a hotel.
But we’re here to ease that process of booking and staying in an Airbnb! Our experience with them is that they’re incredibly convenient, often low cost, and make you feel at home. What more could you want?
What Airbnb?
Airbnb is essentially a way for people to advertise their apartments/houses for you to stay in. Usually for as little or as long as you like, however, most people stipulate a minimum of 2 nights.
I know some bloggers who travel full time actually stay in one Airbnb apartment for a month or so, which I think is great, and allows you to have a temporary home.
When booking an Airbnb through the app or the website, you can say whether you just want a room somewhere, a full apartment, or sharing with others and this choice is completely up to you!
They are varied facilities but great when travelling to have more of homey feel, do some washing and make some nice home cooked meals
Benefits of Staying in Airbnb
We’ve stayed in a lot of AirBnBs while travelling and we’ve never had a problem with them and we can’t praise them enough.
The apartments we’ve stayed in have been great, nice and clean, good facilities, good locations, and communication with the host was always great. The host/s often give advice about the city and the best thing, they were pretty cheap too!
Cost
Our experience with booking an Airbnb is that it can cost the same as a hotel or even slightly cheaper. Obviously, if you get something quite large or really funky and cool, it could be more expensive, but you’re also paying for the experience
Can you imagine what you would pay in a hotel for the equivalent? We paid £46 a night in Paris! One of the most expensive places in Europe for accommodation we thought and an Airbnb was THAT cheap! We couldn’t believe it.
Communication
You can communicate with the host through the app or website. Most of the hosts state that they wish to be contacted through the website/app and it often states how long the host usually takes to reply.
In the past, the hosts we’ve gone through have always replied within the hour and been extra helpful.
Our host in Krakow met us 4 hours before the usual check-in after a night train and communicated straight away through the app.
When we couldn’t find the apartment either they rang us and were so helpful.
Position and Choice
We can’t vouch for every destination in the world, but… there is usually a huge choice of apartments and rooms across a city/town or country that you’re often spoilt for choice.
It can often depend on how far you want to be from the nearest towns, attractions or things you want to visit, and if you want a nice view!
We looked into going to Barcelona, and turns out all Airbnbs were all over £100 but they had some great choices where you could stay, including on boats!
When travelling anywhere we like to spend less than £100 a night and obviously as cheap as possible but getting the best.
The AirBnbs we have stayed in have all cost less than £80 and we can’t praise them enough, more enjoyable and home-like than any other hotel we’ve ever stayed in.
It may sometimes be a little extra, but you can also rent apartments right in the centre of town which compared to a hotel would be way cheaper than a hotel right in the centre of somewhere.
You Can Book Something Cool
There are thousands of Airbnbs and some of them with huge character and exciting places to stay. Why not try a boat in Barcelona, a remote cabin in Iceland or even a treehouse!
Disadvantages of Staying in an Airbnb
Of course, when booking anything it can come with its disadvantages. Going to be honest though, I struggled to think of any disadvantages at all but some things you need to be aware of.
Extra Costs
Before booking an Airbnb its always worth checking out if there are any extra costs such as tax, cleaning and upkeep costs.
Usually, the host will expect you to pay a cleaning cost, but this is all included in the price when you pay online.
Facilities
Make sure you check the facilities the apartment has before you book it. You may need to wash clothes or want to cook a meal or be travelling with pets, and you need to check if they are accommodated first before booking.
If you’ve decided to rent a room, some hosts rent out the room to multiple people and you may be sharing.
Is there security? A place to put valuables? Bathroom situation? Who are you going to be sharing with? All things to consider.
What Type of Airbnb Do You Want To Book?
Booking an Entire Place
This does what it says on the tin really, you can rent an entire apartment. When we’ve rented a whole apartment, such as in Paris and Budapest, it felt just like a second home. We could kick off our walking boots and sit and watch some TV on a sofa!
We find when you’re away you want some privacy and this was the best way to do it. When we first started staying in Airbnb’s we were genuinely surprised at how cheap an entire apartment was.
It was so nice to have lots of your own space in comparison to a hotel where you have a room and it always just feels like a hotel.
A Private Room
A private room tends to be a room someone rents out in their house, or multiple rooms in a house they own, more like a hostel. I would obviously check reviews before staying anywhere at all but this is a definite must for a room.
This means that you will be living with the host for a matter of days or weeks. If you don’t mind either way then that’s up to you but I would always check reviews in case anyone else has had any problems. But usually, hosts are amazing and love hosting people in their homes.
I also wouldn’t always count on whether you stay somewhere just because of some reviews. People may have very different expectations than your own.
You can really immerse yourself in the surrounding culture by staying with someone else by eating traditional food and feeling a part of their community
I would check the facilities such as the bathroom situation, is there an en suite, do you have to share? Are you also planning on cooking and want to use a fridge or cooker?
Most hosts won't mind at all, as hosts are really nice people in our experience and want to meet and get to know new people, but I would always check first so you’re prepared
A Shared Room
Some hosts run their Airbnb like a hostel and have multiple people staying in one room. You may have a shared bathroom or kitchen but also similar for a private room and would suggest checking facilities too.
A shared room is usually the cheapest and you can get a room for £20 or under. A private room can be a bit more but not by much, and an entire place is the most expensive for obvious reasons.
Personally, we always chose an entire place due to wanting our own privacy and our own space. But a private room or shared rooms could always be interesting and great, especially for travelling with friends or by yourself.
Great way to meet other people and meet local people also.
You Might Need to Be Approved Before Booking
Some hosts allow their apartments or rooms to be booked instantly. This means your booking is paid for and verified straight away, however, they may have to approve you first. If this is needed then it’s a button to click on the page.
Hosts sometimes do this to look at your reviews and whether they want you to stay in their apartments or homes which is understandable. Often if you click for approval or message the host they verify you after receiving your message.
But imagine if someone wants to come and stay with you for a month or two you can understand why a host may want to be sure for you to be staying with them.
You Need More of Your Own Supplies
If you’re staying in a hotel you may get soap, towels, hairdryers, an iron, shampoo and all sorts of cosmetics along with tea, coffee and a kettle.
Airbnbs vary hugely and some provide more than others. Don’t be surprised if there aren’t any washing tablets when they have a washing machine, and no soap, or towels. Some places do supply towels but it’s always worth checking before staying somewhere what is included.
You also need to look after your housekeeping. Doing your own dishes and cleaning your clothes, if you’re staying in an apartment longer you will need to change the sheets and things too. All normal things when living in a home, which is what an Airbnb is!
Always worth asking the host before staying somewhere what is needed or included if not fully listed on the advert
Communication
As I’ve said as an advantage, communication was always great between ourselves and hosts through Airbnb. Most hosts answer your message within the hour and have always been so helpful.
It is always courteous to send the host a message once you have booked. Just explaining who you are when you’re going and always quite nice to ask if there is anything they would suggest you see.
We think this is nice and personal and you’re also taking an interest in the city they live in, they may also recommend great restaurants too!
Reviews
Once you have stayed in an apartment you can always leave a review of what it was like to stay there, good or bad. It is also nice to leave comments on things you visited or your favourite restaurant in the area too
However, the host can also leave a review for you, and what you were like to stay there. This is helpful to other hosts in the future. Future hosts won’t host you if you don’t look after their homes.
How Do You Cancel an Airbnb?
There may be those unfortunate times you need to cancel the Airbnb you’ve booked or COVID-19 has affected your travels again. Hosts can choose how they deal with their cancellation policy. They can choose flexible, moderate or severe.
Once you click on the link to cancel your booking it will take you to a page that will tell you what you need to do to cancel your booking.
When cancelling due to COIVD-19, your refund will depend on the host’s cancellation policy, which can result in a full refund, or you can submit a travel expenses form. Guidance for this is on the Airbnb website and always changing
Unfortunately, the host may cancel on you too. Hopefully, this doesn’t happen and doesn’t happen too often.
The Airbnb team can be very helpful to resolve any problems that you may incur if this happens to you.
Airbnb's are great to meet some local people, a home feel and for us, made us feel like we are living in that city whether it was only for a few days or longer.
It is pretty simple to book an Airbnb and nice to meet new people whether that is by talking to the host, staying with locals, sharing a room or people in the neighbourhood.
Share your experiences with staying in AirBnbs below!
