Are you considering booking your next stay in a vacation rental like Airbnb (or VRBO) versus a hotel, but are worried you will book a dirty Airbnb or that there will be problems checking in? These are valid concerns when traveling and something that could tarnish your vacation. I have stayed in many Airbnbs over the years and know that not every experience is the same. Not even close. So YOU don’t have a bad experience, learn from our mistakes and read my secrets on how to book a good Airbnb versus a dump.
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Our Experience
In 2022, we took off on a 8-month trip through South America and Europe. During this trip we mainly stayed at Airbnbs. Most of our experiences were positive, but we had a few that put a damper on our trip. The one I distinctly remember was our Airbnb in Medellin, Colombia. When we booked, I knew that the ratings weren’t as high as I normally would have liked, but after reading a few of the comments, I figured it would be fine. Especially since the location couldn’t be beat. I mean look at that view. 👇🏼
There were some really wonderful aspects to the Airbnb like the location, the view, and the friendly doormen; however, there were some other parts that couldn’t be overlooked. It was dirty. Like I felt gross just standing in the room dirty. Also, it was in terrible shape and not stocked at all. There was literally no soap at any sink; towels had holes; even the ceiling in the bathroom looked like it was going to collapse on you. You would have never known it from the pictures. This is when I started following these 5 easy steps when booking Airbnbs. Ever since, we have had positive experiences.
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Step 1 to Booking a Good Airbnb – Use the Filters
There are millions – literally over 6 million – Airbnb listings in the world. With so many options to choose from, the first step to finding a good Airbnb is to lower the amount of places to sift through by using the filters. Ask yourself what is most important to you. Is it cost? You can put in a price range and only see the places that fit your budget. For me, I make sure I select the amount of beds I need. Then I also select the features I want like air conditioning, a pool or washer. This should narrow down the quantity of listings you see.
Step 2 – Look at the Ratings
The way that Airbnb controls the quality of products out there is by people’s ratings. When giving a rating it is important to be honest so that others don’t have an experience that they aren’t expecting. This can be tricky because you don’t want to hurt an Airbnb’s business, but on the other hand, you also don’t want others to have a bad experience either. When booking a place, my rule of thumb is to only book places that have a 4.8 or higher for an overall rating. This will narrow down your choices significantly.
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Step 3 – Look at the Pictures and the Location
Next step to booking a good Airbnb is to make sure you are booking something that looks comfortable in the location you want. Make sure the bed situation will work for you and your family. Some places that fit 4 may only have one bedroom and a pull-out sofa. That wouldn’t work for our family for more than a night or two.
Then look at the accuracy rating. If it is lower, it might mean that the pictures don’t exactly match what is in the apartment. I have found this to be true especially with Airbnbs that have been running for awhile. Unfortunately some travelers don’t always take the best care of places they stay in and some hosts don’t take the time for upkeep.
You can also look at the location rating too. If you are traveling without a car and want to be close to the attractions or near public transportation, this is an important rating to check. You can see the general location of Airbnbs on the map. They should also say in their descriptions if they are in a good location or not.
Save the homes that could be a good fit, and then move on to the next and most important step.
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Step 4 – Most Important Step in Booking a Good Airbnb – Read the Comments
As I mentioned in a previous paragraph, sometimes ratings can be hard to give because of getting to know hosts or it feels bad to hurt someone’s business. I totally get that and I realize that there will be folks that only give 5 stars for everything. But not everyone. This is why reading the comments is really important. This part is key to ensure you book a good Airbnb.
You can get an idea if communication was a problem, the location isn’t ideal or if a place is commonly found dirty. If there are comments that are repeated, pay special attention to those! Or if there is only one or two really bad comments, take note of what they are saying. If it has happened to a few people, there’s a chance it could happen to you and, in my opinion, the risk is not worth spoiling your vacation over.
Step 5 – Take a Second Look and Thoroughly Read the Description
Before booking, a good habit is to thoroughly read the description. It can be easy to assume that certain things are expected at a property when you are staying there, BUT that is not always the case. I am guilty of skimming too. Make sure to take that last look to be sure that the place you are booking has everything you need, like a private bathroom vs a shared one, WIFI, or maybe a stove.
Booking a good Airbnb (this also applies to VRBO or any vacation rental website) can make a trip a special experience offering unique stays that hotels can’t offer. I’m positive that if you take these 5 easy steps when booking your Airbnb you will find one that meets your expectations and is a comfortable place to rest your head after a day of exploring.
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