During the month that we have spent traveling in Italy, my family decided to try out the website Airbnb as an alternative to hotels. Overall, we had a very positive experience with this service. Since there are four of us, we usually rented a two bedroom apartment, which ended up being much cheaper than a hotel for 4 adults. Since we rented apartments rather than hotel rooms, it was definitely a less conventional way to travel and a bit of a learning process.
Here are some quick tips for renting through Airbnb when you travel.
When You Book:
1. Read the fine print on the owner's page. Check out their stats and reviews.
2. It is always helpful if the owner speaks your language, it usually says on their site (it will come in handy when you call them for directions)
3. Location is key! Don't rent too far away from the sites or plan to drive around too much once you've reached your destination. Makes sure the sights are within walking distance or accessible by public transit. You may be surprised how affordable places are that are prime locations.
4. If you're driving, ask about parking to avoid headaches later on.
5. Check your email often. They are usually quick to respond to any questions.
6. A working cellphone comes in handy when you're traveling in case you need to contact them either before or during your stay. Especially if you don't have internet access all the time.
7. Make sure to write down or print out the map, directions, and contact information before heading to your destination.
8. Many places offer free wifi, make sure they offer it if that is something you will need.
A Few Extra Things to Bring:
1. Extra Towels - for shower, pool/beach, and hand towels for the bathroom and kitchen
2. Hand Soap
3. Dish Soap
4. Paper Towels and Napkins
5. Pillow (if you're picky)
If you are renting an apartment or house, they will usually provide basic things such as blankets and dishes. However, you should consider packing these few extra things just in case. Most places will have a combination of these items but few will have them all, especially if you are travelling in a large group and need more than two towels. We just packed a large re-usable grocery bag with these home necessities and kept it in the car with us so we wouldn't have to buy the supplies once we got there.
When You Arrive at Your Destination:
1. Call the manager when you are en route so that they have fair warning of your arrival. Also, make sure to call them if you are running later or earlier than the time you had previously agreed on checking in. Many of them live or work in a separate location and need time to get to the place where they have planned to meet you.
2. Meet in a neutral location. Its always better to meet up at a nearby landmark, rather than the front door. Two reasons: safety for both parties, and to lessen the chance of getting lost. When doing anything via the internet, it is always better to be cautious. I think that many times the owners, as well, feel a little better if they can meet you face to face in a public location. Also, even with a GPS and maps, old European streets (or just streets in a foreign language) can be confusing. We almost always got lost. Its just easier to call from a nearby main street, gas station, or train station. The owner will come meet you outside, and then show where exactly to park and the location of the rental.
3. Ask for the wifi password before you let the manager leave. Its always easier for them to show you if there are any glitches, rather than waiting until they walk out the door.
4. Agree on a plan to check out. Let them know what time you plan to leave. Some may need to meet you to get the keys, while others may tell you to leave the keys in the apartment. Make sure you have a plan set from the beginning.
5. Ask for advice! Everyone we encountered was very helpful and was happy to provide us with maps and restaurant suggestions. Don't be shy, ask them for advice about places to see and where to eat.
Happy Travels! Our experiences with AirBnb (in Italy and France) were all wonderful, and I hope this advice helps!
I also wrote a more detailed review of our experiences with Airbnb, read it here!
