Airbnb is a marketplace of accommodation from all over the world. From penthouses to beach villas and even boats, there is a place to suit your style in each of the 190+ countries on offer. Through their website or app you can view available spaces according to location, amenities, size, budget and more. Renting accommodation from a stranger in a foreign city may sound like a daunting task but I have had a great experience using this service and have met some wonderful hosts along the way. Today I want to share my thoughts with you on the benefits of this kind of travel so that you don’t have to pay the price for a cramped hotel room ever again…
Our light-filled cottage in Siena. Click to view listing.
Last year I stayed in two Airbnb apartments which came about when I couldn’t find accommodation that was spacious enough or had the amenities I needed. The first was in Siena and the second in Paris, both of which were as good, if not better than the listing appeared. I was greeted by friendly and welcoming hosts whose knowledge of the surround region was helpful and much appreciated.
TIMES TO BOOK WITH AIRBNB:
WHEN SPACE IS TIGHT
Living in Australia, we are accustom to wide open spaces and separation from our neighbours. I know when I was looking for accommodation in Paris I was amazed to find that the average hotel room was 10 meters square! Cities like these are perfect for booking through Airbnb as you will have a wide range of options in much larger sizes. The apartment I found in Paris was compact in size but had two balconies (hello photo op) and a full kitchen with laundry facilities.
Cheers from the balcony in Paris!
WHEN YOU ARE STAYING LONG TERM
Laundry, you are my saviour! Spending four weeks in Europe meant multiple washes (especially as my Winter coats left little room for anything else in my suitcase). Having a washer, drier and somewhere to hang your clothes is such a luxury that you won’t find in a hotel. Also, have you seen the dry-cleaning charges at most hotels? Save more money for coffee.
Sunset from our backyard clothesline in Siena. Yes, I hung my laundry out with this view.
WHEN YOU ARE WORKING ON THE GO
Wi-fi is a must when I am editing and posting on my blog while travelling. It’s also great for keeping up with family and friends via Skype. Having accommodation with wi-fi and even office space means you don’t have to search for cafes with wi-fi and put up with slow speeds.
The quaint study nook I had in Paris.
BENEFITS OF A HOST
- Local knowledge of quality shops and food: this includes the tourist traps that need to be avoided which will save you from bad service.
- Home comforts: Francesca from my Siena stay baked a fresh batch of Ricciarelli for our arrival. It was divine and a really sweet gesture especially considering the biscuits are a local speciality.
- Knowledge of directions and legalities: this was especially helpful in Paris. Our host Justin was able to give suggestions on using the metro. In Siena, we had local maps and dates for the markets given to us.
- Help with language: throughout our travels my husband and I would often think of questions about how things operate or what certain words meant. It was great to arrive at a location where there was a friendly face ready to answer any questions.
- Character of a house: immersing yourself in the local culture is made all the more special when you retire to an authentic dwelling at the end of the night. From quirky artwork and books to brass plumbing, you can really learn a lot about a city from the houses its people live in.
Yummy Cafe St Regis, as recommended by our host Justin.
Later on I will be sharing with you my dream Airbnb listings so be sure to check back in on my blog. If you have any questions about how Airbnb works please leave a comment below.
Header image: Inside the Parisian apartment I stayed in | view listing.
