Vacation and Shopping for Airbnbs

What the hell, guys, how is it even May already?! 

We're almost at the half way mark of the year and, I mean, yeah, I can list a lot of things that have happened, but it feels like it's been 5 secondssss... 

Okay, that's enough moaning from me. 

Some of you may already know that I'm (finally) going on vacation next month. The trip is a combination between a couple of birthdays (including mine) and our honeymoon (YAY!), so we've decided to make it a long(ish) one. I say "long(ish)" only because a month is that for most of you, but after living in Europe for almost two years, I find that my concept of "long(ish)" has been permanently skewed. I have a sneaking suspicion that I am a vagabond at heart.

So, yes, with our impending vacation comes the usual challenge of planning. I'm happy to be able to say that we've probably done enough travel planning to have established some of our own steps and go-to's, so for this blog post I thought I'd share with you guys some tips on shopping for Airbnbs!

Throwback to our cute Airbnb in Lisbon 

Now, before I start singing their praises, I'd just like to mention that, no, this post isn't sponsored. They aren't paying me to blog about them, but with the amount of successful trips we've had through Airbnb, they are definitely worth a mention - especially for inexperienced travellers or anyone on a budget. And I'm also not saying that you can't have your fair share of slip ups with Airbnb, but, that comes with everything else as well, doesn't it?

So, without further ado...

Things you should think about before you even start your search: 

1.) The Area

When it comes to travelling to another city or country, I think one of the disadvantages is being unfamiliar with the area and not knowing your way around. Read up on where you're going and where you'd like to stay. I love picking Airbnbs that are right in the centre of things without being too busy. Somewhere that's walking distance to everything but wouldn't compromise the rest you would need as a traveller. 

2.) Budget 

Depending on which country/city you're going to, Airbnb generally has a broad selection of places to choose from, whether you're ballin' or ballin' on a budget (lol). As long as you're realistic with your price range and expectations, Airbnb is a great alternative to check out, especially if you're not prepared to spend for hotels. 

3.) Number of Guests

This isn't a super important thing you should know immediately, but I thought I'd include it anyway because, being able to fill in this option rules out a bunch of Airbnbs that might be unsuitable in the sense of being too small, not having enough beds, too large, too expensive or has some extra fees for extra guests. 

For myself in particular, I've found that as I've grown older, I've definitely become more appreciative of proper bed space and bed configurations. Gone are the days of sleeping sardine style in a King bed with my girlfriends. I'd rather build a nest on the floor in a corner with sofa cushions (ha!). Desperate times of an introvert?

And last, but certainly not the least...

4.) Entire Home or Private Room

One of my favourite things about Airbnb is being able to choose whether you'd like to stay in a private room or have a place all to yourself. Airbnb hosts are generally very friendly and none invasive, but with the private room/entire place option, it's an extra plus on gauging how much interaction and privacy you can have on your trip. 

It's also awesome if you're the type of traveller who likes to experience new places by immersion. Unlike hotels, Airbnbs are great at providing you with a glimpse of how the locals live. In addition, most hosts are friendly and welcoming and are readily available for questions and recommendations for their guests.

So, you've decided on an Airbnb? 

Here's what you should check before you book: 

- Extra fees/costs 

Sometimes the total price advertised gets jacked up when you book the place. Check for cleaning fees, fees for extra guests and other extra fees for things like, using special amenities or services.

- Read the reviews!

Reviews are always great to look through before you book. From experience, we've found that the more good reviews the place has, the better it is to book, because you usually end up dealing with hosts that are more professional and know what (the h*ck) they're doing - as opposed to getting to a place and finding that it's not up to standard. In saying that though, I've also been known to pick places that look promising and don't have many reviews and I haven't been let down yet! There are places out there that are new or are still building up their reputation/good reviews because they haven't been in business for very long...

When you find yourself thinking of booking a place like this, what I suggest you can do is... 

- Check the host's profile

If they've got other Airbnbs listed, how long they've been a member for, their 'About Me' section and if they have reviews. 

It's certainly not a hundred percent guarantee that your stay will be set-back free, but the more research you do, the better informed you are, and the better choices you'll make. (Well, most times anyway - lol). 

Finally, my last piece of advice is to look for places that you can see yourself staying in. Whether it's a short stay of a few days or something much longer, Airbnb promotes the idea of feeling at home anywhere you go.

View from our Airbnb (Lisbon, Portugal)

Whichever place you end up picking won't have the pristine-sometimes-sterile and uniform atmosphere of a hotel room. It'll be a place that will leave you with something more special and memorable.

Safe and happy travels!

x