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Airbnb has quickly become one of my favorite ways to find a place to stay around the world. This unusual lodging site has saved me a lot of money and led to some of my most memorable stays.
While Airbnb was founded in 2008, it absolutely exploded in the past few years. I had my first stay in mid-2013. Since then, I’ve used Airbnb for stays in Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and the United States, and I’ve learned a lot about what works.
What is Airbnb?
Airbnb is a lodging site that functions as part of the sharing economy — essentially, people rent out their rooms, apartments, and houses to people looking for a place to stay.
While there are lots of sites that focus on site and apartment rentals, Airbnb is the biggest one of all. They claim more than 600,000 listings in 192 countries.
Using Airbnb allows you to stay in a wide range of lodging, from simple futons on the ground to really nice apartments in funky neighborhoods to luxury villas steps from the beach. There are even castles, treehouses, and Airstream trailers. And because nearly all of what you pay goes to the owner directly, you’re keeping your money close to the ground.
When to Use Airbnb
You can use Airbnb for almost anywhere, but I’ve found that it works better for some situations rather than others. Some of them:
You want to stay in a particular neighborhood and have a neighborhood experience. If you’re looking for a more local London experience than constant sightseeing, you can rent a flat in a cool neighborhood like Shoreditch and explore the local restaurants and cafes, feeling like a member of the community.
You have a large group and want a property that can accommodate you all. Airbnb will have a selection of houses from individual owners as well as rental companies that have enough space for large parties.
You’re visiting during a festival or popular event. Many hosts raise their rates for popular events — like New Orleans during Mardi Gras — but they’re still often far less of an inflated price than hotels.
In my opinion, Airbnb provides the greatest value in expensive cities — especially when you want to stay in their pricier regions. Most of the time, a private room or even a whole apartment on Airbnb will be cheaper than a budget hotel room on the same street.
Example: In Sydney, I stayed in a private room in the neighborhood of Bronte, a gorgeous beachfront enclave that has neither hotels nor hostels. I stayed in a private room in a big, beautiful house a short walk from the beach for far less than what Sydney hotels cost.
When wouldn’t I use Airbnb? Not when I want the perks of a hotel — housekeeping, 24-hour customer service, anonymity.
Is Airbnb Safe?
Airbnb has lots of safety and security measures in place to make sure that you stay safe.
First of all, guests and hosts are both required to provide identification to Airbnb, usually in the form of a scanned ID. They also verify your phone number.
Both guests and hosts receive reviews that allow you to see their history on Airbnb.
All payment is handled through Airbnb itself, so you won’t get stiffed by your host or guest.
For guests, if necessary, Airbnb’s customer service can be contacted 24/7. As for hosts, Airbnb will cover up to $1,000,000 in damage, though there are some exceptions to this.
But as safe as Airbnb is, remember that nothing is ever 100% safe. Bad experiences can happen from time to time with Airbnb, just as they can with hotels or hostels. To reduce your chances of a bad experience, read on.
Getting Started
Fill out your profile in as much detail as possible. And then you may look at all the pretty properties you’d like, and there’s a lovely brownstone in Greenwich Village, or you could stay in Williamsburg for less, and wait, is that a treehouse in Hawaii?
Stop. Have you filled out your profile yet?
Do it now. I mean it. Having a complete and detailed profile is what will make you attractive to hosts. Remember to verify your identification as well.
Airbnb prevents you from listing any websites or email addresses in your profile (ostensibly to keep you from making a cheaper deal off the books). I can’t link to my site, but I can mention it by name.
Finding the Right Property
Airbnb functions like most lodging sites: you put down your destination, preferred dates, and they show you all available properties.
On the page with results, you’ll be given three options to select:
- Entire Place: The whole house or apartment is yours and nobody else will be staying there.
- Private Room: You get your own room, but communal areas will be shared with the host.
- Shared Room: You and your host share the property and sleep in the same room.
From there, select your price range and the map. Filter for amenities if you’d like.
TIP: Use the map to pinpoint your actual location. Just because Airbnb says the apartment’s in the neighborhood you want, it doesn’t mean it’s in the nice part of the neighborhood.
Check the amenities list. Is there wifi? Air-conditioning? Parking? Anything else you need?
Check the bed situation. The profile will tell you whether the bed is an actual bed or something else, like a futon or pull-out couch.
Example: Two Airbnb rentals where I stayed in Japan had futons on tatami floors, Japanese-style, rather than beds. It wasn’t a problem, but I’m glad I knew beforehand!
Check your host’s profile, verification, and reviews. Do they seem like a person from whom you’d want to rent? Have they been verified by Airbnb? How soon do they respond to emails? Are their reviews positive? (Keep in mind that everyone starts out with zero reviews and plenty of new Airbnb hosts are just as legitimate as veteran hosts, but many positive reviews give you additional security.)
Check the cancellation policy. Airbnb has cancellation policies ranging from “flexible” to “super-strict” — on flexible, you can get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance and mid-stay get refunded for nights 24 hours after you cancel; on strict, you can only get 50% refunded up to seven nights in advance and mid-stay get refunded 50% for nights seven days after you cancel.
Sending Your Request
It’s a smart idea to contact your prospective host before booking and ask any questions that you have. Be sure to read through the profile in advance and see if your questions are answered in there. But if they’re not, don’t be shy — this is the time to voice any and all of your concerns.
Here are some questions I typically ask:
- How is the wifi quality? Does it work consistently?
- How long is the walk to public transportation?
- How late does public transportation run?
- Will I have my own set of keys?
- Can I lock my room?
- Can I make coffee and use a bit of your milk and sugar?
TIP: Don’t ask “Is it safe?” That question will put your host on the defensive — after all, they live there. Instead, I ask, “Do you recommend taking a taxi home at night, or would it be safe for me to walk?”
If you’re happy with the answers, it’s time to make your booking.
How It Works
After you submit a reservation request, your host has 24 hours to accept it. Keep in mind that hosts are not required to accept you — it’s entirely at their discretion. (Also keep in mind that some hosts don’t keep their calendar up to date and may not have the availability the site claims.)
If 24 hours elapse, the reservation is rejected and you pay nothing.
TIP: Don’t wait until the last minute with Airbnb. If you’re in need of a booking that same day, hotels or hostels are a better bet.
Keep in mind that Airbnb charges a 6-12% fee on top of the room cost. (Airbnb also charges hosts 3% on their end as well.)
After your host accepts, your credit card will be charged. If there’s a security deposit or cleaning fee — and the profile will say whether there is — you will be charged these fees as well. A security deposit will be refunded at the discretion of the host; a cleaning fee cannot be refunded.
From there, you and your host can arrange a time to meet at the property.
TIP: To have as smooth an arrival as possible, put your host’s number in your phone and give them specific details about your arrival. It’s not a bad idea to give them a flight number, just in case you get delayed.
Being a Good Guest
When you’re staying in someone’s house, it’s easy to be lulled into thinking that you’re staying with a friend, or in a hotel — but neither is the case.
Be considerate, especially if you’re sharing the rental with your host or other guests, and don’t overstep your boundaries. You’re paying to use their space, and that doesn’t include eating their food, drinking their booze, or using their toiletries. Don’t leave messes for your host to clean up. Don’t have guests over (unless your host says it’s okay). If you’re traveling with your partner, keep your late-night shenanigans at a low volume.
Ask before you use anything not mentioned in the profile. Yes, your host has a treadmill and a fancy blender, but are you allowed to use them? Just ask. This is another reason why it’s good to have your host’s number in your phone already.
Some hosts like to spend time with their guests; some prefer to keep their distance. Be friendly to your host and let him or her take the lead. Respect your host’s space, both physically and emotionally, and don’t think that you need to be in conversation whenever you’re in the same room.
Example: In New Orleans, I had a few chats with my host Michele and soon learned that we got along great. One night she invited me to a burlesque show with her, and it ended up being a fun, offbeat experience for us during Mardi Gras.
Above all, communicate. If something’s wrong, don’t let it fester — talk to your host right away.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
If something goes wrong with your Airbnb stay, you have support. While Airbnb recommends that you work things out personally if it’s a small matter or involve the police if you’re in danger or laws are broken, they also have a 24-hour help line for both hosts and guests.
Leave Fair Feedback
A few days after your stay, Airbnb asks you to review your host. Always leave a review after your stay — it helps your host get new guests and provides them with additional verification.
The nice thing about Airbnb is that it gives you the option to leave both public and private feedback for your host. It’s the perfect option when you have some suggestions for your host to make the stay better, but you don’t want to list them publicly on their profile.
What you shouldn’t do is leave unfair feedback in the event that something goes wrong. If your host told you that the house was a thirty-minute walk from public transportation before you committed to the stay, don’t complain that it was a thirty-minute walk from public transportation. You knew this going in and you chose to stay there anyway.
Likewise, don’t complain about things out of your host’s control, like transportation strikes, construction in the area, or loud neighbors. Remember that a bad review can adversely affect your host’s income, so be judicious in your evaluation.
How to Get Started
Sign up here and you’ll get free credit from me on your first Airbnb stay.
It’s time to start planning your next trip!
So helpful! Booked my first airbnb in Venice Beach, CA and checked your list to make sure I did everything right:) Thanks Kate, once again you are a bundle of information!
I am so happy to hear that! I hope you have a wonderful time in Venice Beach!
I’ve never used airbnb but friends have been raving about it. I think this is a great alternative to couch surfing. While I’ve had surfers over my own place, I’d much rather pay someone for a decent,private room. I’m headed to Osaka at the end of the month. Wish me luck!
I’ve only just discovered airbnb yesterday! I’m visiting a friend in kentucky in June and we’re road tripping to Wilmington NC. room is booked and very excited! Obsessed with airbnb keep looking at it for staycations!!
I love this post and how you detail how to use Airbnb. I’ve used Airbnb many times in Europe and have saved lots of money by renting apartments instead of paying for hotel rooms. I especially love using it for traveling with groups of people – having communal space to hang out in is a big perk, rather than splitting up in hotel rooms and not having the same luxury of shared space. I started a few years ago using HomeAway, but I have over time preferred Airbnb. I prefer how that money is all handled through Airbnb and not directly to the host. (I’ve had situations with HomeAway where I had to pay the host upon arrival in cash, which always made me hesitant to travel with large amounts of money).
The only other thing I can think of to add is to include a profile picture when setting up your profile. I think hosts feel better to see a picture of who they are renting to, and some descriptions I’ve seen have specified that they will not rent to those without a photo.
Great post ! I’ve used Airbnb several times – it was a perfect solution for a family who travels with kids and a lot of stuff to carry ( sport equipement and tons of baggage ) . We had a great and less nice experiences concerning the places we’ve rent . It wasn’t as clean and as we expected … But it is probably me …. I have prepare our house so carefully that my requests were too high … My guests were nice and very happy about theirs holidays in our house – we’ve stayed in contact and I consider them like friends now 🙂
I am a real airbnb fan having used about 15 properties in the past 2 months. I get terrific write-ups and have good rapport with hosts. In my last experience however, I had a young lady opening her second airbnb property tell me that I’d be her first guest and she looked forward to my feedback. When I arrived, I saw that the property was not as advertised and was on the point of leaving. She pulled out all the stops to persuade me to stay including a mitigation of the fee. I agreed to stay. I made the mistake of telling her that If I stayed I was going to have to stretch it to make a 3 star review. She said that would be fine.
rather than having my picnic dinner at the property – I camped out at the local Starbucks until time for bed.
I should have never accepted the key. She has now left me a vicious & cruel review. it was a trap.
If the property is not ready or the host is too eager – just leave.
That sounds awful, Laurie. I’m sorry that happened to you. Thanks for the advice. I agree — if something is wrong, don’t even stay there.
Hi Kate,
I am wondering for Airbnb can I get a full refund if I am on a strict policy if I cancel a month before? I am confused a little on that when looking at the cancellation policy on airbnb.
Definitely not on a strict policy. Though do read the policy very carefully on Airbnb’s site.
I booked a room in Singapore due to the many great reviews..but to my horror, there were many bedbugs!!the host was staying in the same house but she went out partying till the wee hour and wasn’t home at 1am and wasn’t contactable. I left the house in the middle of the night to a nearby hotel…horrible experience..
she only returned my message the next day and apologized. she blamed the previous australian couple that stayed there for the bed bugs..and begged me not to leave a bad review on her listing. she even tricked me into waiting a day or 2 before she returned my money.
Luckily for me, i took the photos/videos of the beg bugs and lodged complaint to airbnb…
airbnb took out the listing for a couple of days..and the host was so mad that she started cursing in her text to me..and lament that I didn’t give her a chance…
airbnb cancelled the reservation and returned all my money…
i didn’t leave any reviews for her though considering she is sick…(i dunno what kinda sickness)
but this doesn’t deter me from using airbnb in the future..
just a bad experience..dun always believe all the good reviews…
I just finished up my very first Airbnb stay and I have to say that it was a good introductory experience!
I have a question though, i’m supposed to be staying with a Hostel in Romania (I already paid and confirmed with them weeks ago), and now they’ve messaged me telling me they can’t house me due to a group that has booked the entire space.
Can a Hostel deny you after confirming plans and receiving payment, in favor of a group?
Just wondering.
Thanks!
Most places won’t do that, but some evidently will. They can do whatever they want. :-/
Hey Kate,
great post, one of the better that I’ve seen. Good to see you recommend people to leave fair feedback. Airbnb has recently changed the review system, reviews only become visible when both parties have left one or after the review period of 14 days. This means that you don’t have to worry about the other person basing his or her feedback on yours.
Best,
Jasper
Problematic experience as a host which cost me £900. AirBnb have to take sides on host-guest disputes and have little depth on either. My guest had 10 *amazing* reviews for overnight stays as she travelled the globe: on her stay with me for a month she was disrespectful, damaged the flat and then flipped out early i.e. renegading on the contract. She had full support of AirBnb because of her supposedly strong profile based on short stay reviews, and AirBnb manufactured a scheme where claims on deposit due to damages were offset by the refund for her leaving early. AirBnb are a terrible experience.
Hi,
Really enjoyed reading your article and everyone’s comments. Have researched, read, re-read… reviews… Yes, and I’m still here, at home! Point is, as new member of Airbnb, I noticed a couple of items that, perhaps, others will have questions on too – first time users that is.
1. Read the reviews-yes. Totally agree. Although, you have to ‘read through’ some of them. (e.g lots of reviews, constantly saying how wonderful a property is, great hosts…until I went back aways, where a guest, had nicely, put…’the property was indeed lovely etc., and you get use to the trains passing the end of the garden.’ Hmmm… first mention of trains. Point is, being kind to your host, is important for many reasons, but why wasn’t the daily train run mentioned. (Obvious reasons). But I’d be more likely to book from a few honest comments, than to arrive and find I can connect to the 8.a.m express to London via the garden gate! Point is – NO SURPRISES! Not sure people write to ask, ‘Can I use the frig, is there parking? Oh, any express trains running through your garden? :))’ But you get the idea.
2. Okay, you’ve finally decided to book. Wrote to host. They love you, you love them. The dates you want are there. Hosts says, sure no problem, book. You didn’t that day. Wake up following day to see an email with an expiry date. For numerous reasons, you didn’t book immediately, possibly, waiting for replies on other locations, connecting dates… before making a decision. New notice arrives, ‘offer has expired!’ Now what? You thought you had a booking or choices, now they’ve disappeared.
3. You go back in. Your dates suddenly gone, even though the calendar was completely blank. Now, your dates aren’t available. Neither is the rate you were quoted, gone – up!’
4.That’s when you go back, and start looking at hotels!
Some of the above has been addressed. Also, why I understood, after reading previous articles, from frustrated guests and/or first time users of Airbnb on actually ‘trying to making a booking.’ And, the reason people give up and book elsewhere.
Oops..last item… Deposits: Some properties required. Similar properties not. Your article mentions, ‘deposits are released at hosts discretion?’ So I could wait a day, week, month, for the host to decide whether they will make a claim or not, and for what? How is the release of a deposit managed/validated to cover the guests? And, who decides a claim?
Thk you.
Very helpful post, Cheryl!
What I mean is that the Airbnb hosts decide whether or not to refund the security deposit. Airbnb’s site has the latest policies and rules in detail. If you want to dispute it, you do that direct with Airbnb.
Hello Katy and thanks for the great article.
I’m in process to book my first Airbnb experience in Geneva and I’m a bit worried as its my first time renting through Airbnb and also its the 1st time of the host renting his apartment.
One question if you can assist me though: The Cancellation Policy is Flexible, so if i cancel the reservation while I stay in the apartment, that night will be charged and then I will get a full refund of the remaining nights. Do you know:
1) How do I contact AirBnb to inform them for the cancellation?
2) how long will it take for the refund to be credited into my account?
thanking you in advance,
Joseph
Hello! I just found your site, and I really love your articles and the advice you gave. I loved this article on Airbnb (I am looking to use it for the first time) and your one on accommodations in Paris (I am taking your advice on staying in Marais!). I was wondering -we will be staying in London for a few days before Paris and I saw you visit quite often – do you have recommendations on the best areas to stay there as well?
Thanks in advance!
London has SO many neighborhoods and it’s all spread out so there are so many interesting options. I loved living in Balham, though it’s more of a residential place compared to being the center of activity. Other neighborhoods I like are Camden, Notting Hill, Shoreditch, Brixton, and Clapham, and each of them will give you a strong neighborhood feel.
I LOVE Airbnb! Currently on a five week solo trip, starting in Japan, then going through southern Europe. I used Airbnb to book half my accomodations, including an amazing apartment in Tokyo, and could not have been happier!
It really gives you a whole different feel for the neighborhood and city you’re in, when you’re based in the same place as the locals rather than “protected” from the outside by a huge hotel.
I’m currently staying at an AirBNB in Chiang Mai and am having a blast! I got a great deal, and it gave me a good amount of time to see if I could see myself move here a bit more permanently. Great post!
Hi all
Thank you for sharing all your experience here. This is the first time I am using airbnb. Unfortunately, when i sent in a request, host replied that flat is unavailable. But in my trip account, it still says that it is pending. May I check if anyone has this experience? As host has replied not available, do I cancel request? As when I tried booking another unit, it informed me that I still have a pending request.
Appreciate if anyone could advise on this. Thank you.
regards
Des
Hi Des,
the pending request should go away after 24 hours. I think what happened is that the host responded to your message but didn’t respond to your booking request.
You should be able to book another unit after 24 hours.
Best,
Jasper
Hi Kate!
A very nice review! Thank you.
I love the personal touch of getting a private room. And if you are traveling in a group, renting a flat is very economical. Especially in cities, AirBnB is an excellent option. 🙂
Take care,
Uelito
As permanent nomads we practically live in Airbnb world. It has its pros and cons but overall it’s been positive, or we wouldn’t keep doing it. You point out some very good questions to ask the host.
Cheers,
Michael
I have no experience in airbnb and I wanna ask: does the price of a room handle the flight too or separate payments?
No, they don’t include flights.
jeyOne tip I’d add is to check the description against the photos and reviews. Some hosts get info wrong, even basic stuff like whether it’s a rental of the entire place or just a room especially if they aren’t native English speakers it seems. I’ve looked at a few places that seem like a good deal for the entire apartment then realised it’s not!
Hi Kate,
Have you been able to find coupon codes or discounts other than the first visit? I found 5% off Airbnb gift cards on AARP’s loyalty program, but that’s about it. https://www.aarp.org/rewards/redeem/all/#type=filter_giftcard
Thanks!
Mary