No matter where I go, I’m a big fan of staying in Airbnbs, but finding the right one can be tricky. After staying in my fair share of Airbnbs across Europe and the U.S. I’ve learned a thing or two about how to find the best ones, so today I’m sharing my top tips for picking the perfect Airbnb!
1. Book early
Booking your stay as early as possible is essential in finding the best bang for your buck. It’s important to keep in mind that everyone else is also searching for their perfect Airbnb so the longer you wait to book, the less options you’ll have. That means that you may lose out on lower prices and better locations.
2. Figure out what’s important to you
Airbnbs usually go like this, the closer you are to the main attractions the more you’ll pay. If staying at the heart of everything is what you want then you’re going to have to be more flexible with your budget. If staying at a nicer place is more important to you than location, then maybe you’ll consider staying a few train stops away. The top considerations you’ll have to make are price, location, and place.
3. Make good use of the filters
Before you fall in love with a place that is way out of your budget or isn’t available for your dates, make sure you use the filters!
4. Read the reviews!
I cannot stress this tip enough! You absolutely have to read the reviews before you book an Airbnb. Reviews give you the 411 on what you should expect from the host, location, safety, and the Airbnb itself.
5. Make safety a priority
If you don’t feel safe at your Airbnb, then you won’t have a good time sleeping there. I learned this the hard way at my stay in Rome. Research the area you are thinking about staying in to make sure it’s safe and be sure to read the reviews to get a firsthand view on both your host and the area. No one wants to stay in a place that they aren’t comfortable.
6. Location is everything
I touched on location before, but it deserves it’s own bullet point! Location is everything. For example, you may think you’re getting a deal by saving money on a location that isn’t as centralized, but you may actually end up spending more. Make sure you take cost of transportation into account as well as how much time you’ll be losing or saving by staying at that location. Also, take into account that sometimes staying at the heart of everything may mean a lot of extra noise for you!
7. Read the rules
Make sure to check out the “house rules” before you book an Airbnb. Some houses have stricter rules than others, and it may be a deal breaker. Checking out the house rules means that you and your Airbnb host will be on the same page at all times!
Thank you for checking out this post! Make sure to follow along on Instagram to check out my upcoming adventures in Europe!
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I have been hearing about Airbnb for a while but don’t know much about them at all, much less where to start. I have been considering them too though. These are definitely some good hints. The safety of a location is one of the first things I consider when I am looking at a place to stay as well.
Author
Safety is very important to me too! I had a bad experience in Rome and ever since then it’s the first thing I’ll look at.
We’ve only ever used Air BNB once for a big family affair and yes, we read tons of reviews and made sure rules were clear on both sides. We had an awesome time.
Author
So glad you had a great experience Joline!
I’ve window shopped AirBnB before but I haven’t actually stayed at one! But I really want to try it, it’s a great alternative to a hotel. You’ve made some great points here, booking early is a must.
I stayed in an airbnb for the first time last month and again this past weekend. I love them. I like that they are more private than a hotel and also that you can cook and stuff. I didn’t pick them (bachelorette parties) but I would totally use one in the future.