Airbnb 101: How to Research, Choose, & Book the Best Vacation Rental
Vacation Rentals are a fantastic alternative to hotels when traveling. They let larger groups stay all together & can offer amenities hotels don’t. I have used Airbnb for many weekend trips and trips abroad. VRBO is also a great option for vacation rentals, but I don’t have firsthand experience, so I will focus on Airbnb; I assume much of the information translates to other sites as well. I’ve stayed in Airbnb’s for two to 10+ nights and for time frames of two days to four weeks, so I have stayed in quite a variety across multiple countries on different styles of trip.
Airbnb offers a lot of options when searching for a stay. If you have flexible dates or destinations, you can use a broader explore function just to get inspired or find nice accommodations if you are driving or booking accommodations before flights. I find that when I’m looking for a weekend getaway, I have much more flexibility with the destination (e.g., near a lake, in the forest, by a beach, etc.). Other times, when I already know my destination, I’m looking for the best rating, a good location within the city, a good price, and good amenities.
Filters
Airbnb offers so many filters to fit every need. They have categories for pools, views, cabins, tiny homes, camping, surfing, & vineyards, just to name a few! Most importantly, there are filters for the number of guests and even pets. The number of guests matters because hosts calculate how many people a place can sleep, and many have rules against extra guests or parties. It’s important to be honest about the number of guests to stay in good standing with Airbnb as a guest.
The sleeping accommodations range from king- or queen-size beds to couches and pullouts, so read the description carefully and prioritize what your group needs.
Additional filter options include laundry, a kitchen, AC, a hot tub, free parking, etc. When going on longer trips, or when it's a stay during a long trip, I like to get a place with laundry so that I can pack less, but when I’m just going on a weekend ski trip, a place with a hot tub is more of a priority!
Note: You can also filter for a dedicated workspace, which I imagine is popular in the age of remote work when we all want to live our digital nomad dreams even on a weeklong trip.
Read the Description Carefully!
I always read the descriptions and look at the photos carefully to plan my group’s sleeping arrangements.
Descriptions of the area and what is close by are also valuable because with Airbnb you don’t get the exact location.
Tip: When they use words like ‘quaint’ or ‘cozy,’ it might be a smaller place.
Ratings & Reviews
Reviews are incredibly valuable when choosing a place to stay. More reviews show they’ve been hosting for a while, and they can tell you if there are any discrepancies in the photos or descriptions (which isn’t an issue I’ve had, but it’s good to keep an eye out for). You’ll also find good insights about how noisy the location is.
Chat With Your Host
Hosts can be a wealth of knowledge! Connect with your host once they approve your stay. They can help with check-in, local recommendations, and finding anything you need in the house. You’ll also need to coordinate check-in and check-out times with them. They can also answer any questions before and during your stay. The hosts review you after your stay, so it’s good to keep communication open.
After Your Stay
Leave a review for the vacation rental you stayed in to help others plan their trips.
