- My husband and our two children made a one -year trip around the world.
- In 2024, we stayed at 52 Airbnbs, and I learned a lot about how to choose the perfect place to stay.
- The location of your reservation can make or break your vacation.
It was an idyllic day of August when my husband, two children and I arrived at our Airbnb in southern France.
We were three months in a One -year trip throughout the worldAnd this destiny, in particular, was one that we all hoped eagerly. We had reserved the Airbnb very anticipated, attracted by its proximity to the center of the city of Cobblestone and the Paseo Marítimo in front of the sea. From the photos, our house for the next five days would be modern, spacious and maybe even Trés elegant for the appearance of the list.
However, while we ascend three stories in a small elevator and open the doors to our apartment, we find a very unpleasant surprise. The place was shattered. The broken lamps randomly hung from the walls, there were empty spaces where the paintings and photographs had hung once hung, and the rooms were missing pillows and adequate bedding. We contacted AirbnbAnd although they quickly assigned an agent to our case, this was not going to be the last time a reserve disappointed us.
In the course of next year, we stayed in 52 accommodations in Europe and Southeast Asia, as well as in Central and South America, and each of them had their “thing.” That said, after 365 days of travel, I consider that they are somewhat experts in the subject and share our advice and tricks acquired for Be sure to reserve adequate accommodation For your next trip. These are some of the things we learned along the way.
The location is very important
The location of your reservation can often make or break your stay. Although most lists will provide a comment on the surrounding area and general coordinates, it is important to examine the description and images.
A tested and true treatment is to use Google Maps Street View to explore the location and the surrounding area. Really “walking through the streets” to have an idea of what it would be like to live there. You are looking for the ability to walk, nearby resources and neighbors.
Always read the small print before booking
It is important to read the small print and look for items provided that can be useful for their stay.
If you are in a beach city, look for accommodations that provide beach chairs, towels, boogie boards, hammocks and umbrella. Bicycles are also always a great advantage. Having everything you need will make a big difference in your experience. In addition, if an accommodation is provided that are provided “essential”, ask what you consider essential.
We had the unfortunate experience of Upon arriving at an Airbnb just to find bath towels In our stay.
I read all the reviews
Always check the reviewsNot only the qualification of the stars, but what people really say. Be thorough, read each review, and if they say something, even politely negative, it could be a red flag. Often, people do not feel comfortable being completely honest for fear of affecting their own qualification, so you really have to read between the lines. As a general rule for my family, when it comes to stars, anything below 4.8 is not great.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The price may seem great, but if the rooms are listed without an image, it is usually a red flag. In addition, if the house or the apartment only have a couple of photos, that could also suggest that the accommodation will not be as good as it expects.
We found an Airbnb at prices fantastically in Naples, Italy, which only included one or two photographs. When we arrived, the apartment was so small that we could touch both extremes if we reached our arms.
In my experience, personal property airbnbs are better than the property of the company.
Vibrations matter. It can have a huge house or life space, but if the energy is not correct, it can really ruin its stay. The main things that affect the atmosphere of accommodation are lighting and decoration. You can have an idea of this both of the images and of the comments. Look for windows in the photographs or be attentive to the descriptions that include a language on “natural light”. In addition, try to avoid very dark furniture and accessories; They can make spaces feel bleak instead of cozy.
In general, our greatest food to carry is that personal property adaptations are almost always an experience much better than houses and apartments owned by the management company. Most of the time, people who rent their own spaces put a lot of love and care and want you to have a wonderful stay.