With the rising costs of airfare and accommodation, travelers must use all the resources they can to reduce travel costs. An effective way to avoid expensive hotels, thereby reducing the cost of accommodation, is to rent through AirBnB.com. The website offers a platform for owners in 192 countries to list a variety of properties, from a typical flat to a tree house, or a portion of their rental properties.
Here are 5 tips to help you navigate AirBnB listings:
1) Location, location, location – Pick a location that interests you and provides you with a convenient base from which to explore your destination. For select locations, AirBnB now gives you the option to browse available rentals by neighborhood. Berlin’s neighborhoods, for example, are ranked based on factors such as fashion, local appeal, and areas that boast great dining Airbnb near universal Studios Orlando.
2) Pay Attention to Pictures and Reviews – Unless you don’t mind staying in a garbage can, don’t downplay the pictures and reviews. If a rental that interests you doesn’t have enough quality images, then immediately rule it out as a possibility. Also, if a list has no reviews, if it has negative reviews, or if it has decent reviews but not enough reviews, it’s a no-brainer to cross it off your prospect list.
3) Cancellation Policy – Be sure to pay close attention to the owner’s cancellation policy, which can range from very lenient to very strict. A while ago, my husband and I booked an apartment in Copenhagen and ended up having to cancel the trip. Because we had not carefully reviewed the cancellation policy prior to booking, we were only reimbursed for 50% of the total rental cost. We could have received a full refund if we had booked an accommodation with a more lenient cancellation policy.
4) Avoid Red Tape – My husband and I recently considered booking a rental for a planned trip to Italy. Although the apartment was beautiful and the reviews were all positive, many of the reviewers mentioned that when meeting the owner to collect the keys, the owner gave them a rental agreement to sign, written in Italian. We changed our minds about that particular list because we didn’t want to sign an agreement for such a short time and because we don’t read (or speak) Italian. Similarly, you should avoid renting if you are not comfortable with any of the rental terms and conditions or if the landlord is trying to make you jump through any unforeseen obstacles.
5) Parking: If you plan to rent a car, make sure your rental cost includes the use of a parking space or make sure there is affordable parking nearby.