A Beginner’s Guide To Booking A Dreamy (And Affordable) Airbnb
Airbnb is the newest alternative to a hotel or hostel, and it’s worth looking into if you’re travelling with friends or family, or you’re just wanting cheaper and more comfortable accommodation! Plus, if you play your cards right, you can land a breathtaking Airbnb that will be the highlight of your whole trip.
Whether you’re looking for something dreamy, something affordable, or both, this is our beginner’s guide to finding the perfect Airbnb for you.
1. Don’t start searching without your dates
When you first start searching for an Airbnb, enter your dates before looking at any properties. And, if you don’t have your dates yet or flights booked, you should hold off on your search. Airbnb properties vary depending on when you’re travelling, and you don’t want to have your heart set on a place only to see it’s not available for your dates.
Once you have your dates, you’ll be able to see exactly what’s available and begin narrowing down the properties.
2. Make use of the search filters
On the Airbnb site, make sure you go to the top (underneath the search bar) and narrow your search results to find the best place with the least effort on your part. Do you need a certain amount of beds or bedrooms? What kind of property would you like to stay at? Are certain amenities required for your stay?
By selecting these before you begin looking, you can eliminate places that don’t fit your needs and find an Airbnb property faster.
3. Indicate if you want the place to yourself
On Airbnb, properties can vary depending on whether or not you have the place to yourself. Some hosts will offer you a spare room in their house or apartment for a cheaper price, which can be ideal for travellers who don’t mind this and are looking for a cheaper option.
However, make sure to eliminate this option if you’d rather have the place to yourself. You can select this under “Home Type” in the search filters and select “Entire Place.” This way, you will have your privacy during your stay and be able to live like a local in your own place!
4. Sort by price
One of the best search filters you can use on Airbnb is the price filter. Here, you can set your minimum and maximum budget for your trip and avoid seeing amazing places in the search that are way out of budget.
However, be sure to check the final price of the place before you get your heart set on it, which you can learn more about later in this article.
5. Read at least 5 reviews
An Airbnb is nothing without reviews, and these are by far your greatest asset in the search for your perfect Airbnb. You could find a place that looks beautiful in photos but is actually disgusting inside, or see a home that looks average to you but its reviews show that it’s one of a kind.
A place can vary depending on cleanliness, its neighbourhood and proximity to town, its amenities, and its host, and these are all available in the reviews. Be sure to read at least 5 reviews before going through with a booking, and be wary of booking a place that doesn’t have any reviews yet.
6. View the house layout
Unlike other websites, Airbnb has an interesting feature at the bottom of the listing page where you can see the house layout and get a feel for whether that particular Airbnb will suit your needs.
You can find this by clicking on a listing you’re interested in and scrolling down to the “Sleeping Arrangements” section. This will reveal how many bedrooms the Airbnb has and the size of the beds, along with whether any of the beds is just a sofa. If you’re travelling with a group, this feature is particularly useful to see if the sleeping arrangements will suit everyone.
7. Research the location
Airbnb won’t display the exact location of a property until you book it, but you can see the neighbourhood generally by scrolling down to the bottom of the listing until the section of “The neighborhood.”
Once you have this, you can go into Google Maps and research the location, seeing how far it is from public transport, city landmarks, restaurants, and other places that may be essential for you on your trip. Be sure to make use of this feature instead of being discouraged by not having a full address before booking an Airbnb. Seeing a property’s neighbourhood is almost just as useful as having the full address, particularly for making your decision!
8. Check the final price, not the listed one
As mentioned earlier, the price per night that is advertised by Airbnb is almost never the full price that you will be charged because of service and cleaning fees as well as occasional discounts for staying in a property for multiple nights.
Two £40 per night properties on Airbnb can have a different final total depending on the host you’re booking with, so instead of basing your decision on the advertised price, enter your dates and your guest on the side of the listing and check for the final total so you aren’t caught with any surprises.
9. Compare by amenities
Every Airbnb is different, and if you’re torn between a few properties in your search, it can be useful to compare by amenities. You can view these in the top section of the Airbnb listing under the “Amenities” section, and some of these can include WiFi, TV, elevator, cooking appliances, and bathroom appliances. You can also see what amenities aren’t included by looking at what is crossed out at the bottom.
Some of these amenities can be make-it-or-break-it for your trip, so be sure to consult this section in your search so you can find the perfect Airbnb for you.
10. Be aware of check-in / check-out times
Lastly, be sure to consult the “Policies” section at the bottom of the listing page to find house rules for the property, including the check-in and check-out times. Depending on when you’re set to arrive and depart the location you’re staying in, this can be important to know for your stay and help you narrow your decision between two properties.
However, know that hosts can be flexible with these times with notice, so if you are needing to check-in a bit later due to a later flight, or you’re wanting a later check-out, you can always communicate this with the host and it may not be a problem.
