Over the past several years, home rental popularity has significantly increased in popularity and I couldn't be more thrilled! My husband and I jumped on the Airbnb bandwagon several years ago for our trip to San Francisco.
We were trying to find a hotel room for our week long stay and realized we would end up having to sell an arm and a leg to afford a hotel in a good location. After hours of research we decided to try something new and stay at an Airbnb. We were instantly hooked.The apartment was full of character and was in a unique part of town that made us feel connected with San Francisco, a feeling a chain hotel just couldn't accomplish.
After that trip, Airbnb became our go-to place for accommodations. Airbnb is a community with like minded individuals who are eager to experience the world and meet others who share that same passion. Not only is there a huge, unique inventory of places to stay, its easy to book and they have great customer service.
With that being said, here are my top 5 reason you should book with Airbnb for your next vacation.
The nightly rates tend to be cheaper
When you are looking for a place to stay while on vacation, you usually want to be staying in city center or near the attractions you came to see. Hotels in these locations often have high nighty rates. Airbnb allows you to stay in these popular areas for much cheaper. And even if you are looking to stay off the beaten path, Airbnb 9 times out of 10 will still be cheaper than your average hotel.
But, if you are looking for a swanky place to stay and your budget has no limit, Airbnb can still fit your needs. They have some beautiful villas and penthouse suites available too!
More space
In most cities I've visited, especially in Europe, the hotel rooms are itty bitty and often leave you feeling crammed throughout your stay. Staying in an Airbnb gives you much more room to actually enjoy your vacation and feel at home.
Another huge bonus for Airbnb is when you travel with larger groups. You are able to find an accommodation that allows your family or friends to all stay together without feeling like a bunch of pack rats. It adds to my first point on being cheaper since you don't need to reserve multiple hotel rooms and you can enjoy each others company. We often travel with our large families and this is a huge selling point for Airbnb for us.
Kitchen Space
Traveling with a family can get quite expensive when you add up everyone's plane ticket, hotel rooms, attractions, and food. With Airbnb, more times than not, you will have a kitchen which is a major bonus point in my book. Always having to pay to eat out sucks your bank account dry. If your accommodations have a kitchen, you can stop by the local farmers market or grocery store, buy fresh and local ingredients and cook you and your family a wonderful and inexpensive meal.
When we traveled to Zurich, one of the top 10 most expensive cities in the world, our travel budget was dwindling, faster than we expected. However, since we stayed at an Airbnb, we were able to buy some cheeses, meats and wine at the local store and enjoy a delicious meal while sitting outside and taking in the view of the city. It was our favorite meal of our trip.
The kitchen space allows you and your family to have options when traveling without having to pay for the increased food prices when dining out. And besides, cooking in a foreign city with local ingredients adds a romantic ambience to your vacation that will give you memories to cherish for years to come.
Unique Accommodations
I often find myself scouring the Airbnb website looking for beautiful and unique places I'd long to stay at. There is such a variety at Airbnb. Want to stay on a houseboat while in Amsterdam? They have that. Never stayed in a treehouse? They have those too. The options are almost limitless and you can guarantee your stay will be unique each and ever time.
Besides a variety of accommodations, the homes also have a character you just can't find in a hotel room. Each Airbnb reflects its host and the vibe of the city. It can be such an inspiring experience and lets you peak into local culture.
And my favorite... Feeling Like a Local
Like most travel enthusiasts, my family and I try our hardest to not feel or look like tourists when we are on vacation. In my opinion, when you blend in with locals you get to experience the true nature of the city and can find hidden nuances most tourists will miss.
Airbnb's new campaign, Live There, takes their goal of promoting travelers to live like locals even further. Airbnb's new app matches travelers to homes and neighborhoods that fit their personalities and style, and offers insider tips on restaurants/bars you should try straight from the locals themselves. This creates a slew of opportunities for tourists to blend in and not just go somewhere, but to know what its like to live there. And for our family, there is no better way to travel then to feel at home.