I am a massive fan of Airbnb. Before our adventure through Africa and the Middle East last year, I had never used it – but now I love it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a more home-like experience while traveling. We have stayed in Airbnb rentals in Vilankulo (Mozambique), Cape Town, Kampala, Kigali, Jerusalem, Paris, Seattle, Vancouver, and Berkeley, and I am happy to report that we have never had a bad experience. Each has been different – from relaxing with a view of the Indian Ocean in Vilankulo to entertaining family in Paris to binge-watching Community on Canadian Netflix in Vancouver – and each has been fantastic in its own way. We have stayed in spacious apartments, cozy mother-in-law units, and even a place with a zebra head on the wall.
My favorite reason for choosing an Airbnb is that it allows you to truly feel like you are in a home away from home. We were on the road for most of last year (more than 7 months) and we were moving often. Renting someone’s home on Airbnb for 5 or 7 days was the perfect way to rest and break up our travels. I always found that our stays helped me re-center myself, keeping me healthy and happy. So, without further ado, here are my 6 tips for choosing an Airbnb rental to keep you healthy and happy:
Consider whether you want a private space or to stay with a host.
This is the first question you need to ask yourself. (Well, aside from where you are going.) Airbnb lets you filter your options by “Entire Place,” “Private Room,” or “Shared Room.” Your preference might vary by vacation. Sometimes you might want the independence and solitude of the “Entire Place,” while sometimes you might want the company or local expertise that you would get from staying with a host. For example, in Cape Town, we wanted the apartment to ourselves so that we could recover from our 30-day road trip across South Africa, but, in Seattle, we took a private room in a home and really enjoyed visiting with our gracious and incredibly interesting host, who gave us plenty of sight-seeing suggestions and even located a nearby yoga studio for me.
Make sure the neighborhood is pedestrian-friendly.
Unless you are traveling with a car, you will probably be getting around via a combination of public transportation and your own feet. If you are going to be relying on public transportation, make sure to map the distance between your potential location and the closest train or bus stop. Be sure to pay attention to the terrain as well: are you going to have to walk along or cross extremely busy streets to reach the bus or train stop? Or pass through an area that might not be well lit at night? If in doubt, ask your host.
Make sure there is a kitchen …
My absolute favorite part of Airbnb rentals is having access to a kitchen. The ability to prepare my own breakfast and lunch really sets the tone for my day. Nothing makes me sadder than paying $6 for a bowl of oatmeal that is not as good as one that I could have made for a fraction of the cost! Of course, dining out at restaurants and sampling the local cuisine can be one of the most fun parts of traveling – but I find that I am happier and healthier when I eat at least one meal at home. This is especially true when you are on the road for a longer period of time. For example, by the time that we had arrived in Jerusalem, we had been eating out every meal for more than two months. Jerusalem is home to a wide variety of delicious-looking restaurants and some of the best falafel I have ever had in my life, but I was so ready for our Airbnb kitchen that we relished a simple dinner of eggs and toaster oven-roasted eggplant prepared at home.
… and make sure that you have access to said kitchen.
If having access to a kitchen is important to you (and it always is to me!), ensure that you have read the listing carefully. Some shared Airbnb rentals specifically note that guests do not have access to the kitchen, or that guests can only use the kitchen to prepare light meals, like sandwiches. This might be enough for you (in Seattle, we ate only microwaved oatmeal and salads), but be sure that you know the rules before committing to the rental. Also, if you are planning on cooking, it is worth inquiring about the presence of pots and pans. There are likely kitchen supplies if the unit is someone’s home, but, if it is a unit that is used exclusively for rentals, you might not have all the supplies you would have liked. As we’ve learned from experience, if a coffee maker is important to you, make sure to ask … or you might just have to hack your coffee preparation with boiling water and an old milk bottle.
Inquire about nearby amenities.
Since I like to cook at home, one of my top concerns is whether there is a grocery store within walking distance. In Kigali, our rental was so far away from a grocery store that we had to ride there and back on bodas (moto-taxis). This made the trip not terribly cost effective and more than a little frightening. Holding onto your groceries and the driver’s back while he careens around city streets is not for the faint of heart!
Of course, there are other things to think about other than grocery stores – be sure to think about the things that you need to keep you happy and healthy, be it drug stores, coffee shops, yoga studios, or laundromats.
Don’t forget to check if there are pets!
I am allergic to cats. I wish that I was not allergic to cats, but alas. I also wish that Airbnb contained a feature that allowed you to filter out properties where cats live, but (at least at this time) it does not. It does, however, allow you to see if pets live on the property. I always have to check this first, lest I fall in love with a location with a cat. Now dogs, at least for me, are another story … I will go out of my way to stay somewhere with a dog. Hey, pets make me happy and healthy!
Do you have any tips to making sure that your Airbnb experience is happy and healthy? Leave them in the comments!