How to Avoid Getting an Awful Room While Using Airbnb

Airbnb is a great way to save some money on travel accommodations or even find better accommodations than what you’ll find in your traditional hotel room. When you book a hotel room from a chain, you usually know what you’re getting yourself into. However, when you book an Airbnb, you could end up with an awful room and not have a whole lot to do about it. If you want to make sure you avoid those awful Airbnb situations, read on!

You’ll also enjoy my travel tips to make you a savvy traveler!

Look into the renter, not just the property

As a guest, you are able to look at the renter’s history in order to see things like reviews and other information about past guests. If you read a review that sounds pretty bad, contact the renter and ask them about it. This way you know going in if this is a common problem with the property and what you can expect to get when you arrive.

If it’s too good to be true, it’s because it is

If you are looking for cheap prices, expect cheap accommodations. If someone is charging less, then there is probably a reason for it! If you are okay with not being able to have access to your car because of parking further away, then picking a cheaper location without parking options nearby might be just fine! There is usually a reason for the lower rates, so be sure to find out why before you book.

Read the fine print

The fine print on a listing is going to give you a lot of insight into both what the renter is offering and what you can expect from where you’re staying. The fine print is usually where renters will also sneak in things like the actual sleeping situation and other information about cancellations. Be sure to read the fine print before you EVER book a property.

Research the area well before you book

Airbnb is not always the best option, and pricing can be sometimes tricky if you don’t know the area. Research the area to make sure that you know WHERE you’ll be staying, and the average cost of staying somewhere. Do some research to figure out if the property is in a good neighborhood and what the cost would be to stay at hotels in the area. This will help you avoid a number of bad listings, and help you figure out what a good price for staying there should be.

Look for red flags

Many listings that are bad have red flags. They may say things like sleeps eight but it’s only a one bedroom room, and that should be a clue that this is probably a bad location. For a one bedroom to sleep eight, this would be there is likely a single bed and a pull-out couch at the most. There may be an air mattress, but it’s unlikely. Then you have to consider the logistics of getting eight people into that small space. Pay attention to red flags like this and think about how some of their accommodations might actually be possible in practice.

I hope these tips will help you make sure you have an amazing room every time you book! While some things are out of your control, these tips will help ensure that you are doing everything from the booking side to get a great room.