HOW TO BOOK AN AIRBNB: THE REAL AIRBNB TRAVEL GUIDE

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How to book on Airbnb is a real question for those who have never used the platform. In this Airbnb travel guide, you will see that it’s a lot easier than it can seem at first! Check our guide on how to book with Booking.com here.

1 – USE MY DISCOUNT CODE.

An airbnb discount code is the first thing you need !

If this is your first time booking through airbnb, I suggest you book through my link : http://bit.ly/AirbnbMary

It will give you 30€ off your first booking and we love a good discount !

 

2 – BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR AIRBNB SUPERHOSTS

 

No, you don’t have to book an Airbnb owned by a superhost. Yes, it is nice if you do. Why you ask ? Well, the indication “superhost” means that the host (and therefore the Airbnb) has been receiving awesome reviews and that they have been providing guests with exceptional experiences.

In practice, what it means is that the host is very much reliable and the Airbnb matches the description perfectly. We love Superhosts. Note that  Airbnb controls Superhosts four times a year. 

 

3 – READ THE DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY

 

Airbnbs come in all sorts of sizes and shapes. Make sure you read the description correctly. Is it a full place ? Is it a shared apartment ? Will you have your own bathroom ? Will you share the kitchen ? Is it appropriate for kids? What about the location ? 

Sometimes, we read descriptions quite quickly and miss out on little details that are very important to us. Make sure you read it all before booking it. If you end up wanting to cancel the booking, you might loose part of your payment. So, read carefully !

 

4 – WATCH OUT FOR THE INSTANT BOOK BUTTON

 

Some hosts allow instant bookings for their place. What does this mean you ask? It means that if you like the place and if it is available at your dates, you can book it right away without the host having to validate it. 

This can sometimes be convenient BUT in my experience, it hasn’t been a very good. I find that hosts with instant booking don’t monitor their bookings as well as other hosts. Therefore, they don’t reply to your messages, they double book (that happened to me and we had to find a place last minute which was much more expensive), etc… 

Unless it is someone with awesome reviews, I would stay away from instant bookings. 

 

5 – DON’T HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO THE HOST

 

Host are usually very nice people. Indeed, if you’re letting strangers spend nights at your place, you must at least like people a little. Therefore, if you have any questions about the place, or if you plan to arrive or leave at different times than these indicated, don’t hesitate to reach out to them and see what they think. 

When you request a booking, the host has to validate it. Hosts will usually check out your profile and the profiles of the people traveling with you. If you’re new on the platform, don’t hesitate to send a quick message to the host introducing yourself and the reasons for your traveling (vacation, work, family reunion, etc). Think about it : it is nice to know who is going to come stay at your place ! 

 

6 – CANCELLATION POLICY

 

Airbnb has an excellent consumer service that is available 24/7 and is always willing to help.

The cancellation policy usually varies from one host to another. Hosts can pick the amount of time you have to cancel before the arrival date and they can also choose how much you will get back if you cancel. So always be aware of this when you book a place. If you are unsure what the policy is, scroll down and you will find it on the booking page at the bottom.

However, always remember that IF THE HOST IS NO LONGER ABLE TO HOST YOU, the host has to cancel ! Do not EVER cancel a booking when it is the host that can no longer host you. If the host can not host you anymore (or changes their mind, or double booked the place by mistake)  and YOU cancel, YOU will be penalised whereas it is the host’s fault. When the host cancels, you will get reimbursed fully. 

 

7 – WATCH OUT FOR HIDDEN COSTS

 

Sometimes, a cleaning fee will be added to the  cost. This is very common and also means you won’t have to clean the place before leaving. Just make sure this is within your budget !

 

8 – WATCH OUT FOR DISCOUNTS 

It wouldn’t be a real helpful guide on how to book an airbnb without telling you to watch out for discounts !

If you are planning for a longer-term stay, you will most likely benefit from a discount, especially if you are staying for 3, 4 weeks or more !

 

9 – ALWAYS READ THE REVIEWS

 

People are very honest on Airbnb. If something was off with the place, you will know by reading the reviews.

 

10 – CHECK YOUR MESSAGES CLOSER TO THE DATE

 

The host will usually contact you closer to the date to let you know the final details. This can look like letting you know how to get the keys, giving you information on how to get to the place, etc… If you are traveling abroad and you know you won’t have wifi or mobile reception, let your host know so they can give you all the important information ahead of time.

 

11 – DON’T STRESS ABOUT THE KEYS

 

There are lots of different ways to get your Airbnb keys. Here are a few examples but I haven’t been everywhere so there probably are other ways too :

–a lockbox : This is a little box with a code, usually on the door or the wall. It allows you to get the keys with the code provided by your host by message. This allows the host to not have to be there.

–meeting with the host : Some people are “old style” and like to meet their guests in person, or sometimes, they just live close by. They will usually ask you to call or message them when you get to the place and meet you there.

–a video : Some hosts will send you a video explaining to you how to get the keys, showing where they are hidden, etc… This requires to have some sort of app like WhatsApp. Like the first option, it allows the host to not have to be there.

–a bar : Some hosts leave the keys at a bar or café close to their place. It can be through a lockbox but sometimes not. 

All of these ways are safe. I know some look a bit uncommon but in the Airbnb world it is normal. 

I hope this article on how to book an airbnb was helpful if this is your first time booking on Airbnb ! If you have any question, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments or to reach out directly on instagram @marykathill, I will be happy to answer them ! 

You can also find my TOP 6 RYANAIR TRAVEL TIPS here 🙂

I wish you an excellent stay !

Love,

Mary