Vacation Rental Hack: Finding “The One”

We’ve all been there: obsessively scrolling through infinite Airbnb listings, longing for perfection to jump out and slap us in the face; the one with its obnoxiously modern finishes, five-star restaurant neighbor, and the promise of a home base that launches an action-packed travel experience while providing plush furniture and curious new products that exceed the comforts of home. These are lofty goals, but not unattainable with these simple hacks:
1. Follow featured products. This is not easy to find, but if you read profiles carefully, you’ll notice that some of them have featured products placed by brands. A brand’s endorsement of a property manager to display their products as part of an ultimate traveler experience is a sure guarantee that the property manager is going above and beyond to not only maximize your experience, but abide by brand guidelines that ensure tasteful design in a pristine environment.
2. Seek “Super Hosts”. This sounds like a no-brainer but it is a great way to have some insurance on the quality of your stay — after all, Super Hosts worked hard for the glorious medal that dons their profile, and they go great lengths to ensure that all guests coming through their property will continue to bless them with raving reviews. To become a Super Host, the host must have a minimum of 10 reviews posted, an average star rating of 4.8+ across all categories, and have at least 80% 5-star ratings. No big deal.
3. Read review, not ratings. We’ve all fallen victim to quant-based rating systems — from Yelp, Airbnb and maybe even Ok Cupid (sorry about that) — but if you look at the qualitative feedback, you’ll be happy you did your research. In the few extra minutes it takes to read reviews, you’ll easily discern the whiny guest from the genuinely lackluster experience. This is also a great way to measure the experience of others against your own personal standards; a great stay for the person who frequents Motel 6 may not meet your Four Seasons expectations. Is the host very involved or do they disappear after check-in? Choose your flavor, and make sure you know exactly what you’re biting into before you book.
4. Look for high cleaning fees. Sounds counter-intuitive, right? It’s natural to want the best bang for your buck, but cleaning is not where you need to cut corners. Properties with seemingly low fees compared to others in the area can be indicative of a property manager that’s cutting corners. A premium travel experience means you can comfortably lounge without the worry of stumbling upon leftovers from the previous guest.
Remember these tips before your next vacation and you’re more than likely to find “the one”!