The complete Airbnb guide for first-time users
Being location independent has allowed us to travel the world, experience new things and meet new people all while calling each new country that we are in home. And had it not been for tools like Airbnb, it would have made our wanderlust journey nearly impossible.
Now, Airbnb can sometimes get a bad wrap and don’t get me wrong, in some cases it is absolutely valid as we have had our fair share of hiccups, but our overall experience has been pleasant and we found the Airbnb team to be extremely helpful.
So if you are a newbie to Airbnb or just been on the fence after a not-so-good experience, here a few tips that we have helped us navigate Airbnb and allowed us to have a good experience.
Start planning your trip at least 3 weeks in advance
No matter if you are headed to a nearby city for a little R&R or going out of the country, you should be looking for a place to stay at least 3 weeks in advance. Why? You want to have options — Airbnb has a good list of options depending on the type of traveler you are. You can choose from having an entire place to yourself, sharing some common areas or simply renting out a room in a house.
Once you choose the type of dwelling you want, you need to identify where you want to stay. For example, you may want to be in the city where all the hustle and bustle is. These type of places get snatched up quickly because of convenience and the price tends to be higher as well. Planning weeks ahead will give you an array of options geographically and price wise.
SECRET TIP: Always message the host before booking to ensure that the place is still available. Sometimes a location will be listed for a certain date and a few days later we learn that it is no longer available.
Review every picture, the description and rules thoroughly
Every host is not created equal when it comes to Airbnb. Some painstakingly take the time to set up their home, take high-quality images and ensure that everything is picture perfect, while others take photos on what looks like a flip phone. While the quality of the photos is not important to some, this is the introduction of their home to you and also an indication of what type of host they may be.
We make sure to match the layout of the home to the description they have. If they say they have a kitchen, make sure there is a picture of the kitchen. If they say they have a washer and a dryer, be sure to look for a washer and dryer in the images. If an amenity is listed and does not have an accompanying picture, we pass on that place.
We have had the unfortunate experience of “trusting the description” and walked into an apartment riddled with mold and lacking in described amenities despite speaking to host prior to arrival.
The description will also be a good place to learn of additional fees and information. Some places in Thailand, for example, require that you cover electricity and water separately. This is not true for every place in Thailand but if you don’t review the description carefully, this is crucial information that could be missed.
Each host has their own set of rules for their property. These rules can vary depending on the length of stay, how many people are traveling in your party and even their refund policy. Take note of these rules prior to booking so there are no surprises.
Things you should bring to every Airbnb
Unlike hotels that typically provide soap, shampoo, washcloths and towels, not every Airbnb will have this. So we have created a rule of thumb that we go by no matter what Airbnb we book. We always buy or bring the following:
- Washcloths or Poofs
- Soap to take a shower
- Extra toilet paper
- Shower caps
And if you plan to cook I would personally suggest buying a few extra sponges to wash dishes.
Now if you are like us and typically stay at an Airbnb for 2 weeks or longer, you may to invest in a few extra things like:
- Multi-purpose cleaner
- Detergent to wash your clothes in
- Additional soap for the dishes
- Maybe a few paper plates and cups (on the days you don’t feel like washing dishes)
- Inexpensive pot or pan you don’t mind leaving behind
Some Airbnbs go out of their way to provide all of these things for you, but a good amount of them only accommodate you with the bare minimum (even if you are staying for a month or longer).
Get a discounted rate the longer you stay
Depending on where you go and how many reviews they have, most of the Airbnb reservations will have an automatic discount displayed when you select 1 week or longer. This discount increases the longer your stay is. We have some discounts as high as 70% off for the entire month!
It also never hurts to reach out to the host directly and ask for a better rate, especially if you are staying longer than a month. Most are happy to offer you a special rate because they are making guaranteed money over a period of time. And if you are a travel blogger and staying for a few weeks, you can certainly reach out to negotiate a cheaper rate in exchange for a blog post, video review, etc…
Superhosts are the best hosts, most of the time
We got this information direct from Airbnb after having a few booking issues with hosts that were not superhosts and only had a few reviews. They explained that superhosts are a shining example for other hosts, and provide extraordinary experiences for their guests. These hosts do everything to maintain this status as it helps them stay booked year-round. This should be your default choice especially if you are an Airbnb newbie.
We have also found a small pool of hosts that have yet to achieve superhost status but have a plethora of reviews and they are amazing. We give these places a chance because people are saying good things about them, they have a good description and pictures to match and they are responsive on messages. So far we haven’t been disappointed with this approach.
Dealing with issues once you arrive
Sometimes, you can take all of the above steps, walk into your Airbnb and still find yourself in a home that is not exactly as described. When this happens, these are the steps you should take:
STEP 1 — Document all issues that you find
Take video and pictures of every discrepancy that you see in the home. Airbnb likes video because it helps them see what you see and get a good lay of the land. Be sure to write down each issue so that when you reach out to Airbnb directly, you can explain what is going on
STEP 2 — Call, don’t email Airbnb
We learned this from a resolution specialist that works for Airbnb. When you email them, their bots does not classify your issue as high importance. It goes into a normal pool of emails that get answered by everyday reps. When you call their number directly and explain your situation, you are escalated to a resolution specialist who is equipped to handle issues like this. Explain the issue you are having and what you expect to come of this. If you find that the dwelling is inhabitable (typically due to mold, cleanliness, etc..), you can ask for a refund but you will need to find somewhere to stay yourself.
STEP 3 — Message your host and cancel your reservation
Once you have spoken to Airbnb, message your host and let them know of the issues. Share the documentation you have AFTER you have sent everything to Airbnb. Then be sure to cancel your reservation if you no longer plan to stay there.
