By Carol Antman for Island Eye News
Mark enjoys Airbnb in Hot Springs, North Carolina.
Even though my husband misses the sweet cinnamon buns that the chain's hotels call breakfast, I prefer to stay in larger places. I learned to choose a good Airbnb, but I learned by making mistakes. Here are some tips to save you the learning curve. The filters are your friends. Would you like a guest room or a complete house?
Do you have a pool, private parking or high chair? You can choose dozens of options from the Airbnb filter menus.
You can even choose "Unique Stays" and consider a small house, yurt or tree house. I recently booked a trip that included my mother and used the accessibility filter so she didn't have stairs to her room. You'll also notice "superhospital" lists, meaning stays have received high ratings from customers, have a low cancellation rate, responded quickly to customer questions, and rented out more often. Everyone is critical. Now you no longer have to rely on travel writers to tell you what we think. Everyone is critical. But keep in mind that people are more likely to complain that they praise. I usually overlook the most extreme criticism unless someone confirms it. I recently destroyed a house after two people mentioned the wrong neighborhood.
It is also important to read the owner's responses to the reviews, good and bad.
After a guest wrote that he had left prematurely due to stained sheets, the owner replied that the sheets were replaced immediately.
Owners who do not respond or belittle the reviewer have been removed from my list. My worst house rental experience was when my family entered a house that smelled of mold. After opening the windows and lighting the candles, we gave up and didn't stay. The owner gave us a full refund, which we appreciated, but when I found out that since we hadn't stayed there, we couldn't write a review and warn others. The price is not the price.
Of course, when you look at the list of options, you're comparing prices, but you don't really know the price until you look at it more closely. Set a date even if it is an approximate date. The price changes depending on the season. Then there are cleaning fees, service fees and taxes that add up considerably and only appear in the full description. For example, the four-bedroom "Music City House of Fame" apartment in Nashville costs $ 295, or $ 402 a night. Cleaning fees must be reasonable. A recent reviewer complained: "Only one complaint concerned the amount of cleaning required by customers in addition to cleaning fees. Taking off the beds and doing the laundry was too much. These must be lower rates or lower requirements. There are several cancellation policies that can cost you if your plans change. Look forward to discounts for longer stays for bookings of one week or more and early bird discounts for bookings made 30 days or more in advance. Click on "Price Details" for a complete breakdown of prices. Rest assured that you will not be charged until you click "Book" and the host has confirmed your reservation.
Look closely at the photos.
After making a poor choice in Maine that forced us to creatively stack pillows to create a comfortable seat, I take a close look at the furniture in the living room.
We will spend most of the time here. I think everyone is the bed. My nephew must have a king bed. My granddaughters are thrilled with the bunk beds and nobody wants a sofa bed. After being knocked on the door only once with a towel, I am also more aware of the proximity of the owners or neighbors and what the owners write about privacy. We chose our beautiful location in Hot Springs, North Carolina based on the photos of the outdoor area, which included a campfire and various areas to enjoy the river flowing by. Click the Experience tab. I am very fascinated by Airbnb's experience. Not only can you borrow a house, you can also spend time with a local to do something unique.
In Nashville, wherever I go, we can book the "Moonshine, Hot Chicken and Dancing" excursion or sign up to take a personal song home with us. It's a great way to get in touch with the people who live there. I learned that Airbnb is cheaper if you need a hotel room and especially if you need more than one room. It offers space for stretching, meeting and cooking. Take the time to make a good selection and bring your own cinnamon buns.
Charleston Roadtrips highlight interesting destinations just a few hours' drive from Charleston, South Carolina, and more distant locations. Carol Antman's passion for travel is based on a passion for outdoor adventures, artistic experiences, cultural perspectives and stimulating journeys. For links, photos and previous columns, or for comments, visit peaksandpotholes.blogspot.com.
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