I’ve done my fair share of AirBnb livin’ this last year with all of my various trips.  Over the course of the year, I stayed in an AirBnb in Alicante, Budapest, Vienna, Prague, and Paris.  I think the concept of AirBnb is absolutely brilliant.  What other time in my life will I be able to stay in a (questionably clean, but) adorable little studio apartment in a hoppin’ part of Paris?  Or a large and in charge apartment right on the beach in Alicante?  Or when will I stay in a beautifully renovated hotel-like studio in the heart of Budapest?  Probably never, is the answer to all of those, but with AirBnb, it’s possible- even just for a weekend.

I have stayed in apartments that were absolutely beautiful, clean, and right in the center, and have stayed in places that aren’t quite that clean, you run into some difficulties, or find out that the host lives there too.

I’ve been around the AirBnb block, so to speak, so I want to share my on-going list of things that I always bring to an AirBnb (really!  I keep a note in my phone!)

• 1 // Bath towels and a hand towel // You never know if they will provide it (or if it will be clean!)
• 2 // Coffee and a mini espresso maker if you have it // (How many times have I bought a new bag of coffee?)
• 3 // Mini jelly packs  // So you don’t need to buy an entire jar of jelly for your bread and espresso in the morning
• 4 // Mini olive oil and vinegar packs  // Sometimes there is no oil for cooking and you don’t want to buy a new one.
• 5 // Directions on how to get there from the train station, airport, etc. // You may not have internet to look this up later.
• 6 // Confirmation page with host contact information  // So you can contact them in the case that you are running late, etc.
  

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Questions to always ask a host prior to the trip:

• 1 // Do you live in the flat?  You should ask this even if the flat is listed as “entire home”.  I stayed in a flat and the host lived there.  It’s not bad,  but definitely not what I had anticipated.
• 2 // Are towels provided?  And how many?  If you can swing it, it’s better to bring your own because hosts tend to leave their ratiest, nastiest towels for their lovely guests.
• 3 // How do I get to your apartment from the train, etc?  Ask for exact directions and clarify anything you don’t understand, especially if you won’t have access to internet.
• 4 // What time is check out?  Can I check out late?  What time?  Ask this in advance of the day you plan to leave so that the host can make arrangements.  I had a maid open the door when I was still asleep…
• 5 // Can I leave my bags in the flat on my last day?  Usually, hosts are more than accommodating and will allow you to leave bags on your last day while you go out and about exploring.
• 6 // Where are the closest supermarkets, attractions, etc.  I always like to get the hosts recommendations, since this is their home, afterall.  Think of them as your personal concierge.

Overall, my experience with AirBnb has been great.  I know it can be more inconvenient than a hotel in terms of getting keys, checking in and out, etc, since you have to do some coordinating.  But on the flipside, once everything is settled, it’s so nice to have your own space– a place to make your coffee, throw your suitcase, and do whatever you want.  It’s like being home for a weekend, instead of a cramped hotel room.