Air BnB – why wouldn’t you?

I’ve just wrapped up booking all of the accommodation for our month long trip to Europe. All bar one night is booked through Air BnB. And I’m chuffed. Not only do we have more space and greater useful amenities compared to a hotel (yip, I’m talking the all important coffee maker and washing machine) as a trio travelling it just makes sense for us.

I was hesitant to book through Air BnB while travelling through North Africa and the Middle East two years ago. Why? It was still newish to me and I wanted the comfort of knowing that we were safe and had access to good bathrooms (I’m not picky about much while travelling but bathrooms are my thing). I did book us into an apartment in Jerusalem using Air BnB. After that experience, and bookings in Australia and New Zealand I felt that this was the way to go for us this time.

Pros:

• Space! We have either booked two bedroom or one bedroom apartments and homes across 10 cities and towns. The days of tripping over our bags will be long gone
• Flexibility. We are staying out of the main centres when we have a rental car and close to transport lines in the major cities
• Amenities. Coffee makers, dining tables, full kitchens, washing machines, parking on site, proximity to markets and supermarkets. All of these things are searchable and much more attractive to me than an on-site gym or conference centre
• Respect for trios. Travelling with three adults either means staying in a family room or the third person being limited to a single bed. Using Air BnB means that we can take turns on the double sofa beds or have two separate rooms with double beds. Having travelling as a couple with a single traveller before, it just didn’t feel right that we automatically got the “good” bed while they were on the trundler
• Price! I have saved at least $80 NZD per night on our trip. If I factored in the savinging for booking two hotel rooms, it would be much higher than that.

Cons:

• Uncertainty. One place that we’ve booked seems really under priced and is new to Air BnB. I’m hoping that this explains the price point
• You snooze, you lose. Unlike hotels there is only one of that perfect little apartment overlooking the canal in Paris. If you miss it because you wanted to check other places, you’re back to the drawing board
• Venice. I know it is cool but even when searching for AirBnB options, the price point just pained me. I could feel my credit card grimacing at the mere thought of paying three times our average accommodation just to glimpse the water. Instead, we are risking it at a two star hotel. Wish me luck!

I’ll review our accommodation as we go and write up my post-Air BnB thoughts on here as well.

Below are some examples of our accomodation (just so you can see why I’m pleased with myself):