Airbnb Mistakes to Avoid

[@GoWithLess]

Thanks for watching our video! What is your experience with Airbnb? Do you have anything to add to the list to help save travelers money?

[@olliehopnoodle4628]

Thanks for the tips. The last item you bring up is interesting. I had an experience with a hotel where I showed up before 'check in'' time and was exhausted. I sat in the lobby for several hours. My coworker finally asked the front desk again and there was rooms available. So like you say, hotels may not be better and BnB might work with you more. Happy Travels!

[@GoWithLess]

It's a mixed bag, for sure! Thanks for commenting, Ollie!

[@truthseeker803]

Thanks for sharing.. specially the tip about checking hotels prices before checking airbnb since sometimes hotels are cheaper.

[@GoWithLess]

We appreciate you watching! It's always a good idea to do your homework when it comes to getting a good price.

[@nesadcruz7840]

Good video. You are obviously passionate about travelling and in helping others who may not have as much experience.

[@GoWithLess]

+Nesa Dcruz That’s very nice of you!!! Thank you for commenting and for watching!

[@OneHappyFrugalFamily]

Oh my goodness, this is such great information. Thank you!

[@GoWithLess]

One Happy Frugal Family I’m so happy you found it helpful!!

[@EmilyRTurk]

Good video! Our biggest mistake was not checking out the neighborhood more! We ended up in a pretty sketchy place because of this, even though we read the reviews closely. We’ve noticed that if there are just a few reviews for a place, they are often from people who have not written any other reviews (perhaps a friend writing the review?!?). But despite that, we love AirBNB! It has truly revolutionized the way we travel!

[@GoWithLess]

Thanks for watching, Emily! We considered adding it to the video but Airbnb doesn't give an exact address until you book. How do you check this out when you're researching?

[@EmilyRTurk]

GoWithLess we usually try to gather information from the general map AirBNB gives of the area, and try to put that together with any hints from photos. Then we normally google the neighborhood or area, and also look on trip advisor! We’ve learned our lesson and will be more cautious next time. It also helps to do the research first, so then you can search AirBNB only for certain safe neighborhoods. We’ve used AirBNB all over the world, and only have had a problem once, but it was largely in part to us not doing our homework!

[@GoWithLess]

Such good advice! Unfortunately, one bad experience can make such a difference. We learned no more reservations when there aren't any reviews...the hard way.

[@kevinandmerrandaalbert2026]

Our first ever private space airbnb was so dirty, I cleaned for 2-3 hours before I could sleep. Thanks for these tips!

[@GoWithLess]

That stinks!!! I hope you mentioned it in your review of the property. If I read that, I would not book it. Sorry that was your experience.

[@gabriellarosa5015]

My husband and I have never tried Airbnb, perhaps some day. Thanks for sharing!

[@GoWithLess]

It’s worked very well for us! I hope you give it a try some day.

[@theseniorthrifter9994]

Love the washing machine info - never though of that.

[@GoWithLess]

Happy we could give The Senior Thrifter a tip! :)

[@kathperreault826]

Great video, Jim and Amy, and informative too. We too love AirBNB and have used it a lot. In fact, we just got caught with your mistake of not checking out hotels in the area first. In Mérida we paid more for our - pretty basic and a wee bit lacking - AirBNB suite, when just across the street we found a gorgeous hotel for less $$. Sigh. (However, we likely would not have had any kitchen at all, so all in all it was still probably the right choice for us for a 3 weeks stay.) I´m signing up for your videos, looks like you have a wealth of good info here.

[@GoWithLess]

+K P That’s a fabulous comment! 😄 Thank you! JUST TODAY, we booked 2 different Airbnbs in Mérida. Are you okay putting up a link to where you stayed to see if we’re in the same one?

[@michellexu1725]

Thanks for the tip on checking the prices on both hotels and Airbnb. You had mentioned discount Airbnb giftcard, where do you get it?

[@GoWithLess]

Tim subscribes to 100s of RSS feeds and finds out about them there. They are in very small increments and seem to end fairly quickly so it's tricky. Also, an international friend has reported that they haven't been able to buy them. Not a great answer...sorry! :)

[@michellexu1725]

@@GoWithLess thanks for the reply Amy. It is a great answer! Thanks for always being so generous. What is RSS?

[@GoWithLess]

@@michellexu1725 Aww, thank you. Tim's a techie guy. He sent me this to help answer your question - www.whatisrss.com

[@artishawalker8112]

Can you provide a list of air BnB you have stayed in and recommend?

[@GoWithLess]

I would love to tackle that project but I don't see it happening - sorry. Here are some of the cities where we've had good experiences - Brussels and Merida (our 2 favorites), Edam, Paris, Lisbon, NYC, Miami, Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, Bocas del Toro, Krakow, Strasbourg, Metz, Reims, Phoenix, Amergris Caye, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Las Vegas. If you are planning visits to any of those cities, happy to attach a link or 2. Let me know!

[@whereverarewe]

Great idea for a post! We've recently ticked over our 38th Airbnb around the world and I have to agree with your tips, especially the part about reading reviews. Oh, I could go on forever about my thoughts on Airbnb! We are generally reluctant to book a place if it has not had any reviews, though on our most recent stay in Chapala, Mexico it turned out to be one of the best we've ever stayed at, and we were the very first guests. So, we can break our rules from time to time if we have a feeling of trust. Also, we've recently started looking for "private room' as well as our usual "entire home" and we've had great success with several that way, mostly if we won't be needing a kitchen. As one of the commenters has said, location is vital for us and we will often ask the owner for the address so we can do a google street view, just to be sure and we'll ask them about access to transport etc. Our big ticket items are: clean, comfort, quiet, location and that's generally how we rate the places. It is amazing the number of hosts that appear to put little thought into the bed comfort and quality of linens etc and if it is below par I will let them know. Equally, if it is great I'll compliment and thank them. I actually have major issues with the Airbnb charging model but that can wait for another time. Oh, and one of our lessons on very early morning arrival: we book to include the night before so we have legitimate access to the place straight away; has saved us a lot of stress and hassle. And finally, one last thing from me: leave accurate and constructive feedback to help future guests decide whether to book. You'd be surprised the number of people that talk about how lovely the hosts were and yet say nothing about the important aspects of the place.

[@GoWithLess]

A huge thank-you for providing such helpful info for us and our viewers! Have you had an atrocious experience with a place that has no reviews? Unfortunately, we have. We had a 4-night stay in Los Angeles and were tempted to find another place after the first (sleepless) night. I was grossed out to walk on the carpet IN MY SHOES. Ick! That wasn't our first place without reviews, but I think it will be our last. I know there can be good deals to be had when a place is trying to get reviews but we've been scared off. Do you request the address before booking? If that technique works for you, I'll start doing it ASAP. Also, great tip about adding the previous night to our booking when we have an early arrival. Will need to verify that the host will be able to let us in but certainly on my radar now! I think "the hosts were lovely" review might be the reading between the lines sort of thing. When the hosts are wonderful, but their place isn't, it can be so hard to write an honest review.

[@danieloathout6528]

Do you use VRBO or just AirBNB? We have good experiences in France with VRBO.

[@GoWithLess]

Great question. We have searched VRBO but only booked with them once. The Airbnb app/website is SO gorgeous and easy to use. It sucks me in. They have packaging/marketing down, in my opinion. Tim also finds Airbnb gift cards on sale now and then so we get a bit of a discount and load them to our account. I need to remember to search VRBO! Thanks for the reminder!

[@AlbertoGarcia-xg4tb]

1. Always check if towels are included 2. Double check if parking is included 3. Airbnb is less flexible when you have kids

[@GoWithLess]

Great additions! We've been to more than 20 Airbnb and all had towels. I can't imagine them not being included. What a shock! Has this happened to you before? Were there any reviews? I would think others would mention that. Do you find it challenging to get accepted from Airbnb hosts because you travel with kids? Thanks for your input!

[@AlbertoGarcia-xg4tb]

@@GoWithLess I have a baby and wanted to do Airbnb and I was rejected 3 consecutive times... that never happened to me before when I used to travel alone or with my wife. My reviews in Airbnb are perfect, the only thing that changed is the baby. ... as for the towels, I have seen some places that do not include them, but I avoid them.

[@GoWithLess]

@@AlbertoGarcia-xg4tb Do you have to mention your baby in your request? Do you need a crib? A shame because Airbnb can be so much easier with kids (more space, a kitchen).

[@AlbertoGarcia-xg4tb]

@@GoWithLess there is an option where you mention the number of people, including kids or babies... I wanted to be accurate because I dont want surprises... the baby sleep with us, so I was not requiring anything extra... also there are lots of places that explicitly says: no kids allowed

[@GoWithLess]

@@AlbertoGarcia-xg4tb 😪