How to Pick an AirBnB or Hostel
“You’re going to stay in a stranger’s apartment in a foreign country?....no.” - my mother when I first told her I was planning to stay in an AirBnB in Paris.
Initially, AirBnB sounds like every parent’s worst nightmare and the beginning of a Liam Neeson movie. However, paying a stranger to stay in their apartment isn’t as crazy as it sounds. While I will be the first to admit that I have had some...memorable...experiences in my hostels/AirBnBs, I have never felt unsafe. If you want your best story from your accommodations to be that time that the maid left you two mints on your pillow instead of just one, then stick with the hotels, but if you want to have a totally unique and completely irreplicable experience, AirBnBs and hostels might be for you. But you (or your mom) may still have some questions…
Are you sure this is safe?
AirBnB has excellent guidelines and procedures to keep you and your host safe. All transactions run through their website, so you are never exchanging cash, and the mutual review system helps you feel confident that your accommodations will be safe and comfortable. Sites like Hostel.com and Hostelworld.com have plenty of reviews as well, so you know exactly what you’re getting. Stick with 4 stars and up, and you should have a great time.
What part of town should I stay in?
Time is money when you are travelling, so you don’t want to stray TOO far from the city center, but moving a little ways outside the tourist district can save you a lot of money. Do some research and find out which parts of the city are popular residential areas for the locals. There will often be more rentals available in these areas, as well as the more authentic restaurants/grocery stores/cafes. You may find an area that doesn’t necessarily have the biggest tourist attractions, but has a unique ambiance best experienced by staying there. Just make sure that it is close to a bus/metro stop so you can make a quick start in the morning and you won’t have as far to walk home at night.
Should I rent the whole apartment/room at a hostel, or share?
AirBnB gives you the option to rent out someone’s entire apartment, or just a room. If you rent a room, your host is usually staying at the apartment as well, so you will likely see them every day. To all the introverts reading this, take a deep breath, it’s going to be ok. For the most cultural immersion, I recommend renting just a room, because you get to interact with a local, get their personal recommendations, and sometimes they cook you breakfast! But for some of you, the thought of making small talk with a stranger across a language barrier every morning has sent you into a cold sweat.
Don’t worry. Renting the entire apartment can still be a unique cultural experience! For the time you are there, you get to pretend that it’s your apartment, and imagine what daily life would be like in a totally different world. A lot of AirBnBs have washers and dryers, so you will have a chance to refresh that capsule wardrobe you packed in your carry-on. Bonus: when you rent the whole apartment, the host will often have a dropbox system for the key, so you may not meet them at all!
Hostels, likewise, will sometimes offer the option of a private room or a shared bunk room. Generally, my experience has been that the other travelers are quiet and respectful in the bunkroom. We stayed in a hostel in Munich on New Years’ Eve and didn’t have any trouble at all. There are usually lockers where you can safely store your belongings while you sleep, and you can often leave your luggage at the front desk of your hostel while you explore the city. If shared bunk rooms just aren’t your jam, you can sometimes find private rooms at hostels. They will cost more than a shared bunk room, but usually still less than a hotel, and you will still have to use the shared bathroom. This isn’t generally a locker room kind of situation, it’s just that there’s only one bathroom for the 4-5 private rooms. But while you’re waiting your turn for the bathroom, just imagine how much more you can do with all the money you aren’t spending on a hotel!
