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I’ve used Airbnb to save tons of money when I travel. From quick trips to long stays, Airbnb has come in clutch when I had a tight budget and when looking for unique experiences. Here are some tips I found along with my stay on how to make the best of your Airbnb stay. 

Message your potential Airbnb host

I always send a personal message to my potential host. This shows that I actually took the time to read the host profile and sends a good positive vibe along. I usually will let them know why I picked their spot and what I’m doing in their neck of the woods. I’ve found that this helps the likelihood of your reservation to get approved. 

Don’t take rejection personally

Everyone will eventually get rejected for an Airbnb stay. It happens and you shouldn’t be offended. I’ve run into a few cases where the calendar shows availability, and I got a big fat no. At first, I really took it personally but after speaking with several Airbnb hosts I learned about some of the circumstances that may have caused the no. Maybe the host forgot to update their booking calendar or some unseen circumstances came up.

Invest time searching for the perfect place

I’ve run across an abundance of unique Airbnb rentals that caught my eye. I’ve seen a casino styled, ramen themed, container, beach houses, small houses, etc. If you try to find something in a rush, you’ll definitely miss out on gems. So I recommend taking some time to search! You don’t want to miss out on a potential treehouse with awesome views.

This is not a hotel

People tend to forget that Airbnb rooms are not hotel rooms. You might run into some of the things you would run into if you bummed a couch from a friend. Clothes on a chair or a cup in a sink, these shouldn’t be deal-breakers. I know it can be tough as well to stand there and have a conversation with your Airbnb host after your long flight but I always recommend taking a few minutes before crashing to speak with them. 

Let your host know if you’re going to be late

I hope you’re starting to see the trend here. Communication is the key to success.

This a huge courtesy and really simple to do. Share your flight number with your host if you’re coming in by plane. This way if you don’t have a way to communicate delays, they’ll have the ability to search. 

If you’re driving, I recommend giving plenty of updates. Current location, cause of the delay and the estimated time of arrival. 

Stick to the rules

@AirbnbHelp I’m having recurring problems with guests having parties and events at my houses against my rules. Even with video evidence Airbnb hasn’t resolved the cases allowing guest to get away with violation with no repercussions. How do I protect myself??

— Terry Adams (@tla463) January 23, 2020

We all saw the occasional Airbnb house party or tried to save some bucks by paying in cash. Play by the rules. It’s not worth it to try and stretch the Airbnb rules. Paying in cash doesn’t provide the insurance protection you would receive. Hosting house parties in an Airbnb can lead to legal issues in the future. 

Do you need to tip?

Big topic amongst all my friends. Should you tip after your stay? I always recommend giving a small gift. If I pick up a souvenir or a bottle of wine for the night, I might just double up on it and leave one for the host,  I don’t always give something, but I always want to let the host know when they made my stay a good one.

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