Funky loft in Shibuya
Online social marketplace Homeaway offers Hanna Hussein an easy and convenient way to book accommodation
The bedroom loft
The kitchen
Laundry and bathroom area
The living area
HOTELS in Japan do not come cheap. It may cost more than RM400 (for two people) for a decent room for with space and good location. So, when my family of four was planning our holiday in Tokyo, we decided on homely options at Homeaway.
Homeaway is a social marketplace to book cool places owned by local “hosts”. It can be a extra cosy room, a cool loft or a private villa.
Guests can develop real connections with their Homeaway hosts, live like a local and immerse themselves in the culture of their destination.
As for us, we just wanted a place in Tokyo where we can call home for three days.
HOMEAWAY PICK
Picking our holiday home at Homeaway is easy. The user-friendly website helps you find an accommodation that suits your budget and style.
Type in the location and travel dates, and voila! — a list of homes pops up. You can filter your options by selecting the room type (entire home or private room), property type, amenities, the size (how many rooms, bathroom and beds) and more.
After scrolling through, I found a place in Shibuya. Perfect for a stay in the city!
Booking is effortless too. Our home choice offers “Instant Booking” where the reservation will be accepted instantly after payment is confirmed.
Plus, if you have questions before you make a booking, you can always ask the Lovely balcony, the writer’s favourite part of the apartment.
host on the chat platform. Convenient, isn’t it?
After my booking is accepted, a confirmation email with information on the address, directions and details of the apartment is sent to me.
MODERN AND UNIQUE
Our home in Shibuya is one minute away from the subway station. It’s quite the perfect option for those who rely on public transport!
There are no troublesome check-ins with Homeaway. In the email, the host has given a step-by-step guide on how to retrieve the key.
Our home offers really modern security. To access the apartment and to use the elevator, we have to tap the key at the electronic pad. After we tap the key, the elevator automatically takes us to the home floor level (so no need to tap the floor number).
Inside, it is quite spacious and funky. Well, it’s an Instagram-worthy holiday home to show off to your friends!
It’s a loft apartment so the open bedroom is upstairs. Two single beds are provided but if you have extra guests, there’s a sofabed in the living area. The maximum number of guests is four.
The living area is roomy and homely. Although I may not spend much of my time there, it is great to come back to a lovely space after a tiring outing.
The house is equipped with a kitchen where you can cook light dishes. It has a microwave, a fridge and comes complete with appliances. Just like a home.
The bathroom is spacious; it has a tub and a shower.
There are a washing machine and dryer so I can do my laundry before I head to another destination!nhanna@nst.com.my