There’s a lot to like about using Airbnb
My first Airbnb rental, a weeklong stay a San Diego apartment this month, did not begin well. I drove past the complex on Grand Avenue, a busy freeway-to-beach thoroughfare in Pacific Beach, a couple of times before spotting the four-space parking lot in front. It took me a minute or two to figure out how to get through the gate to the one-bedroom unit I was renting. And, whopper of them all, I got the house key stuck in the deadbolt. All within 90 minutes of arriving on a Saturday afternoon. (I had completed a major house move less than 24 hours earlier and had a window blow out on the drive to San Diego so was not exactly at my best.)
My host, as Airbnb.com calls the people who rent out their rooms, apartments, condos, homes and myriad other spaces around the world, was beyond sympathetic and responsive — and very politely said I should have read the house manual that came with the confirmation
e-mail. It mentioned not to use the deadbolt.
Hotels, of course, don’t require a manual. Parking and rooms are relatively easy to find, and there’s someone to ask for help at every turn.
That’s about the only thing I slightly missed during my first solo vacationrental stay. And the feeling was fleeting.
The benefits, as regulars of Airbnb, VRBO, Homeaway and other vacationrental sites know, are many.
My apartment was more than twice the size of a standard hotel room, a great place to crash after a long work day. WiFi and parking were free. There were a washer and dryer, complete with laundry soap and stain remover. There were two flat-screen TVs with a zillion channels. There was a stack of current San Diego magazines on the kitchen table, plus restaurant menus and coupons for local attractions.
There even was food in the fridge, leftover from the previous renters or the host. A note in the house manual said guests are welcome to use items left in the fridge, as well as toiletries left behind. I did wonder about, but never touched, food and drinks on the counter, such as potato chips, avocados, bread and red wine.
Airbnb, which gets its name from its initial plan to put air beds in people’s homes as a way for bargain-hunting travelers to save money on lodging, also touts the benefits of hanging out with hosts and other locals to create a sense of belonging and experience a destination like a local. I never met my host, Rebecca, but she did offer restaurant suggestions, including local sushi spots.
Best of all, the price was more than right for a place a mile from the beach: $886 for seven nights.
Have you tried Airbnb? Share your experience with me at dawn.gilbertson@arizonarepublic.com.
Travel ticker
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Details: jetblue.com, cubatravel services.com.
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Details: princesscruises.com.