Airbnb gives you an alternative to hotels, allowing you to book stays in homes, condominiums and even rooms in houses and apartments when you travel. To help seniors have the best possible experience when using Airbnb, our team here at Bethesda Gardens Loveland senior living community in Loveland, CO, put together this list of tips.
On Airbnb, you can find properties in more than 100,000 towns across more than 220 countries and regions. To start your search, you simply enter your destination. If you wish, you can also put in the dates for your trip or select the “Any Week” option if you have some flexibility about when you travel.
Airbnb will then give you a list of the closest properties in the area. Take the time to review several so you can find one that has the features and amenities you prefer, the best location and a fair price.
On Airbnb, the people who own the properties listed are called hosts. Each host can create their own policies regarding how many people can stay in the property, the ages of guests and whether you can bring along pets. Be sure to read the rules for the property before you book.
In addition to the host’s rules, Airbnb has its own set of regulations regarding payments and cancellations. The listing page will tell you how much you’ll need to pay up front to reserve the property and when the remainder of the balance will be due. It will also detail how many days you have to cancel and still receive a complete refund.
Airbnb does have some exceptions to the cancellation policies for properties. It will typically provide a full refund when travel becomes unsafe due to national emergencies, natural disasters and disease epidemics. You can also generally receive a full or partial refund if the property isn’t accurately described. Familiarize yourself with the extenuating circumstances and refund and rebooking policies thoroughly before you book your stay so you’re completely aware of your rights.
Airbnb hosts can establish their own procedures for check-ins and checkouts. Some may require you to perform simple tasks like taking out the trash or removing bedding from beds, while others may have more complicated lists of chores you’ll need to do before you leave. If you have mobility issues that may make it difficult for you to perform some tasks, message the host before you book and ask about their check-in and checkout procedures.
Keep accessibility in mind when choosing a property. For example, you may not want to book a fourth-floor condominium in a building that doesn’t have an elevator, or you might want to find a property with a walk-in bathtub or grab bars in the bathroom.
Reading reviews can give you a feel for what it’s like to stay at the property and how professional the host is. As you read reviews, check out the user information for the guests. If a property has only a few positive reviews from a few new accounts that haven’t left reviews on other properties, consider looking elsewhere, as there’s a chance those reviews could be fake.
Before you book a property, research the surrounding neighborhood. Type the name into a search engine to see what news stories have been published about it. Find the area on Google Maps and use the street view feature to see what the neighborhood looks like. Taking these steps can help ensure you end up staying at a place where you feel safe and comfortable.
When you compare properties on Airbnb, you’ll see the nightly and/or weekly rate posted, but that likely won’t be the total price you pay. Most hosts charge additional fees for cleaning, and Airbnb also assesses taxes and fees. Be sure to compare total costs rather than the rental rates to get the best deal.
To protect yourself, keep all communications with your host inside the Airbnb system. If you need to call them during your stay, send a message through the website or app as well so there’s a record of your communications.
Make your payments through Airbnb as well. A host offering you a discount to pay them directly is a red flag. Should you accept the deal, you won’t get any of the protections Airbnb provides and will have to negotiate with the host directly if something goes wrong.
Before you travel, ask the host about attractions, restaurants and unique shops in the area you can visit during your stay. Consider purchasing a journal to record your experiences so you can look back on your trip for years to come.
As soon as you arrive, walk through the entire property. Take photographs of anything that's damaged. If you feel unsafe for any reason or the property wasn’t described accurately, contact Airbnb right away through the app or website.
