Airbnb Veteran Tips: What You Need To Know Before You Book a Long Stay

My semi-nomadic lifestyle has made me a veteran when it comes to extended-stay travel in short-term rentals, Airbnbs, and other types of vacation houses. Over the last thirteen years, we have traveled all over the world (we’ve almost visited every state in America) and stayed in more than 15 short-term rentals. I know what to look for, what to avoid, and how to make your stay as pleasant as possible.

I’m currently writing this article 10 days into a 21-day stay, and we are living like this is our second home. I didn’t always feel this comfortable, though. Nine years ago, we stayed for two weeks in an Airbnb (our first extended stay), and I was losing my mind. Back then, I had no idea what to look for or what would be essential for my family.

I had two little ones, and we chose an apartment in downtown Hartford! There was no yard, only a parking lot, and my husband was gone with the car all day. We were cooped up for the entire two weeks. That was the last time I made that mistake.

If you are staying anywhere for 2+ weeks, here are a few things to consider before booking.

Hosts are often willing to give extra discounts if you reach out and ask! Always message the host before booking and ask about their weekly/monthly discount. Hosts usually prefer longer stays because there is less wear and tear on the home, fewer cleaning fees, and security that they have their home booked for half the month. You might get told there are no additional discounts, but you never know if you don’t ask! As a host of two homes myself, I have always applied additional discounts to those who reach out and ask, and they are staying for more than a week.

Ask the host about cookware before booking! If you are going to cook food and not spend three weeks eating out, you will want to ensure the home you are staying in has decent pots and pans. We have stayed in some places that don’t provide sufficient cookware, and we have to go purchase a pan or two. This isn’t how it should be! You are paying to stay in a home away from home.

Photos are deceiving! There is a special way we take photos today that allows us to stretch a space and make it look bigger than it actually is. Not only that, but we can also edit our photos with filters to make homes look clean and bright. While we can’t really do anything about how they alter their photos, reviews often call out if the home was smaller than it appeared in the pictures. Check out the reviews — because a picture may be worth a thousand words, but it won’t spill the beans like a chatty customer!

Read the bedroom count, not the sleep count! Before you get all the recommendations, sites will ask how many guests will sleep in the home. Hosts will say they have a two-bedroom home but can sleep nine. This means they will have air mattresses and couches for people to sleep on. For some, two weeks on a couch or air mattress isn’t gonna cut it. For others, you may be perfectly fine with not having a private room for a couple of weeks.
When we are traveling with our kids, they don’t mind sleeping on the couch for a bit. However, when we travel with friends and other families, it doesn’t work to sleep like that for more than one or two nights.

Check cancellation policies- especially if you are booking in advance! Destinations change, concerts get cancelled, and vacations get put on hold. If anything comes up before your scheduled trip, you will want to ensure you get your money back. The security with booking hotels is that you can almost always cancel the reservation 24-48 hours before check-in time and get a full refund. However, inconveniencing personal homeowners can come at a cost.
Most hosts are generous with their cancellation policy and offer a full refund within 48 hours. Be sure to check, though, because some offer partial refunds, and few offer no refunds within 48 hours of scheduled check-in time.

I understand this policy because hosts typically have one home, and it can be a real hardship if guests cancel without enough notice for someone else to book those weeks. Just make sure you choose a house you are most comfortable with when it comes to canceling the reservation.

Always read through the house rules! Are you traveling with small children, are you a smoker, or do you have a pet traveling with you? The house rules cover all the expectations a host will have and the “dos and don’ts” guests can do in their home. One of the homes we host is a tiny home on wheels. It has steep stairs, and the bed is in a loft. We don’t allow small children in that unit for safety reasons. Many hosts require a pet deposit if you bring animals along on your travels.

Dude, read the reviews! I already mentioned reading the reviews to understand better how much space a home has, but customers tell all in the reviews. You will have a better idea of what kind of neighborhood the house is in, if it is centrally located, has skyline views, or if you are walking into a death trap. Check out what people are saying about the home and the host. Sometimes reviews aren’t justified, so use discretion.

If you need to stay somewhere short-term, make a list of all the essentials you want to see in your rental, your budget, and any non-negotiables you have for 2+ weeks in a home away from home. Refer to that list while searching for a place, and don’t be afraid to reach out to the host and ask them anything! People who list their homes are generally very friendly and hospitable. Follow these tips to ensure a pleasant stay the next time you are traveling.