Is it safe to stay in an AirBNB?

Every time I travel my dad asks me the same question as I am walking out the door, “Are you staying in an AirBNB?” to which the answer is almost always yes. He rolls his eyes and then tells me, “Use your head if at all possible.” It’s his favorite piece of advice to give.

It’s a question I think a lot of people want to ask: is staying in an AirBNB safe? I’ve stayed in my fair share of them all across the country (and world!), so I thought I would chime in and share my experiences!

Types of AirBNBs

If you are totally new to the AirBNB scene, the first thing you need to know are the 2 different types of places you can rent!

Entire Place

The first type of place you can rent is referred to as an “entire place”. This means that if you rent here, you will have the whole place to yourself. Typically, you don’t even meet the host for this kind of rental.

If you have a big group, kiddos, or are concerned about safety, I’d say an entire place rental would be your best bet! We also prefer to stay in an entire place if we are going to be in and out of the house all day, like on beach trips.

Private Room

The other kind of rental AirBNB offers is called a “private room”. This means that you are staying in a room in someone’s house. Most people cringe when they hear that, but I will say that some of my favorite stays have been in private room rentals.

The advantage is that most of the time private rooms are much cheaper than having the entire place to yourself. You interact with the host much more in a private room, which can be really great if you have a good host! The disadvantage is that you don’t have the privacy that an entire place gives you.

I have stayed in both types and have had no issues with either. I obviously prefer the entire place (who wouldn’t?!), but if a private room is significantly cheaper, I’ll do that. You can use the filters on AirBNB site if you only want to see one type of rental.

AirBNB Safety Tips

Regardless of the type of rental you choose, you want to make sure that you are doing everything you can to stay safe while you are traveling! Here are a couple tips to ensure you have a great experience.

Reviews! Reviews! Reviews!

AirBNB is allll about reviews. They heavily encourage all guests to leave reviews for their hosts and other potential guests to read.

I never stay in a rental that doesn’t have at least 20 reviews. I always read them all to make sure the house is clean, in a safe area, and the host is kind + responsible. The reviews on AirBNB are typically detailed and honest, making renting with confidence a breeze.

This is the one reason why I think staying in an AirBNB miiight be safer than staying in a hotel. I can read comprehensive reviews on everything from the cleanliness to the neighborhood to the hosts. Reviews aren’t nearly as detailed for hotels and I for sure can’t get a review of the person staying in the room next to mine. I’m just saying. 😉

Talk to Your Host

It’s totally okay to still have questions after reading reviews! If that’s the case, just send the host a message through AirBNB’s site. Typically hosts respond quickly and are more than willing to answer any questions you might have about the property. Don’t feel bad asking!

Extra Tip: Everything you need to do, can and should be done within the AirBNB app. You shouldn’t have to give your host your phone number and definitely don’t pay through any other platform besides AirBNB. Don’t give credit card information to your host for any reason!

All the Same Rules Apply

Don’t forget that all the same safety rules apply anytime you are traveling, regardless of where you are staying! Pick an AirBNB in a safe area, just like you would look for a hotel in a safe area. Always stay alert to your surroundings and know how to get back to the AirBNB, if need be. Just be smart about it! If I could echo my dad’s advice once more, “Use your head if at all possible!”

The Verdict

Obviously this is just my personal opinion and you probably already know what that opinion is, but I love AirBNBs. I consider them to be just as safe as hotels, if not safer. Yes, there are horror stories on the news about AirBNB stays gone wrong, but there are horror stories on the news about hotels too. The truth of the matter is that you have to be heads up and cautious no matter where you are staying!

I find comfort in the fact that I can read detailed reviews from confirmed guests, more so than I could with a hotel. Not to mention that they are incredibly convenient for cooking and all around more comfortable.

I remember being hesitant to book my first AirBNB, but I hope this post makes you feel more comfortable and confident that you can find a great rental for your next vacation. If you are headed somewhere exciting soon, let me know in the comments section! I’d love to hear all about it!

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