How Does Airbnb Work? 5 Easy Tips To Get Started Today

Finding an amazing Airbnb to rent doesn’t have to be difficult! But if you’ve wondered…how does Airbnb work? Keep reading to learn five quick tips for how to book the Airbnb of your dreams, including what to look for, how to find the “wow factor”, and search tips. Check the FAQ section for answers to common Airbnb questions…

Airbnb is pretty fantastic.

Why wouldn’t you want to stay somewhere more unique, that feels homey, and pay less for it?

Well, maybe you’ve heard about Airbnb, but aren’t exactly sure how the whole process works. If you’ve mostly stayed in hotels or resorts when traveling, Airbnb is a whole new world.

So if you’re wondering…

• What is Airbnb?
• How does Airbnb work? (and what’s so great about it anyway?)
• How do I find a great Airbnb?
• Is it safe? What tips do I need to know before booking?
• What things should I look for?

I’ve got you covered my friend! Keep reading to know the ins and outs, the good and the bad, of using Airbnb.

What Is Airbnb?

Airbnb is an online platform where you book a place to stay. It’s basically an alternative to hotels and other common forms of accommodation.

You can think of it like a marketplace, where homeowners “list” their homes. You, as the traveler, can look at pictures, pricing, and reviews just like you would if you were searching for a hotel. The difference is, it’s someone’s actual home that you’ll be staying in.

What’s So Great About It?

I’ve stayed in so many Airbnbs over the past 5 years or so. And I would pick Airbnb over a hotel every single time!

Here are a few reasons why Airbnbs are so great:

• When you stay in an Airbnb, you get the sense that you’re living “as a local would”. Many times, you’re in a normal neighborhood or town and it tends to feel less touristy.
• You can often find super affordable Airbnbs, which helps you save money and travel cheap
• Depending on what type you book, you often get more square footage (ie a larger space!) for the same cost as a hotel room
• Typically an Airbnb is fully stocked with towels, toiletries, a kitchen, and other common amenities
• You can find some unique hidden gems that beat a standard hotel room any day

Still Not Convinced?

When I visited Florence, we stayed in a fantastic Airbnb…

It was located in the heart of the city, had an amazing rooftop deck (see the views in the picture below!) and it just made our trip so much better!

We had a great host, Daniel who was an ex-pat living in Italy. He introduced us to his friend who owned a restaurant below the apartment. We ate dinner there one night and it ended up being the best meal I ate on the whole trip!

Using Airbnb can take your trip to a whole new level. Let’s help you find one for yourself…

How Does Airbnb Work?

Start by using the Airbnb website or app. You’ll enter your trip details (destination, dates, etc).

From there you can filter down the results using things like features of the home, neighborhood, price, and more. You also have the option to rent the entire property or a room in the home.

Once you enter your criteria, you’ll see a list of all the properties that match. Here’s an example of what it looks like:

Here’s where the fun begins!

There are lots of Airbnb’s out there, tons to choose from actually. And I’m going to help you navigate it all. The good news is, it’s not complicated to find something amazing that will take your trip to the next level.

Go ahead and start browsing the list. You can click on a listing that interests you to read a description of the property, see pictures, read reviews and more! Now it’s just a matter of finding an Airbnb that works for you…

Find And Book A Great Airbnb

1. Get Some Experience Using Airbnb

This first tip is an important one. If you’re brand new to the app and haven’t used Airbnb before, you need to start by downloading the app and setting up your profile.

This is key because once you find that dream listing, you want the host to actually approve you and let you stay in their place! Fill it out completely.

I would also recommend using the app at least a few times leading up to the trip you’re planning. For example, before our honeymoon in Italy, we booked a few local Airbnbs and also used it for a weekend getaway.

By doing this, you gain experience, and also a chance to rack up some positive guest reviews.

That’s right, hosts get to review you just like you review them.

Building up your profile with positive reviews means you have a much better chance later on in your travels to land an amazing Airbnb booking. Because with how Airbnb works, hosts are evaluating you too!

2. Research The Location

You could find a great Airbnb, but if the location isn’t near the things you want to do, keep looking.

A big part of booking an amazing Airbnb is finding one with a great location. Otherwise, you’ll spend lots of your time sitting in traffic or just figuring out how to get where you want to go.

I can’t emphasize enough that location matters. What are you doing on your trip? And where are those things located? Once you know those answers it’s easier to figure out the best area to stay in.

In the Airbnb app, you can enter in your location and dates, then click on the map view to search by location.

3. Find The Wow Factor

Location is important, and another thing to look for is the “wow factor”. This is one of those things that’s subjective.

For me, I look for a fantastic view, a unique feature of the home, or really cool style/decor. Dream big! What does wow factor mean to you?

A few cool things I’ve seen on Airbnb recently are treehouses, rooftop decks, and even private beaches!

Did you know you can book a stay in a Yurt? You can!

Other ideas for wow factor include balconies, private decks, and beautiful gardens or outdoor space. The picture below is an Airbnb I stayed at in southern Italy that had gorgeous tall windows that led to an outdoor balcony.

There’s also something called “Airbnb Plus”, which is kind of like the best of the best.

Any listing with the Plus designation is verified with an in-person inspection and the homes are stylish and comfy. And all the hosts are highly rated and experienced. This would be a good place to start when looking for some wow factor.

4. Really Read The Reviews

Don’t forget to read the reviews! An Airbnb host will always portray their home in a great light, but the reviews tell the real story.

Take the time to look them over and look for any common themes. If several reviews mention that the neighborhood is loud, and you’re looking for a peaceful retreat, that could be a deal-breaker.

Let me give you an example of how this happened to me…

On a trip to Venice, I booked an Airbnb that had great pictures, a great location, and opened up onto a canal. Sounds great, right?

While it did end up being an okay place to stay, it was so damp in the apartment. When we did laundry (given that there aren’t clothes dryers in Italy) it took over two days for our clothes to air dry!

It ended up being a pain, and we wished we would’ve read the reviews more thoroughly so we knew what we were getting into.

Consider the number of reviews. If a listing looks great but only has three reviews, it’s riskier to book. If you want the best chance to find a great Airbnb, I’d look for a minimum of 20 positive reviews. And be sure to note the star rating! You typically will want 4-5 star ratings.

Now, there are always exceptions and you may find something worth taking a chance on. If you find a listing that looks great but is lacking reviews, why not wait a week or two to see if they get more?

5. Be Picky

Unless you’re on a time crunch and need to book right away, take your time looking and be picky! Don’t settle for something that doesn’t meet your criteria.

Remember you have the ability to message a host before booking to get your questions answered. It’s also a great way to see how well they communicate (and how quickly they get back to you).

Use the filters to customize your search – you can narrow down based on tons of different criteria. It also makes you think about what’s really important to you.

One cool filter you can use is “superhost”. Airbnb Superhosts are more experienced, have hosted 100+ nights, and are held to a higher standard when it comes to cancellations, ratings, and reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? No worries! Below are helpful links and answers to common Airbnb questions that you may be wondering about…

• Is Airbnb free to use? Yes! However, Airbnb does charge a fee (it’s typically under 13% of the booking subtotal)
• How do they check or verify hosts?
• How does Airbnb work if something goes wrong?
• How does payment work? They accept most major credit cards. Airbnb holds your payment for 24 hours after check-in before releasing the funds to the host.
• What’s their cancellation policy?
• What’s their refund policy?

Now You Know How Airbnb Works!

Are you ready to find an amazing Airbnb for your trip? It’s worth it to be thorough, so take your time looking and remember to follow the tips above:

• Get some experience
• Research the location
• Find the wow factor
• Read the reviews
• Be picky!

Choosing to stay in an Airbnb instead of a hotel gives you a great opportunity to “live like a local” and experience parts of the city you might not otherwise have seen. It makes your trip that much more enjoyable and unique!

I would highly recommend using Airbnb when traveling abroad! I used it multiple times while traveling through Italy and overall had a great experience.

Before You Go…

Be sure to check out a few of my most popular resources for travel tips and advice:

• International Travel Mistakes (and how to avoid them!)
• What NOT To Bring On A Plane
• How To Travel Cheap
• 100+ Incredible Things To Do Before You Die