Airbnb has became the answers to every frequent traveler’s dream but in someways every traveler’s worst nightmare.
For those who don’t know, Airbnb stands for Air “Bed and Breakfast” and was created back in 2008. It now has over 1.5 million listings in over 34,000 cities. It is used to find comfortable housing whether you like shared rooms with other unfamiliar BnB traveler’s, a private room with a kind family that would allow you to join them for the time being, or if you really like your privacy, you can rent out a whole house!
To top it off, AirBnb does have its way of making your living situation look flyer than what it really is, especially if you’re a baller on a budget. You can rent out rooms in mansions in the Hollywood Hills for as low as $50 … Look at God!
But even though it looks like it has its perks, not being street smart when it comes to AirBnb can cause some trouble as well. If you are seeking to break your Airbnb virginity any time soon, here are some pointers you might need to know:
1. The Scams
Not all Airbnb hosts are “human” as in if the property looks too good to be true, it probably is. The website does say it tries its best to weed out the scam artists who promote fake homes just to run off with your money, but still BEWARE!!!
2. The Hosts
Not every host is right for you. Be sure to read the house rules that come along with the rental. Some times hosts can be very strict some even enforcing curfew or even no smoking regulations whereas others will let you live freely. Also look for the hosts with the most starts and multiple receives they are the more seasoned ones and will definitely treat you better than a newbie. Please understand, there will be weirdos who just like the company or even pervs just looking for their next victims, with that being said always try to contact your host before booking!
3. The Nosy Neighbors
There was this one time a rapper and his friends went out and rented an AirBnb in Georgia, unfortunately he was black and his neighbors were white. Welp we guess they weren’t used to black people in the area since they proceeded to call the cops because they thought the rapper and his company were robbing the house they were staying at! Basically expect people with no lives to be a bit curious when they see you moving in, especially if they aren’t used to your kind.
4. The Neighborhood
If you aren’t familiar with the area DO YOUR RESEARCH! You don’t want to end up on the wrong side of town, trust me, I almost made that mistake! Whether its because of racism to heavy gang banging or even if it’s just because the home’s location is in the middle of nowhere, try to map out and look up where you’ll be resting your head for the next few days.
5. The Place
Make sure all your needs will be accommodated within your booking. You have the option to filter out places that give you the best bang for your buck from your space type to amenities (pool, gym, Internet, TV, etc.) to your price range, AirBnb got you. House descriptions and pictures are also a big plus, you don’t want to end up living out of a shoe box that was advertised to be a huge bachelor pad. Also make sure to read reviews on the place along with the stars, some times people are scared to be brutally honest about how bad their time was, so make sure to read between the lines.
Hopefully reading this will keep you away from the pervy guy who lives in the hood with a leaky faucet and a floor mat as a bed as you book your next Airbnb. Let’s chat below, would stay at an Airbnb over a hotel?
TSR STAFF: Debra Oh!! @The_Ebony_Issue on IG!!
