9 tips and tricks to get the most out of Airbnb

For the perfect experience with the Airbnb platform, there are a number of tips and tricks you should know. Here are nine.

A successful stay on Airbnb depends on many very different factors, from finding the rental itself to finding the best price, while making sure everything is right for your trip. Whether you’re used to the platform or not, here are nine tips and tricks you should know and always apply.

Use all necessary filters

Start by searching for where you want to go and you’ll see a Filters button above the results. This feature is extremely useful. And just as effective. Filters available include price, number of beds, services such as Wi-Fi or parking space, and even languages ​​spoken by the host.

Even if you have used these filters before, you may not know how many there are. You can filter for those that offer free cancellation, are managed by a superhost, or are Airbnb Plus branded.

Read all reviews

You’re probably used to quickly skimming through Airbnb reviews, but we encourage you to read them all (at least as many as you can). Reviews give you feedback from people who have actually stayed there. In this way, you will have information, so to speak, “from the inside”, and you will be able to find out what the host does not mention.

Be careful, not all tenants are required to leave a notice. Also be careful if the address has only (too) positive opinions and, conversely, too negative ones. This may be a warning indicator.

Customize map

The map you see on the right side of the screen when searching for rentals is very handy for finding places you might not have thought of otherwise. As you customize the map, move it around, zoom in and out, you’ll have ever-changing rental listings.

Each address has a price per night, making it easy to determine the available area in the city. And you will be able to find areas that are close to your destination, but not exactly where you wanted to go, very interesting and even more interesting.

Be flexible at your destination

Flexible Destinations is an official Airbnb feature, useful if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary. To get tested if you are looking for more experience than a specific location. When searching for a rental, select “I’m flexible”at the destination. Airbnb will suggest nearby and interesting places for you.

At the top of the list of results, you will see specific categories. And even in the rather obscure titles, there are options to explore.

Contact the hosts

The hosts are most often happy to communicate – a quick response in the profile is a very good sign. You will find a “Contact Host”button on every ad. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask them directly to the owner. This one will almost always be happy to help you.

And in general, the friendlier the hosts, the more they communicate, the more responsive they are, the better your experience with Airbnb will be and the more often you will want to return.

Know all there is to know

The last “Things to Know”section at the bottom of the map is probably one of the least viewed, but it’s important nonetheless, brimming with detail. If you’re hesitating between multiple rental options in the same area, these little details can help you make your choice.

This part of the form may be more helpful than you think when looking for the perfect rental.

Looking for cohabitation

When you search for a rental on Airbnb, you may see the option of shared accommodation. This option cannot be activated or deactivated at will, but you can search for them in the search results when preparing for a trip. The upside is that it allows you to get more results—about 40% more, according to Airbnb.

The site or app will guide you through the whole process of staying together so that you can easily switch between the two sites. With a little animation on the map showing the distance between the two selected addresses.

Look for anything suspicious

As soon as you leave the house, there is always a risk of being filmed without your knowledge. Renting with good reviews and a reputable landlord can mitigate these risks. However, hosts can use security cameras, but they must be advertised. Cameras and other hidden microphones are prohibited, but you should always conduct a thorough inspection. Look for unusual or out of place gadgets or holes that don’t belong there. You can also use a flashlight in dark rooms. The light will be reflected on the lenses of any cameras.

Do what you can do goodbye

Once the booking is confirmed, you will have the rental address. You can then go to Google Street View to get an overview of the place. This allows you to identify surrounding roads, difficult curves, one-way streets, etc.

This can be very useful for addresses that are far from civilization and/or poorly marked. A few minutes of analysis before arriving on site can save you a lot of trouble.