The days are getting longer and lighter and the weather is getting warmer. After a long year of being cooped up, many people are getting outdoors and getting ready to travel. Because many seniors are vaccinated, some travel is feasible!
You have probably heard of AirBnb or seen ads for VRBO, both web-sites to book short term rentals in others’ homes or vacation homes, respectively. Have you ever considered booking a vacation or trip through a property rental site like AirBnb? According to AirBnb, people over 50 are one of their fastest-growing demographics of guests.
AirBnb and similar travel booking sites involve an individual renting his or her home to travelers looking to book housing online. Good hosts keep their spaces as clean as any hotel. In fact, the experience of staying in an AirBnb is like a hotel, but more distinctive. Instead of staying at a hotel chain that is similar no matter what part of the US you’re in, staying in an AirBnb gives you a stronger sense of the local flavor.
Choose Your Location
Your desired travel destination is your starting point for finding a rental on AirBnb. Luckily, to put it generally, AirBnb is everywhere… including tried-and-true vacation destinations like South Carolina, Florida, and Arizona. Consider this roomy bungalow with a wraparound porch and palm trees in Charleston, South Carolina.
Choose Your Property Type
Some AirBnb listings are for rooms in shared apartments. If you want the privacy of a private home or private apartment, make sure to use the “Place to Yourself” filter. Most of the private homes and apartments available on AirBnb don’t have personal items or family photographs, but they usually are stocked with things like plates, cutlery, wine glasses, and extra blankets. Some AirBnb hosts go all out with amenities, from coffee, to special toiletries, to welcome flowers. Consider this guest house with an en suite wine bar in New Hope, Pennsylvania.
Use Filters to Narrow Results
Use search filters to look for a specific type of home–such as a freestanding house, an apartment, or a handicap-accessible home. If you don’t have a specific preference, play around with the filters to see what’s available, from loft apartments to beautifully decorated farmhouses.
If you are looking for a place with a pool, you can click “More Filters” and tick off the box for “pool.” Check out this Spanish-style home in Fort Lauderdale with a beautiful inground pool.
Read the Reviews
Reviews are your most valuable tool for getting a sense of what your AirBnb will be like. Reviews from other travelers who have stayed at the property you’re looking at will mention things like how clean it was, how much they interacted with the host (if at all), and how they enjoyed their stay. A property with a large handful of 5-star reviews will likely be a very pleasant experience.
Expand Your Horizons
One of the most satisfying things about AirBnb is that you can stay in really unique and special homes. You can explore different architectural styles or stay in the guest house of a mansion. Geodesic domes–yes, geodomes–are a popular destination on AirBnb. But, of course, you don’t have to choose quite such an exotic property to enjoy the uniqueness of an AirBnb.
