Apartment rental, apartment share, room share, house share or shared accommodation. Whatever you want to call it, it has taken the travel and tourism industry by storm. Everybody seems to be doing it, or at least thinking about it. Renting from another individual can be a daunting experience, especially in a foreign city where you don’t know the lay of the land, and may not know the currency or the language. These are common issues for renters to have but there are options and help for those that seek them out.
Here are a few options and tips for staying in someone’s home:
Who’s Out There?
AirBnb is by far the biggest name in the business and they operate almost everywhere—even Cuba. AirBnb has taken the tourism industry to red alert level and has taken massive market share away from traditional brick and mortar hotels like Marriott, Hilton and Sheraton. The options available range from paying to sleep on someone’s couch (which is how the idea began), to renting out a luxury villa on a private island.
These days, if you want to rent an inexpensive room in a major city, you’re guaranteed to find one for a fee that will almost certainly be cheaper than a hotel. Additionally, you’ll get the benefit of having a local to ask questions of and get ideas from in terms of local sights, dining and transportation options.
Of course, if you want a whole apartment to yourself, you can get that as well. I’ve done this for longer stays in Europe multiple times; I feel more “at home” and like I actually live there. There’s an intrinsic difference between staying in a stale hotel and in an apartment even if it isn’t that luxurious; it feels like a more authentic experience.
Other companies I like to use for European accommodations are GoWithOh, Flipkey and Paris Perfect. GoWithOh in particular has a number of fantastic rentals in key cities in Europe. I’ve stayed in Barcelona, London and Paris through them and never been disappointed. They also don’t “play up” the rental; it looks like the photos online, so I’ve never had any surprises.
I used Flipkey in Barcelona and had a good experience. To be fair, it was my first apartment share and I was a little apprehensive about the whole situation, but I’ve gone back and done it many more times. (In fact, friends and I are using a combination of AirBnb and Flipkey for apartment rentals in several cities in France for the upcoming European Cup Soccer tournament that started mid-June.)
Paris Perfect is one of several destination-specific services that really know their city inside and out. I’m using it for the first time for a six-day stay in June since I don’t want to spend my time in a hotel. I’m really excited to try it out and expect nothing but great things.
Apartments on the Quai de l’Horloge on the Île de la Cité, Paris
Photo Credit: Joe deSousa
How will you know what the best location is?
This seems to be everyone’s biggest worry with apartment shares. As someone who’s rented out his apartment to many people for long periods of time, I also know both sides. Of course there are reviews for individual apartments and message boards where you can ask people you don’t know for advice. But for me, the best thing you can do is before you begin your search, ask people you know personally who’ve been where you’re going. They can help you decide if you want to pay more to be closer to the city center or save some money staying on the outskirts of town but relying more on public transportation.
What if you don’t know anyone who has been there?
This is where your host can be really important. Most hosts will go out of their way to make you feel comfortable with the process and give you honest advice. It’s in their best interest to be honest because the result will be a favorable review. I’ve met up with hosts for drinks, dinner, and hung out with their friends while I was staying in their home. Again, that’s one of the reasons why apartment sharing is so popular.
Apartments on the canal at dusk, Amseterdam
Photo Credit: Jorge Láscar
What about safety?
I have never had a bad experience on any sharing service I’ve used and have never had any safety issues. I understand it happens and that it’s a concern for many women. My advice is to read the reviews of the host and fully research the area you’ll be traveling to.
What about cancelling?
Cancellation policies for each service and apartment listing should be clearly stated upfront. If there’s any uncertainty, ask the host or the service coordinator beforehand and hang onto any email communications just in case there’s a dispute down the line.
Why consider a shared accommodation vs. your standard hotel?
Apartment shares are becoming popular for many good reasons, so don’t hesitate to get on board and give it a try. Do your research as if you were searching for a hotel on TripAdvisor, and you’ll more than likely be thrilled with the experience. And that’s what it’s all about, right? Sharing an accommodation with a stranger, who might become a lifelong friend, is something every traveler should try to experience at least once in their lifetime.
Bungalow in Sayulita, Mexico
Photo Credit: fredsharples
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About the Author
Lee Abbamonte is the youngest American to travel to every country in the world, a club that has less than 100 members. He’s been to 318 total countries and territories including the Geographic South Pole. He has traveled into war zones in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan; summited multiple 7 summits; bungee jumped the 11 highest jumps in the world; and has even traveled with the Prince of England. Lee is a multimedia travel personality and travel expert, frequently seen on all the national news networks and has filmed a show for the Travel Channel. As an entrepreneur and businessman, Lee has become one of the most successful travel bloggers in the world and is currently writing a book and working on a TV show. Learn more at leeabbamonte.com.
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The post Stay, Sleep, Share: How to Book an International Apartment Share appeared first on TravelSmith: TravelCenter.