Airbnb
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
Canada
January 1, 2016 7:42pm CST
I asked my sister what company she used to get a vacation in the Caribbean and she said Airbnb. Unfortunately she needed to cancel because of a medical emergency in her family.
We have a time share but this fall was really busy for both of us and we forgot to find a vacation we could trade for with our Time Share. There was noting available in the area we wanted so we used my sister's suggestion.
Airbnb is a company that uses other people's property, Their condo, Their Guest house, or even just a bedroom with a bathroom. All the rentals are owned by real people like you and I. The company takes a cut of the money and the owner gets the rest. Our money is handled buy the business end once we found a place we wanted at the price we wanted and reserved it for the time we will be there. Then the owner contacted us with details about the rental and how to find it and get the keys etc. He also answered our questions.
While getting used to the web site and searching for a place to stay by a warm beach for a month we saw prices so low and so high it was startling. $14,000 per week was ridiculously high for us to pay and $50-100 per week was much too little to pay (usually just a bed and a bath). We ended taking a 6th floor Condo in the sunshine state looking over the Gulf of Mexico and right on the beach.
All the places to stay have photos, details, rules, directions and its all very organized. All the sites have reviews. The reviews of the one we rented made us feel like we got what we wanted.
We looked again for later in the spring in Kentucky and found a wonderful guest house and I think we are going to take it for one night on our way to our beach vacation just to see if it is big enough for us to enjoy for a week in the spring.
If you look at the website below you will notice this is an international travel site. Check it out and see if it interests you. I'll give you a review of our condo when we are there.
Just type in Airbnb on your computer you will find all the details in your country's language and currency.
This link is what I see from Canada. It show the US becasue that was our destination.
Rent from people in the United States from $21 CAD/night. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 190 countries. Belong anywhere with Airbnb.
15 people like this
18 responses
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Jan 16
Very interesting. I'm going to have to look at that.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
I hope you do check it out, I think you will be surprised. You can even find fishing cottages...
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate Oh fishing cottages, now that's right up my alley.
4 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
Getting away from snow is always fun now that I can't ski anymore so we will have a good time. Check it out if you travel at all, the prices are actually better than motels/hotels
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
2 Jan 16
I always use VRBO.com for vacation rentals. One reason they have a lot of pet friendly places and that's tops on my list of necessities. Do you have to sign up to use the site? I see all kinds of options except how to pick a location?
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
2 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate I will check it out then. You have to be careful - sometimes they say pet friendly then say you have to keep the dog in a crate or outside - that's not pet friendly to me!
4 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
I did notice they often say no pets but we are looking at a guest house in Ky, that is pet friendly, so some do and some don't but its written on the site.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
Thanks for the invite but we actually like being alone. And I would never rent my own place either unless I really needed money
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
3 Jan 16
I just like the idea of the site. I don't think it's supposed to be cheap, just good value, and from what I see it is a good value.
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4262)
• Oxford, England
4 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate I would have expected that amateurs offering B&B would charge less than professionals, but I suppose the site owners need paying for their service
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
Too funny, I am surprised so many had heard about this, I hadn't until recently. I like the way it works.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
3 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate I really had no idea what it was before your post.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
Someday it may come in handy if you need a place to sleep in a different part of the country. The prices are better than motels. (some of them anyway)
1 person likes this
@ckciasigurl (2080)
• Italy
27 Mar 17
hi ive been using airbnb
when im travelling and i find it very cheap
and comfortable because its like im at home and very welcome so i recommend also airbnb
1 person likes this
@ckciasigurl (2080)
• Italy
28 Mar 17
@PainsOnSlate yes i agree its just like being practical now because if u will go to hotel u cant cook and even its a lot of money
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
28 Mar 17
We like Airbnb too, we had a condo for a month at a very reasonable price, and will try it again. It's not as nice as a resort but the money talks...
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
Just as soon as we can get away. Our son and his dogs will be staying at our house and hopefully he will be working on my porch (still a mess) We have relatives in Florida we will spend some time with. We will probably be back in Canada when the snow decided to dump on us
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (502491)
• Italy
2 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate My niece told about Airbnb because one of her friends is renting her apartment when she is out of town.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
I had never heard of it until my sister told me and I'm so glad to know. We will find out just how good it is this winter.
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
2 Jan 16
My friends Chuck and Terry surprised me last month and they got a completely furnished apartment near everything at a ridiculous (good) price--especially this is 'high season' in Fort Lauderdale and everything is outrageous--through airbnb. They own a B &B in Memphis and they always book all their vacation stays through that site!
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
I have a feeling we will be booking through them forever now that I know about it.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (14789)
• Ireland
2 Jan 16
@painsonslate I used Airbnb last summer here in Ireland and it worked out really well. I'll use it again.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
Good to know. We think its interesting. We have a month scheduled in the south and it is tempting to use Airbnb instead of motels while we travel.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
I'm glad you checked it out. If you just put Airbnb on a search, your language will show up on your computer with the web site.
2 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
14 Jun 16
When my daughter came home from abroad last December, she booked for a 2-day at a condo unit via AirBnb and the condo owner was a very gracious soul. Though she was on vacation herself in Singapore, she left instructions on the table when we arrived and gave us the number of her maid to call if we needed anything. We had a pleasant stay in the condo.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
14 Jun 16
@PainsOnSlate Hope you'll have a comfortable stay next time.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
11 Mar 17
Our first time trying to use it was a Nightmare. We want to try using them again in May, but not sure it will be worth it if it ends up being a horrible experience as well.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Mar 17
Did you write about your nightmare? I'd like to see what others say. Our condo was much smaller than we expected and the photos made it look bigger. It was just the two of us so it was ok, not as clean as I would like to see and a tiny kitchen (one person kitchen) We did enjoy our time there ( and it was relatively cheap) but won't go back to the same condo but we are thinking of trying it again...
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
12 Jan 16
If you need to cancel because of medical I know my sister got all her money back when the doctor sent a letter. She automatically got half back but because she had spent over3000 dollars she wanted more, her Doctor saved the day.
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
11 Jan 16
I know a lady I petsit for does this all the time. I don't have money to go away either, so every few years I will go somewhere if I have the money.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
9 Jan 16
I found it interesting and we rented a place for a month, after we use it I'll let everyone how it was...
1 person likes this
