Airbnb

[OnebusyMum]

Has anyone ever used these to holiday with? looking into different options for next year.

Yes, about five times in different places and never had a problem. Use the Airbnb booking, payment and communications system and read the reviews of properties and you should be fine. We've used them for apartments in Florida, Spain, Greece and Sicily.

Yes me & my sister hired a townhouse in Lanzarote last year, it was affordable & clean, the owner was a man who rented out several homes in Lanzarote to find his surfing.

He was pleasant to deal with & available by mobile at all times.

Look for 5 star reviews on the air bnb you want to rent.

My sister has used air bnb in France too.

We use them a lot and have also been hosts. We have done short city breaks and long haul fortnights too. Check the reviews and the house rules carefully. Also have a look at any owner responses to reviews. Always our first port of call when looking to book something - but if the place has a specific name, e.g villagussiefox, then it can be worth a quick google to see if the owners have their own website which can save on commission for you and for them. Good luck - lots of lovely places out there.

Thanks everyone, looking at the Algarve so its just one option for accommodation

I used to use them but don’t find them very good value now. Also they are ruining affordable housing for residents in some cities such as Barcelona, Venice.

I feel more comfortable using designated tourist buildings now (hotels, b&bs). I don’t like to think I’m contributing to taking residential housing off the market, while hotel rooms stand empty. Imagine how you’d feel if that was your town, your hotel. What started as spare rooms has got out of control in some places. Ultimately though it’s up to local councils... many are now cracking down on Airbnb.

My cousin had a bad experience in southern Spain so read reviews carefully.

ok thanks

It's funny you ask about Airbnb because I am just putting on our house in pyrenees, France on it - or I was, and then I got cold feet. It just seems quite a different site to others. So I'm looking at it from the owner of a place to rent. It seems more done on trust and perhaps for short stays, eg good for a 2 night quick stay somewhere. I may be wrong, my sister-in-law uses it and loves it. I may be a bit old-fashioned!

Interesting to read the others takes on it. Perhaps I should persist with it!
Good luck and hope your experience proves fruitful with Airbnb if you do decide to go that option. Certainly it could be less commission to pay (actually I think the owner pays 3 %, but im not totally sure) - but as the above poster says, it may not do the industry much good. Food for thought....

Friends of mine have just done 3 weeks in Kyoto on airbnb

Their fees are quite pricey. Have used them multiple times in Paris, Cologne, Hong Kong, Barcelona, Gran Canaria & New Zealand without any issues. I always check hotels too as sometimes they work out cheaper.

If I find a property on Airbnb or Booking.com I then try to find its' own website and book direct with the owner, it's cheaper for both parties.

I've used them loads. Never any problems.

Recently did Airbnb in Stockholm for a city break. Cheaper than a hotel, very clean and central to where we wanted to be. First time for us and was brilliant.

Ive used them a lot now and always been lucky to have great places with great hosts! Check the reviews they're very informative

Yes, we've used them a lot, very successfully. California, Spain, UK, Budapest, France & others. The only bad experience was when someone cancelled on us fairly last minute but we found somewhere else fairly easily.

We stayed in one in Cinque Terre, in the smallest village where there were few hotels. It was a wonderful experience.
I’ve booked another for this year, right on a beach near Lisbon. I can’t wait. There aren’t any hotels directly in the dunes, so I don’t feel I’m taking trade away from anyone.

I look for 5* reviews.

I have made reservation for this house in Hersonissos in greece, and planing to rent villa for the second week in Spain but didn't yet. Just searcing some good option. last couple of year I am using Tranio if I need to rent something like villa etc. I have bought a house in Turkey with the Tranio after that it become my fovorite option if you want to set something good which is not all of the markets you can check.