Booking Tips for First Time Users on Airbnb

Airbnb has always been our first choice when we travel around the world. The reason is simple, why spend the same amount of money for a generic hotel room when you can stay in a spacious apartment while experiencing the local culture? by Javen Loh, Marketing Manager of White Forest Suites, 22/11/20

Since we began our journey in this sector, there've been tons of questions from people who've not used Airbnb before, looking for tips to book the perfect homestay for their staycation. For starters, here are some pro tips for First Time Users.

1. Know What You Want

The first step is to search specifically for <WHAT> & <WHERE> you want to stay. The easiest way is to use 'Filter' function - you can set your budget, choose whether you want the Entire Place, Private Room or Shared Room. You can also filter by 'Superhost' (verified host with high ratings recognized by Airbnb).

Did you know: If you were to travel abroad, you can even filter by host language to look for host who speaks the same language. However, Airbnb itself is also equipped with auto-translation to ensure best user experience.

2. Check Reviews & Study House Rules

Pay attention to not only the photos, but also the description & reviews. It is important to do your homework before making any decisions. The photos should clearly display the overall layout of the room and facilities available. If the hosts purposely leave out photos of room, why do you think they do that?

When you found one with solid reviews and fits your budget, do not forget to check their house rules first. Read the written description as there have been instances where the hosts have laid down some weird house rules. Check out "Man shares list of ridiculous house rules from Airbnb host" and you'll understand why.

3. Communicate with the Host

If you have any queries or special requests, you can always reach out to the host to clear your doubts. To do so, click the 'Contact Host' button at the bottom of the listing. After you booked, it'd be great to inform the host on your reservation, the purpose of your visit and alternative contact method in the event that they can't be reached. If you don't get any response from the host, it is obviously a bad sign and you probably need to contact Airbnb Help Center for assistance. Also, if you're having visitors or bringing any pets, do make sure it's permissible to do so to avoid any penalty or inconvenience.

4. Wishlist Your Favorite Listings

Lastly, Wishlists is one of our favorite functions. It allows us to save and share our favorite listings on Airbnb. We'd say it is the best way to shorten the list of choices and get ready for our next trip! To know more on managing your wishlist, you may visit "How do I manage my list of saved homes?" on Airbnb.

We hope these tips are helpful for you. Sticking to the above tips, our overall Airbnb experience has so far been great. We know we are looking for during our stay, and so we strive to provide the best accommodation for all of our guests. To get more out of your travel experience, do check out our social media to get more tips & latest update!