I love Airbnb. It has been hands down one of the best travel inventions of the century. The site and app are so easy to navigate that all ages can easily use it, the prices are hard to beat, and I’ve always felt like I’ve had a unique experience in each country I’ve visited.
When my husband and I started to travel with Jacob we fell in love with Airbnb even more.
*Disclaimer: I do love hotels. I love the ease of check in at any time. I love that I can leave my bags after check in. I love room service and maid service. I love the concierge services. I love a lot of hotel perks but right now my family needs more space and amenities than a standard hotel room can provide for us. And, when it comes to costs, we simply can’t afford a two bedroom hotel suite with all the bells and whistles. If I could easily afford to stay in a two-bedroom suite at the Four Seasons, sign me up!
Okay, back to my reasons why I love Airbnb for our family travels.
- Crib or Pack n Play. You’d be surprised how many airbnbs have a crib and/or pack n play. Did you know, that not all, but most hotels don’t even offer cribs or pack n’ plays? This means that you would have to order one from a third party, which is fine, I just prefer to keep my list of things to do and worry about, short! Finding an Airbnb with a crib or pack n’ play ensures that your baby has a safe place to sleep and takes the stress off of you. No need to order from a third party, just filter your searches to include a “crib”. I’ve found that “crib” can mean what you think it means or a pack n’ play so make sure you message the host to clarify. Once you’ve booked your stay all you have to worry about is which bed sheet to bring for you little one!
- Washing Machine. Because, well you know, crap happens! Literally. But really, kids are just messy. They accumulate SO. MUCH. LAUNDRY. and the truth is, it’s not any different on vacation. A washing machine is a must! A dryer is a plus but not a necessity. Most places without a dryer will at least have a drying rack. One full day/night usually does the trick. Hotels just can’t offer the comfort and accessibility of a washer machine. Who wants to or can afford to pay $10-$20 per garment at a hotel? NOT ME! And who wants to sit at a laundromat on vacation? DEFINITELY, NOT ME!
- Kitchen. A refrigerator you can store things in huge. For the first few month’s of Jacob’s life I breastfed and was also pumping at least once, if not twice, a day. Then, I formula fed him premade Enfamil, which spoils if it isn’t refrigerated within two hours of opening. Now he does regular milk. So a refrigerator for all the milk is must! Yes, I know hotels have mini fridges but most are stocked with overpriced drinks and snacks. Also, now that he’s older we stock up on cheese, yogurt, fruits and snacks to have on hand whenever he gets hungry. I never truly understood the term “Hangry”, since us adults can usually control ourselves, until I had a little human. Toddlers are on a whole new level of “hangry”. Also, a kitchen means that there will be a stove and/or oven and maybe even a microwave to sterilize bottle parts and pacifiers. It also means I can make meals at home which is convenient for nap time and my wallet.
Post-baby Airbnb. See below for pre-baby Airbnb. - Extra Bedrooms. My husband and I agreed that in order to make the most of our vacation it was imperative that each of us got a good night sleep. For us, this meant that we would alternate nights taking care of Jacob if he woke in the middle of the night. Usually night wakings aren’t an issue for us, but when traveling time zones with a baby or a toddler you can very well guarantee it. Having two rooms allows for one of us to sleep with Jacob and the other to get a good night of sleep. In a standard hotel room, we wouldn’t be able to do this. From what I’ve researched through years of travel, I can pay the equivalent or less for a five star two-bedroom Airbnb as I would for a nice standard (not first class) hotel room. And a two-bedroom suite at a hotel? Forget it. There are just so many other things I would rather spend my money on! Having an airbnb with two rooms allows us to have our own sleeping space but still be together.
- Overall Extra Space. My husband and I realized that we can’t sight-see from dusk until dawn like we used to. We spend a little more time in our accommodation these days and having that extra space you don’t get in a standard hotel room is a must!
Airbnb pre-baby. Bed up a ladder and kitchen in the bedroom but paid hostel prices for a legit apartment in the best part of Paris! - Check-In/Check-Out. This was actually the most concerning thing for me when traveling abroad with Jacob. I want this process to go as smoothly as possible because with a child, I just don’t have time to just be hanging around outside with luggage waiting for someone. It is so important to communicate with your host. Read reviews and make sure you check the rating for the check in process. Let the host know you are traveling with a child and ask about the check in process before you even arrive. I always message the day before we arrive to reiterate the time and to go over the plan.
- Personal Concierge. Airbnb is all about reviews. I’ve found that most hosts are good, if not better than, the concierge service at a standard hotel. I’ve had Airbnb hosts arrange transportation to and from the residence, make dinner reservations, restock basic household supplies, etc. I’ve also never had a host that wasn’t a quick phone call, text, or email away and respond within a timely matter. Upon arrival I always keep a standard list of questions (i.e. emergency contacts, best food) to ask them, but also find that they are willing to help with just about anything.
- Location/Security. Research locations before you go. This is for all things, whether you are staying in a hotel or Airbnb. Don’t just read reviews but also research the area before you start looking, then read the reviews. My favorite thing to look for in the reviews after I’ve picked the location is: “QUIET”. If the stars are good and I see the word quiet, I’m sold.
- Authenticity. The spaces on Airbnb weren’t built for tourists, they were built for the people of the city in which they stand. This is reflected not only in the architecture of the building but also in the furniture and decor inside. I love living among the locals. I thinks its cool knowing that my neighbor is a local and not another tourist like me. And I don’t even mind when I have to walk 6 flights of stairs multiple times a day because the elevator holds two people max, tightly, not including luggage. The joys of old European buildings.
My little Calle Deia, Mallorca gem! - Location. It wasn’t until our Spain trip that I realized staying in Deià, Mallorca was only a dream… until it wasn’t. I was so discouraged to learn that most hotels there are not kid friendly – I mean I get it, the location is SO romantic who wants a screaming toddler running around – and the hotels that were kid-friendly, were either $1k a night (seriously!!) or had a 3 night minimum stay. You guys, it took me almost a month to check Airbnb. I kept telling myself that I wasn’t going to get the beautiful mountain and beach views if I stayed in an Airbnb but boy was I wrong. When I came across the most beautiful cottage in the mountains and was elated! BOOKED! See that’s the thing about Airbnb, wherever there is housing an Airbnb listing can’t be too far off.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a lot of things about hotels too but at this point in our life Airbnb works for our family!
Side note: I did throw in a kid-friendly Resort & Spa at the end of our trip to Spain because mama needs some pampering (at least for an hour, hopefully), the beach it sits on is stunning and the kids play area is out of this world.
Happy Airbnb Travels!
Little Globe Hopper