The hubs and I recently took a short trip to Denver, Colorado. He has since moved there, and I have begun packing for our move as well… but that is another story. In an attempt to make our trip as economical as possible we opted to try out a less conventional method of lodging… Airbnb.
We had never tried out the newly trendy accommodation system, but it seriously was cheaper than even some of the crappiest motel options… and quite frankly, our room definitely wasn’t crappy. And apparently Denver is the new Los Angeles or something, because…ish is expensive there.
Anyways. For those who do not know, Airbnb is “an online marketplace that enables people to list, find, then rent vacation homes for a processing fee.” So instead of paying a hotel for a stay, you pay a person, who a chosen to rent out their space. You can tailor the search based on your desires; from highly inexpensive shared rooms… to entire homes for rent. Each member is given a profile of sorts, where both hosts and tenants are rated and reviewed for future Airbnb reference. Because it was our first experience, I opted for someone with many many ratings and a near perfect score. Because… ya girl isn’t trying to get murdered. 😉
We rented a room from a married couple around our age. I was honestly afraid that it was going to be extremely awkward, just waltzing around someone’s private residence like a hotel. But our hosts are very experienced with Airbnb life, and it definitely showed. Instead of keys they have a door lock with a code that they can send you.
However, My anxiety was definitely amplified by our late arrival (our plane landed at 10:30pm and we arrived at almost midnight) and by the fact that… I hadn’t asked for the code before we left. So our introduction to our host Thomas was initiated by our ringing their doorbell at midnight. They were extremely nice about it though. Pam was super apologetic that she hadn’t sent the code, as was I for not asking for it the day before. The following morning they both went to work/school and we had the house to ourselves. We had our own mini fridge, microwave, Keurig for coffee, and the bathroom was stocked with the necessities. We probably would’t have had to interact with them at all if we didn’t want to.
But, that’s not really Josh’s style. Our first evening, after hours of romping around downtown Denver, Josh went downstairs to chat and watch tv with Pam and Thomas. Mind you, I am enormously pregnant, just walked about 5 miles in a day, and my hips have become some kind of sick medieval torture device that I can’t remove…but after sitting in the room alone for a few minutes my socialite tendencies got the better of me and I decided to wander downstairs as well.
We actually really enjoyed our hosts company! Their roommates were fun as well. It probably helps that we’re all around the same age. (This is still weird for us, we live in Florida and all of the youth in Denver was like culture shock.) And one of their roommates even had his one year old over to visit. They kind of just made us feel like friends. Actually, Josh is staying with them again this week since he had to go back so abruptly. haha!
All in all, I would have to recommend Airbnb. It was cheaper than a hotel stay, but that’s not even why. It provided a really cool authentic feeling to the trip, as opposed to the commercialized blandness of a hotel. It was basically a really cool way to meet new people up there too. We got recommendations for breakfast, places to live, and Pam made me try fish oil (and not in capsule form.) Which is apparently good for the baby. haha!
I don’t know that our trip would have been as fun had we stayed in a regular hotel. Have you ever tried Airbnb?!
I have never tried AirBNB but I have looked into it. I would have been like you thought it was a little awkward, I don’t think my husband would ever go for staying in someones home with them there! But maybe we will try it one day!
I have never tried AirBNB but I have looked into it. I would have been like you thought it was a little awkward, I don’t think my husband would ever go for staying in someones home with them there! But maybe we will try it one day!
This has got to be the best AirBNB experience I have ever heard! I have friends that have used the service before but they’ve never actually stayed with their hosts before. My anxiety would have been in overdrive for sure! So happy you had a great stay though! xx Merisa | Monogrammed Magnolias
This has got to be the best AirBNB experience I have ever heard! I have friends that have used the service before but they’ve never actually stayed with their hosts before. My anxiety would have been in overdrive for sure! So happy you had a great stay though! xx Merisa | Monogrammed Magnolias
I have been hearing about AirBNB all over the place, but didn’t know what it meant! This is an awesome, informative post. I’m happy your experience was so great. When Chris and I can afford to travel again, we will totally try this out.
I have been hearing about AirBNB all over the place, but didn’t know what it meant! This is an awesome, informative post. I’m happy your experience was so great. When Chris and I can afford to travel again, we will totally try this out.
I would love to try Airbnb one day. I have looked on the site before and they have some pretty cool accommodations.
I would love to try Airbnb one day. I have looked on the site before and they have some pretty cool accommodations.
We did Airbnb throughout our stay in Italy and I’d do it all over again, hands down!!
We did Airbnb throughout our stay in Italy and I’d do it all over again, hands down!!
I live in Denver I think you’re gonna like it. I have been curious about Airbnb’s lately. I may have to try one for our next anniversary trip.
I live in Denver I think you’re gonna like it. I have been curious about Airbnb’s lately. I may have to try one for our next anniversary trip.
I have looked at Airbnb several times for domestic travel and decided against it. But I would love to try it in the future when traveling abroad! Thanks for sharing your positive experience!
I have looked at Airbnb several times for domestic travel and decided against it. But I would love to try it in the future when traveling abroad! Thanks for sharing your positive experience!
I just got back from Denver myself, awesome city!! Also, we used Airbnb over the summer, rented a house and we had a really good experience!!
I just got back from Denver myself, awesome city!! Also, we used Airbnb over the summer, rented a house and we had a really good experience!!
I’m glad you had a good experience! We are super hosts, and have had over 70 guests. All good experiences 🙂
I’m glad you had a good experience! We are super hosts, and have had over 70 guests. All good experiences 🙂
I’m so glad you gad a good experience. My husband and I stayed in a treehouse last year and LOVED it!
I’m so glad you gad a good experience. My husband and I stayed in a treehouse last year and LOVED it!
I”m so glad it went well!! I’ve heard so many people talk about it and most times it’s really good reviews. But I just don’t know if I could do it haha like you said, I feel like it would be weird to walk around someone’s home that I don’t know. I don’t know. Maybe i’ll have to try it for a weekend getaway closer to home or something first lol it’s a super cool concept though!!
I”m so glad it went well!! I’ve heard so many people talk about it and most times it’s really good reviews. But I just don’t know if I could do it haha like you said, I feel like it would be weird to walk around someone’s home that I don’t know. I don’t know. Maybe i’ll have to try it for a weekend getaway closer to home or something first lol it’s a super cool concept though!!
I have never done Airbnb but always wondered what the experience would be like. Thanks for sharing your story. It definitely helps for the future when planning trips!
I have never done Airbnb but always wondered what the experience would be like. Thanks for sharing your story. It definitely helps for the future when planning trips!
What a cool experience! Thanks for sharing this!
What a cool experience! Thanks for sharing this!
The key code instead of physical keys is SO super smart. My now-husband and I had the most *awkward* AirBnB stay once on a cross country trip together…it was CRAZY!
Coming Up Roses
The key code instead of physical keys is SO super smart. My now-husband and I had the most *awkward* AirBnB stay once on a cross country trip together…it was CRAZY!
Coming Up Roses
First, I’m from Florida too, what a small world! =) Second, I’ve been considering using airbnb but was scared of it being awkward or us getting scammed. This gives me hope that it would be a good experience for us. Maybe we will give it a chance on our next trip! I like that they use a code instead of keys, that’s a cool feature!
First, I’m from Florida too, what a small world! =) Second, I’ve been considering using airbnb but was scared of it being awkward or us getting scammed. This gives me hope that it would be a good experience for us. Maybe we will give it a chance on our next trip! I like that they use a code instead of keys, that’s a cool feature!