Don’t automatically assume that an Airbnb offering will have all the perks of a hotel, because, well, it’s someone’s house.
Many hosts will be transparent in their listing and mention a lack of air-conditioning or a driveway that is difficult to find at night.
Other hosts say they have strict house rules — for example, no loud parties after 10 p.m. Sometimes, hosts will say up front that the night life on the street outside their home is noisy.
Hosts, too, have imperfections, so read guest reviews to learn about them. Perhaps the sheets were dirty or the house was low on toilet paper. Try to book only listings with reviews that are at least 90 percent positive.
This may sound obvious, but bear with me: Read — don’t skim — an Airbnb listing. Airbnb hosts and their homes vary widely in quality, and you can learn a great deal just from closely reading the listing and its reviews.
If you can live with an Airbnb lodging’s flaws, go ahead and book the reservation. But if you can’t, move on to the next listing or consider booking a hotel. Doing research and setting your expectations go a long way to having a good time at an Airbnb.
