By now, you’ve most likely heard of Airbnb. Perhaps, you’ve even rented a place to stay at on this famous site. I decided to experiment with renting a place on their app when I traveled to California last summer. Why not experience the glory that is Airbnb in the very state the business was created? So, I downloaded the app, created an account, and began my search.
How I Decided Which Airbnb House to Rent in La Jolla Cove
When it came time to book a place to stay in La Jolla Cove, I picked a beach cottage that had MANY reviews that included countless comments about how amazingly clean the house was. I believe at the time I rented the house, there were nearly 30 reviews (all positive), and I felt really confident that the house was going to work out for us. Furthermore, the host was quick to respond and very friendly.
Let’s now fast forward to the day we arrived in La Jolla. Our host let us check in when we arrived, and we were overjoyed to find the house in the clean and beautiful condition we hoped it would be in. The beach cottage was exactly as described on Airbnb, and it really was perfectly clean (yay!). I instantly became a fan of Airbnb. Plus, we dealt with a responsible, considerate host who was responsive and took great care of his property.
I realize, however, that not everyone has such a pleasant Airbnb experience.
To minimize the chance of running into unfortunate surprises at your rental, you might want to consider these tips:
1. Rent homes that have many, many positive reviews
2. Look for reviews that offer details about the house and the host and not just the typical “great place!” review
4. Google the property to see if the host is on other rental sites ( a lot of them are) and read those reviews as well
Of course, following these tips don’t guarantee that your rental will be as perfect as the host describes, but it will certainly help weed out a number of properties that might not meet your criteria.
Have you used Airbnb before? If so, what was your experience like? Comment below or email me at emilykeenphotography@gmail.com.
Emily Keen Photography 