Secrets to Finding the Perfect Airbnb (Part One)

I think this might be the most asked question I get from my friends, other than “have you gone on any good dates lately”. 😅 Everyone wants to know: how do you find these amazing adventures?! Since this is a pretty hefty topic, I had to create a two part series for this one. So, here are my best Secrets to Finding the Perfect Airbnb (Part One).

Now, I’ll be the first to admit this: I love airbnb. I feel significantly more comfortable at an airbnb than a hotel/motel.

Then again, I genuinely love adapting and trying to blend into whatever culture I’m traveling to. I also love finding amazing seasonal experiences. Example, cabins for Fall, summer sunflower farm stays, etc.

Since this year has been insane… it’s required a lot of planning in advance. Which is reallllly tough for a spontaneous person, like myself. When I went on my epic road trip over the summer, I didn’t plan the last portion of my trip until the week I was arriving. (I’m a gemini, decisions can be hard!)

However, what was super helpful was writing a list of absolute NEEDS vs wants per location. It nice to have everything written so while I was saving airbnbs, I was also checking to make sure each location fulfilled a checklist.

Table of Contents

Secrets to Finding the Perfect Airbnb

Write down a list of experiences you want to have

Honestly, experience is one of the most important reasons I travel. I’m always looking for killer views, stunning but moderately easy hikes and unique things to do in our own backyard of Washington State. I’ve found some amazing places to stay just by being open minded and looking to try something new.

Example of experiences to list:

S’mores on a Fire pit
Reading by a wood burning Fire place
Near by Hiking
Tree House
Tiny House
Beaches
Suspension Bridges

Skiing
Yurt Experience
Kayaking
Farm Life
Snow Recreation
Breathtaking Views
Wine Tasting and Tour

Write down a list of amenities you need

That’s right, the absolute deal-breakers need to be written down so you don’t forget. I cannot express how much I went back to this list every time I saw a new airbnb pop up. When I’m traveling, especially right now, I like to save money and a minimize my contact with other as much as possible. I always look for a place with a kitchen and if it doesn’t have a kitchen but I love the location and everything else about it, I bring my instant pot.

Examples of a deal-breaker list:

A Full Kitchen (to cook all your own food) or at least a hot plate with pans.
Laundry Machines (to pack light)
Heating
Seclusion/Privacy
Wifi
Location/Safety

Decide who is going with you on your trip

This one is super important to me because I love traveling alone. A lot of people do not wander as much as I do. I love walking around to find hole-in-the-wall restaurants.I don’t know if they’ll be good or mediocre. Others love to scour instagram to replicate another person’s food photo.

My point: Make sure you’re both on the same page.

I also recommend writing out a general idea for each day to plan out meals, activities, etc. There is nothing worse than going on a trip and realizing your partner wants to watch movies all day and you want to go skiing.

Know where you are going

Another big secret is to already do some research on where you would like to stay. When I was driving to Napa this summer, I knew I needed to stay overnight in at least two separate towns. Doing the research on where I wanted to stay helped with knowing what’s around: grocery stores, gas stations, recreation centers, etc.

Obviously I could keep on going, which is why I have a part two coming up!

Thanks for reading my Secrets to Finding the Perfect Airbnb (Part One)! I hope this helps you on your journey to find the best of the best airbnbs. 😊