Tips for Families Using Airbnb
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Airbnb has become such an integral player in my family-travel toolbox that I often bypass booking hotel “free” night awards in favor of renting a home on Airbnb for our family trips. A growing segment of Airbnb users are families and the company has taken proactive measures to offer curated features with us in mind (take for instance its “Families” category that includes homes with five-star reviews from other families who've actually stayed at the properties). Thankfully, you don't have to completely give up award travel when you stay in a Airbnb as you can charge the stay to cards such as the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and use the "miles" from those cards to offset the charge.
Whether you are one of the millions of travelers that often book stays at Airbnbs, or are a first-timer cautiously considering Airbnb for your next family vacation, here are my top tips so your family can get the most out of your Airbnb experience.
1. Create a Wish List
Browsing Airbnb’s database of millions of lodging options can sometimes seem daunting. To organize the search process, I create a “Wish List” for each trip using the feature at Airbnb's site. My Wish Lists consist of a visual list of homes (easily marked by a click of a heart) that I am considering. This list helps me narrow down my selections and then allows me to research each one a bit more in-depth.
The map feature of the Wish List is especially helpful because you can see where all of your listings are located and determine which place is right for you. Do you want to be in the heart of it all? Do you prefer to be secluded from the action but still a short drive to main attractions? Need to be near public transportation? Your Wish List allows you to narrow down the surplus of Airbnb options into finalists and make a solid lodging choice based on your selected few. It’s also a great feature to share when trying to make a decision with your partner or perhaps another family or others in your group.
2. Read the Reviews Thoroughly
Reviews and star ratings (one to five stars) are critically important in selecting a top-notch Airbnb for your family. Read these reviews in detail.
Look for reviews where children are specifically mentioned. Is the listing better suited for small children or older kids? Did the host provide enough towels for the entire family? Was the bed layout well suited for your family's needs? Did the kids love the toys or the Netflix installed on the TVs? If a listing doesn't have four or five reviews, I usually skip the it and instead book one that has more (mainly five-star) reviews. I want to make sure that others, particularly families, have had a pleasant experience with the host before I commit to that Airbnb listing.
Pro tip: A well-reviewed property with a 4.5-star rating or higher from a Superhost (experienced hosts that provide extraordinary experiences for their guests) usually increases your chances of a pleasant Airbnb experience.
3. Safety
Today, the thought of staying in a stranger’s home on vacation is hardly an irrational concept, and more families are flocking to websites, such as Airbnb, that list residences or rooms for short-term rental over traditional hotels. We have used Airbnb dozens of times as a family and have always had pleasant experiences. Still, it’s important to take precautions and know the ins and outs of your potential Airbnb listing.
Ask yourself the following:
- Is my listing located in a good area? Is it in a walkable neighborhood? Is there a park nearby? Get intel on the location of your listing ahead of time.
- What type of home is it? If it’s a high-rise, do the windows have locks? If a house, will I get the keys for all possible entry points? If there are stairs inside the house, are they steep and dangerous for babies?
- Will the host be available if I have a question or concern? Building rapport with your host from the beginning is a great way to feel confident they will assist you in a time of need.
- If you’re traveling with toddlers or very small children, ask yourself: Does the furniture have sharp edges? If there’s a pool, does it have a gate? Will there be child-friendly items such as cups and plates, cribs and high chairs?
4. Contact Your Host
I advise families to bypass Airbnb’s “instant book” feature and actually contact the host of your Wish List finalists before making a reservation. Families with small children sometimes require certain amenities (kitchen, bathtub and proper bed setup comes to mind), making reaching out to hosts critical. Pay attention to what is not shown in the listing. For example, if a sofa bed is mentioned but is not photographed, ask for pictures. Don’t see the bed layout for each room? Ask for pictures.
Tell them a little bit about yourself, your family, reason for visiting and ask specific questions as they pertain to your must-haves if the listing description does not specify. Also, gauge the responsiveness of a host and look for their tone in the reply. A host's informative and prompt reply usually is a good sign that they will be alert if an issue arises during your stay.
I was researching Airbnb listings for an upcoming trip to Iceland with my family and came across two properties I really loved. I messaged each host informing them of our plans and that we are arriving on a red-eye with two small children at the crack of dawn in Reykjavik. Rather than wait for the usual afternoon check-in time with tired kids (and parents), I was hoping either of the hosts would be kind enough to grant us an early morning check-in time.
Thankfully, one of the hosts didn’t have any guests checking out the day of our arrival and he verified that the very early check-in was not a problem. I avoided paying an extra night or killing time in the car with restless kids simply by contacting my potential Airbnb host before booking my stay.
Bottom Line
Don't be afraid to try an Airbnb for your next family trip. Having space to spread out and the amenities of home can really make for a stress-free vacation with the kids. If you aren't quite ready to pick the right Airbnb for your family, you could also look to Kid & Coe, a site similar to Airbnb, but that focuses exclusively on curated homes and apartment that are setup for families. And of course, be sure you use the right credit card when you book your Airbnb stay and don't forget to earn Delta SkyMiles in the process.
Still feeling a bit unsure? Here are more Airbnb resources:
- 12 Tips for Scoring the Perfect Airbnb
- What to Do If You Show Up to a Wrecked Airbnb
- The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards for Airbnb
- Planning a Miles and Points Trip for Extended Family
I hope these tips are helpful for your next Airbnb stay. Do you have any tips of your own to share? Post them below.
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Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.