7 tips for making your Airbnb stay safer
Airbnb and home rentals have become many families' first choices for travel accommodation.
And while I have been both a longtime user and host on Airbnb, I had an experience where I felt unsafe when staying alone with my son at an apartment in Lisbon over a recent spring break.
I've traveled with my 4-year-old to 19 countries, and I'm not one to usually shy away from traveling. So naturally, I started asking other families for tips on feeling safe when staying in an Airbnb.
If you're looking for practical tips on booking an Airbnb as a family, read this article and keep reading below if you're looking for ideas on how to make sure your Airbnb is secure for your family.
Does the Airbnb have fire detectors?
My top concern with my recent Airbnb experience was around fire safety. Our Airbnb in Lisbon was on the top floor without a clear fire exit, no smoke detectors or fire extinguishers. I have since learned that many travelers bring their own smoke alarms or batteries just in case.
Pro tip: Check the listing beforehand and consider traveling with your own smoke and CO2 detectors. Test to make sure the alarms are working when you arrive. A parent who travels with their own devices told me to be sure to put them in your checked luggage or expect additional screenings of your carry-on through security.
Have an emergency exit plan at your Airbnb
My children are young, so I would be responsible for them. But, I've learned from other families that they discuss entrances and exits with their older children when they arrive at an Airbnb.
Pro tip: Parent and frequent traveler Jules Stephan took me through her process after arriving at an Airbnb. "Like at home, we discuss as a family where the emergency exits are," Stephan told TPG. "We open all windows to make sure they can be opened, and we know how to, and check if there is any ledges or roof that you can use to climb up and down in case of emergency — but also check on ease for burglars to get in."
Do you know what the entrance of Your Airbnb looks like?
My first safety concern came when I arrived after midnight with my sleeping son, and our Uber driver got lost on the winding one-way streets of Lisbon.
The listing didn't have an exterior photo, and the Uber driver let me out a few hundred feet up the street, so I was scrambling to pull up a map and find the entrance at 12:30 a.m. with my child and belongings in a foreign city.
Pro tip: Once you've booked your Airbnb, always look up the address on Google Street View to check out the street and area. You can also request a photo of the outside of the home from your host.
"I try to arrive during the day," mom and expat Alyson Tart told TPG. "If I can, I pick apartments where the host greets you rather than just a keypad."
Check for hidden cameras
I have never worried about hidden cameras in an Airbnb, but they've made the news lately. Hidden cameras and recording devices are against Airbnb policies, but more and more hosts are using them as a security measure to protect their property.
Pro tip: Mom Sonia Travi trains parents and their families on travel safety. "Bring an infrared light to discover hidden cameras," she told TPG.
When was the code last changed on the Airbnb?
When I arrived in Lisbon and entered the code to get into the Airbnb building, I instantly wondered how many people knew that code and could get into the building and easily up to the door where we were staying. While some smart locks update after every guest, most lockboxes are only changed manually.
Pro tip: Ask the host how often their lockbox code is changed and if it could be reset before your arrival.
Bring a motion alarm and door stop
While I would not necessarily travel with an alarm due to my children likely setting it off, I learned from parents who frequent Airbnbs that many do for extra peace of mind.
Pro tip: Bringing a small door jam with an alarm is small, inexpensive and could help you feel safer in a hotel or Airbnb.
Secure your belongings
I spoke with a family who was burgled while in an Airbnb, and their insurance did not cover their electronics because they were not stored in a locked safe. Under the terms of their travel insurance, they were required to be.
According to an Airbnb support center representative with whom I spoke, the company does not have a specific process of what happens if there is a burglary. You are advised to call the local police and go through Airbnb's resolution center, where you may or may not receive compensation for any theft and damage.
Pro tip: Check if your Airbnb has a safe for valuables or consider locking your electronics and keeping your passport with you.
Pandemic precautions
An Airbnb can be a great way to socially distance while on vacation, but you should still take the same COVID-19 precautions that you would at a hotel. I suggest giving your Airbnb a good wipe down when you arrive and disinfecting high-touch surfaces.
Airbnb's policy says that guests and hosts must agree to wear a mask or face covering when interacting in person and maintain six feet of distance from each other at all times. Hosts are also required to commit to Airbnb's five-step cleaning policy, which requires hosts to ventilate the space before and during cleaning, wash all dishes and laundry at the highest heat setting possible and avoid re-entering a room once it’s been sanitized.
Finally, consider booking a vacation rental that has a buffer period between you and the previous guest.
Bottom line
Airbnb and home-sharing offer many benefits for families — from preparing your own meals to cost savings and the ability to accommodate larger groups. With a few precautions, you can avoid potential safety concerns at your Airbnb and rest easy.
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- 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.
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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. |
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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
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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
- 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.