By Tiffany Pattillo
The images evoked by the words “spring break” involve large cities, crowded parties, sunny days and sandy beaches. Often these spring break destinations come with high hotel bills. In search of a quieter spring break locale and more affordable accommodations, I planned a road trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where my sister and I visited several tourist attractions including Rock City and the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. I decided to forego booking a traditional hotel room, choosing instead to book a room using the website Airbnb, Air Bed and Breakfast, for the first time.
Airbnb is a billion-dollar company cofounded in 2008 by Nathan Blecharczyk, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia. Airbnb allows people to rent out their entire homes, vacant rooms or couches to guests for set rates that are often cheaper than traditional hotel rooms. The company boasts over 20 million guests, with listings in approximately 34,000 cities in over 190 countries.
After hours of researching listings in Chattanooga, I reserved an available room in the home of Rachel and Kyle Niederhauser for a total of $62. Communication between the Neiderhausers and I began immediately. I explained the purpose of my trip, and we exchanged a few other questions and answers before they agreed to accept my reservation. My sister and I arrived the following evening, had a smooth check-in and settled into the room attached to the garage of the Niederhauser’s home. The room was clean and had all the accommodations of a traditional hotel room, and I was satisfied with my decision to use Airbnb.
The most worrying aspect of our spring break trip wasn’t maneuvering the eight lanes of highway traffic, constantly concerned that our car’s bumper would soon join those that lined the highway. It was deciding to stay in the home of strangers. It seems a little naïve to trust a stranger on the Internet enough to share a home with them. However, millions of people have successfully used Airbnb’s services, and I am now one of them.
Obviously, anyone who is looking to book a stay or host with Airbnb should be aware and always have safety in mind. “Naturally safety, security, and damage to our home were a concern. So we researched it thoroughly beforehand,” said Kyle Niederhauser, whose wife, Rachel, considers hosting Airbnb guests a small business venture. The Niederhausers have been hosting for about one year, and they stress the importance of prior research before booking. “We utilize Airbnb’s background check process and their review system. If we feel uncomfortable or see any red flags then we have, on occasion, declined guests.”
Airbnb has employed the Verified Identification tool since 2013. Verified ID allows Airbnb account users to link their online identity to their offline identification. “Access is built on trust, and trust is built on transparency. When you remove anonymity, it brings out the best in people,” said Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb. Users can submit their government-issued IDs and link their Airbnb account to other online profiles, such as Facebook or LinkedIn. Both guests and hosts are able to review each other within 14 days after a stay. Reviews are not visible until both the guest and host review is complete or the 14-day period expires. The reviews are then posted on each user’s detailed profile. Communication prior to a booking is also a step that can put guests and hosts at ease about each other.
“We have had hundreds of guests and a very favorable experience overall. We are fortunate to not have any horror stories,” Kyle Niederhauser said.
The most substantial advice I can offer to someone looking to use Airbnb is to put a significant effort into research. Read the listing’s profile entirely. View the pictures. Read the reviews. View the host’s profile and reviews. Ensure that the host’s identity is verified. Research the neighborhood. Message the host before requesting a reservation; this will verify that the room is available and give you the opportunity to ask questions. Airbnb is meant to be a community experience that adds to one’s travels. Put work into picking a room and enjoy your stay.
Photo Courtesy of the AIRBNB website.