Airbnb's or family friendly places to stay in Europe

[Anonymous]

Family of 4 with tweens and the hotels seem too expensive or we need to do 2 room bookings. Since kids are young I cannot do 2 separate hotel rooms. The reasonable priced family suites are sold out and what it shows online on booking.com is very expensive or in train station areas or unsafe areas. I'm looking at other options like airbnb's now.

What do you look for to know it is not a scam? How safe are these to keep your valuables in when going out? Which websites do you use. We haven't finalized our plans yet but looking to do either an Italy trip or a France/Netherlands/Belgium trip in summer.

Please share your experience with airbnb/condo hotel/aparthotel bookings in Europe.

[Anonymous]

I've used Airbnb all over the world. The number one thing I look for is reviews. Lots and lots of reviews. Not 2 reviews. Not even 10. More like 30+, over several years. The more, the better. I read all of the reviews. Generally, the highly reviewed places are more expensive; you can get a deal if you're willing to try a newer place. But in traveling with young kids, the risk of showing up and it's a scam or not as advertised is not worth it to me.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. A long list of previous reviews. Also, when communicating with hosts, ALWAYS do it within AirBnB app not outside it (email or what’s app).

[Anonymous]

I agree with both posters above (if possible, I even book the exact place that a family travel blogger recommends- to even further lower the chance that it is some sort of scam). But I've never had an issue with airbnbs in England, Portugal, or France (the only 3 places we have been as a family).

However, if your kids are tweens (ages 10-12?) they can absolutely get a hotel room next to yours on the same floor, I don't see any issue with that whatsoever, unless one or both of your kids is very untrustworthy or very anxious (no judgment, I have an anxious one too, but even he'd have been ok with a hotel room next door by age 11 or 12)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've used Airbnb all over the world. The number one thing I look for is reviews. Lots and lots of reviews. Not 2 reviews. Not even 10. More like 30+, over several years. The more, the better. I read all of the reviews. Generally, the highly reviewed places are more expensive; you can get a deal if you're willing to try a newer place. But in traveling with young kids, the risk of showing up and it's a scam or not as advertised is not worth it to me.

Are you saying you used airbnb's only when kids were older then? I have never used airbnb's before so am a little wary of these lesser number of reviews too. I mean even 30 is kind of low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with both posters above (if possible, I even book the exact place that a family travel blogger recommends- to even further lower the chance that it is some sort of scam). But I've never had an issue with airbnbs in England, Portugal, or France (the only 3 places we have been as a family).

However, if your kids are tweens (ages 10-12?) they can absolutely get a hotel room next to yours on the same floor, I don't see any issue with that whatsoever, unless one or both of your kids is very untrustworthy or very anxious (no judgment, I have an anxious one too, but even he'd have been ok with a hotel room next door by age 11 or 12)

Yes kids are 10 ad 12 but both girls. That's another reason I am afraid of leaving them alone. Sorry if I'm being sexist. I guess we could get the twin bed rooms and my husband can be in one and I can be in the other room but its not going to be fun for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PPs about AirBnB and reviews. Lots of reviews over a long time period with specific information and different writing styles. After you’ve looked into a bunch of places, you can more easily spot scams - they are usually new listings with only vague 5 star reviews, or pictures are from multiple different listings stolen on the internet. Sometimes if it sounds too good to be true, it is. I usually picked based on reviews too, I trust multiple reviews over the description about the area and the space. I also look for ones that talk about responsiveness to a minor problem. We had an AirBnB in Europe that had no hot water and it took 12+ hours for someone to respond. There was a water heater that had to be manually turned on but we didn’t know that, and it would have been great if someone had gotten back to us sooner!

I do often prefer hotels when traveling internationally - always someone at the front desk in case our flight gets in super late and there are issues checking in. We have 3 kids and get two rooms, and if it’s not possible for them to connect, DH and I split up. That’s usually much cheaper than family suites. With only 4 people, you may be able to get rooms with two double beds.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the PPs. We have used air BNB in France, Spain, Argentina, and England. Otherwise we've just booked suites or adjoining rooms. I'd much rather that over airbnbs.

Lots of reviews are most important and not just generic ones. You want ones that actually give details of their stay/the place. Like PP said, only communicate through the app. Expect to pay a good amount. Highly rated places in a good location are pricey, especially if you're traveling during a popular time. You want to make sure you have a good idea of location.

Honestly with tweens, I would just book two hotel rooms next to each other.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you cannot afford a trip to Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PPs about AirBnB and reviews. Lots of reviews over a long time period with specific information and different writing styles. After you’ve looked into a bunch of places, you can more easily spot scams - they are usually new listings with only vague 5 star reviews, or pictures are from multiple different listings stolen on the internet. Sometimes if it sounds too good to be true, it is. I usually picked based on reviews too, I trust multiple reviews over the description about the area and the space. I also look for ones that talk about responsiveness to a minor problem. We had an AirBnB in Europe that had no hot water and it took 12+ hours for someone to respond. There was a water heater that had to be manually turned on but we didn’t know that, and it would have been great if someone had gotten back to us sooner!

I do often prefer hotels when traveling internationally - always someone at the front desk in case our flight gets in super late and there are issues checking in. We have 3 kids and get two rooms, and if it’s not possible for them to connect, DH and I split up. That’s usually much cheaper than family suites. With only 4 people, you may be able to get rooms with two double beds.

Have you been to Italy or France - may I ask what is a normal price range for a moderate hotel with 2 double beds in Spring and Summer in these countries? Maybe I am used to cheaper priced hotels here that I am not considering a peak summer rate for a decent hotel in Europe. For example - Disney I think we paid $300/night at Christmas time for SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Manhattan $300-$350 at Christmastime for a Doubletree by Hilton but in these countries I am seeing upwards of $500 for a decent hotel close to city center. If I put 2 people it shows me around $250 and doubles if I add the kids in booking.com.

Are there any hotel search hacks I should be aware of?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you cannot afford a trip to Europe.

Troll, just go away. I'm not in the mood to deal with idiots like you today.

[Anonymous]

Did you try the Meininger hotel chain? They have dormitory style rooms that worked well for our family of 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you try the Meininger hotel chain? They have dormitory style rooms that worked well for our family of 5.

Thank you. I had never heard of this before. One of them in the city I searched for looks pretty decent and it has a bunk bed which my kids would love.

I'm not there for the views from the hotel and just need a clean place to stay the night which is accessible to touristy areas and this meets my needs.

[Anonymous]

For hotels in Europe - if we choose 1 room, do they provide extra roll away beds for a fee like they do in US?

[Anonymous]

I look for reviews that mention the hosts left them food, because those places I feel are really running a business and care about the reviews. I stayed at places in Greece and in Switzerland where both gave us like a 'starter pack' of food, with a small thing of milk, orange juice, half a dozen eggs, bread and cheese. In Italy, the host left a bottle of wine.