Airbnb in Europe?

[Anonymous]

Yay or nay?

[Anonymous]

I would say nay, my wife and I have thought about it but there are so many things that can go wrong, passport is stolen, etc etc.

[Anonymous]

Have stayed in 5 different Airbnbs in Europe. All were great stays- same process as searching in the US- look for places with at least 15 reviews, read reviews closely, look at pictures closely so you understand the amenities, and if something doesn't feel right, don't book it. Be willing to pay a bit more for a SuperHost.

[Anonymous]

Yay. We've stayed all over Europe (and New Zealand, Australia and Asia) without a single problem.

15:21, ? How would your passport be stolen? The host never sees it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yay. We've stayed all over Europe (and New Zealand, Australia and Asia) without a single problem.

15:21, ? How would your passport be stolen? The host never sees it.

I just have this fear that while we're out, the owner or someone would come in and steal your stuff. Believe me, I'd like to try it as we're trying to plan a trip now and it would keep costs down.

[Anonymous]

Ummm..re passport theft, the risk is no greater than a hotel. And, ummm...you could keep valuables with you. I find this question bizarre. Look at the reviews. Find one where the owner is obviously doing it as a business vs. making some extra money and crashing on their friend's couch during times his or her house is booked. You'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

I have stayed in Airbnbs in dozens of European cities. They are always more updated than the tired, old hotels. And the convenience of having a kitchen and space to relax after a long day of walking makes it a no brainer for me. I often feel safer in an airbnb. Just pay attention to reviews.

[Anonymous]

I've stayed in them in England and Denmark so far and both were terrific and far better than a hotel option. I worry more about safety in a hotel than in an AirBnB.

[Anonymous]

please explain what is a super host

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:please explain what is a super host

A superhost is an AirBnB host who has hosted several times with 5-star ratings. So it's like a marker that they're legit.

[Anonymous]

I used it all over Europe and never had an issue.

[Anonymous]

We've done them in London, Paris, Italy (Tuscany) and Greece. We love having the extra room. And except for the Paris one (which was a little tight for our family), they were amazingly nice. Adorable modern remodeled mews cottage in London, hilltop estate in Italy and a ridiculous villa on a Greek Island with a pool, amazing views and a caretaker who cooked for us. I definitely prefer them over hotels.

[Anonymous]

The weirdest AirBnB I found online was in Santa Monica. Basically a shared room (separated with a sheet hanging from the ceiling) with two single beds. Now, THAT would make me worried for my safety but Europe? No. Not at all.

[Anonymous]

Why is everyone so worried about passport theft? Who wants your passport?

In the old days people would cut the photo out and put in their own, but you can't really do that anymore -- the photo is part of the print process; the page is tamper-proof, and upon entering the US it pulls up the electronic version they have in their computers anyway.

[Anonymous]

Have used them several times and find them much more pleasant. Yeah, sure, someone could steal your stuff, but your stuff can get stolen from hotels too...