🏡 Airbnb Booking Tips for Travel Families: Safe & Affordable Stays
The Real Deal (+ Tips!)
So, you’re a travelling family trying to find your next home away from home — and you’re staring at the screen wondering, "Should we just book through Airbnb again?"
We get it. We've been there — many, many times.
As a full-time digital nomad family, we've used Airbnb all over the world, from mountain towns in Guatemala to tropical beaches in Mexico. It's our go-to platform for accommodation, and while there’s a lot to love about it, there are definitely a few things we wish we’d known before we hit "Book Now" for the 237th time.
Let’s break it down: the good, the not-so-good, and our best tips to make Airbnb work for your family’s travel lifestyle.
🌟 Why We Use Airbnb (and Why It Beats Hotels for Families)
Airbnb is basically our travel lifesaver — and here’s why:
✅ A Home Away From Home
Hotels can feel sterile and cramped — especially with kids in tow. Airbnb gives you space to spread out, cook meals, do laundry, and live in a space that feels more like home. This is key when you're travelling long-term or worldschooling on the road.
✅ Peace & Quiet (Away from Nightlife!)
As a family, we definitely don’t want to be staying above a nightclub or next to a 3am street party. Airbnb lets you choose quieter, residential neighbourhoods — away from the party scenes — so everyone can get a good night’s sleep. This is one of the biggest reasons we choose it over traditional hotel areas.
✅ Global Access
Wherever you go — city, jungle, desert, or coast — Airbnb is there. The app works globally, and you can plan as you go or look ahead.
✅ Ideal for Longer Stays
Need a kitchen, space to work, or more than one room? Airbnb usually has better options than most hotels, and many hosts offer weekly/monthly discounts.
✅ Self-Catering = Sanity
As a family, eating out 3 times a day isn’t realistic. Airbnb homes let us cook, do laundry, and keep a routine (even if it’s a loose one).
🚧 The Downsides of Airbnb (Yes, There Are Some…)
Okay, let’s talk about the reality check side of things. Airbnb sounds like a dream — and often it is. But it’s not always smooth sailing.
😬 Fees Can Add Up
That lovely £40-a-night apartment? Add in service fees, cleaning fees, local tax… suddenly it’s £80. Always double-check the total before falling in love with a listing.
🚫 Limited Communication with Hosts
If you're like us and trying to negotiate promotional stays or collaborations through content creation, be aware:
You can’t share contact info, social handles, or links via Airbnb’s messaging system. Totally fair from a platform safety perspective — but limiting if you're building creative partnerships.
💡 Pro Tip: Many Airbnb hosts also list their properties on social media or their own websites. If you really want to collaborate or avoid the platform fees, try reverse searching the property name or images.
🧹 No Quality Control After Listing
Once a property is live, Airbnb leaves it to the host to keep it up to standard. This can be hit-or-miss. We've had:
Broken windows and no locks (hello, safety risk)
Live wires and electric shocks (yep… that really happened 😅)
Cold showers, this was a regular occurrence
Maintenance issues may take days to repair, this can be anything from no water or air conditioning to not being able to use the hob
Loud, non-stop construction nearby (that was never in the listing)
Listings that looked nothing like the photos
Absolutely NO quality control, anyone can list their property no matter what condition it is in!
📞 Support? What Support?
Airbnb claims to offer "24/7 support and insurance", but getting help can feel like shouting into a void. When we had issues, it took days — sometimes weeks — to hear back, and by then we’d already packed up and moved on.
It’s one of those things you hope you won’t need, but if you do… good luck!
🧳 Real Talk: What It’s Like Booking Airbnb as a Travel Family
We’ve learned (the hard way) that booking as a family is a whole different game from being a solo travel.
We need multiple rooms, not a bunk bed and a curtain.
We need quiet spaces to work, not next to a nightclub.
We need to worldschool, edit videos, blog, and breathe — all from one rental.
So planning each stay? It's not just booking accommodation — it’s a mix of:
Logistics management
Noise prediction
Map zooming detective work
Host negotiation
And keeping everyone (especially teens) happy
🧠 Top Tips for Booking Airbnb as a Travelling Family
Here’s what we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way):
1. Use the Map Feature
Check for nearby construction, traffic, bars, or noisy neighbours. Street View is your friend!
2. Filter for Essentials
Strong Wi-Fi, kitchen, laundry, and workspace — non-negotiables if you're worldschooling or remote working.
3. Check Reviews Thoroughly
Always read recent reviews. Look out for red flags like noise complaints, safety issues, or inaccurate photos.
4. Message Hosts Politely
If you’re staying longer than a week, ask about discounts. We’ve negotiated great deals just by being kind and respectful.
5. Stay Short at First
We usually book 5 - 7 nights first (this does costs more) If we love the place, we extend. If not… we move on!
6. Have a Backup Plan
Not every stay works out. Keep options saved and budget a little for flexibility. We’ve left properties early at times but it’s something you just had to write off and move on to the next venture!
7. Always Pay by Card or Credit Card
Never pay cash on arrival — even if a host suggests it. Always complete payments through the Airbnb platform using a card or credit card. This adds an extra layer of protection and gives you a clear path to dispute charges or request a refund if anything goes wrong.
🌈 Final Thoughts
Airbnb has been a game-changer for us as a traveling family. Yes, it’s had its hiccups (electrical zaps included), but the freedom, variety, and home-away-from-home feel is unmatched — especially when you're travelling full-time with kids.
It’s not perfect, but when it works, it works really well. Just remember: planning is everything, flexibility is key, and a good sense of humour goes a long way when your "dream stay" turns into a comedy show. 😂
Have you had an Airbnb experience — good or bad? Got a tip we should know about? Drop us a message on our socials (click the links in the footer) or share it with us on [YouTube] — we love hearing your stories!
