So my first experience with AirBnB was in the states in
Atlanta where there was no hostels available. No harm trying I guess and
proceeded to register an account and book the first AirBnB stay. It was my
first time and I had no idea how the AirBnB system works. Apparently you have
to book them online only but a booking is not automatically confirmed. One had
to wait for the owner to reply to the booking. It’s like sending an email to
someone asking them if you can stay at their place for a fee and they would
decide if you are welcome or not regardless of the money.
The single bed in a shared room I booked for USD 35 in
Atlanta was slightly out of town but still reachable by tubes and busses. This
was the second hidden pitfall of AirBnB … the place are peoples house and they
can be really really far from city centre sometimes. In less than half an hour I
had a reply from the owner Tim whom had accepted my booking request. Lockbox
code was 1234 he said. Just let yourself in pick a made bed and make yourself
at home.
I never saw Tim the owner or any other representative the whole
4 days I was there. Even Happy whom tag along with me for the AirBnB experience
find it a wondrous experience. We met different people going in and out of the
place, travellers of different sorts using the AirBnB instead of a hotel but
never the owner. Tim the owner wasted no space as well. He had beds everywhere
in the house. Everywhere he could place a bed he had them, in rooms, in living
rooms, study room, and even in common corridor separated skilfully with a curtain.
My next AirBnB experience was in Knoxville. Again a place in
USA without a hostel. Mily was a student in the University of Knoxville. She was
renting a portion of space upstairs a house from an owner and using AirBnB to
lower her rent, apart from meeting cool people from everywhere. She actually picked
me up from the bus stop. I later realized it was really far from the city
centre …. A good 2 hours walk which was not doable on your first touchdown in
the middle of the night.
I stayed in her erm …. Living room / study room / kitchen ….
It was a one bedroom studio kinda set up so I was in the common area. She told
me that sometimes she actually let out her own bed instead to couples or more
people and she herself sleep at the foldable single spring-bed which I occupied
in the living room while they were here.
Last AirBnB stay was actually in Philadelphia. I tend to
stay in hostels if there is one since it is usually more nearer to the city
centre. Also most people rent AirBnB as a whole unit for family getaways like a
mini villa but I was using the more unorthodox method on AirBnB where people
rent out a couch or a bed or a floor space. After travelling so long, I have a
little fear of the awkward silence …. Rather silence than awkward silence.
Philly AirBnB was like a Hostel. Same trick with the
electronic keypad lock number which was email the day before I checked in.
Never saw the owners and the whole house was set up exactly how a typical
hostel would. Only different was there was no reception and you won’t find them
in any of the usual hostelworld or hostelbookers website.
I find the AirBnB experience a magical one …. a network
places of safe zone where the more adventurous off the beaten track travellers can
utilized. It was also like a check point where locals could use to stave off
the big cooperation network of hotels or hostels and a place where travellers
could support the local economy instead of a businessman.
No comments:
Post a Comment