Stay logged in to proceed with bookings, orders and offers.
On changing the terminal, you will loose items in your cart. Are you sure you want to change your terminal?
Here's the secret formula for finding the perfect holiday homes and apartment rentals in India
I’m pretty vocal about my travel choices and always shared my holiday experiences, both good and bad. I’ve been asked by friends, family, and even via DMs, "How do you end up with such 'picture-perfect' holiday homes?” Many call it luck – but that is far from the truth. There's a method to my madness, and I'm here to tell you about it.
Let’s get things straight – travelling with the family can be expensive in certain cities. This is where apps like Airbnb come to your rescue. Besides the economics of choosing a holiday home or apartment rental, the merits of having that extra space to lounge about – especially if you are travelling with teenagers – kitchen facilities and the experience of living like a local are priceless.
Irrespective of the holiday destination, we do a lot of groundwork before we choose the home we rent. I must add that it's not been a smooth experience every time – there have been hiccups here and there. While most of our hosts have been gracious, there have, of course, been exceptions. On other occasions, we may have miscalculated or misunderstood the size and location of certain properties. That said, our extra large villa in Kufri was a happy mistake. Overall, you can still consider my family and me as staunch Airbnb evangelists.
One of the biggest hurdles I’ve noticed is people's hesitation in using the Airbnb app. It can indeed be overwhelming, and it is best not to always expect to find what you are looking for on your first search. List fatigue is real, and scrolling through thousands of rentals with no plan can be a recipe for disaster. Let me share with you what we have learned from our travel experiences and explain the process of picking the best holiday accommodation every time.
Location. Location. Location.
Before you log on to the Airbnb app, a quick search online is a good idea to check which neighbourhood is best suited for tourists. This will help you narrow the search, especially in the case of cities that are entirely new to you. If there’s an attraction or area where you plan to spend most of your time, keep this aspect in mind while looking up accommodation options.
More often than not, we prefer to be on the outskirts of the main tourist drag. While you can save on travel by living in tourist hubs close to the attractions, consider the big bucks you'll be paying, in terms of rental rates and the stores and restaurants around you. Expand your choice and use the handy Airbnb map to look for a home or an apartment on the periphery of the city centre.
You can also use the filter option and enter your specifications vis-a-vis the property type, number of rooms, amenities booking options, and so on. Needless to say, your price filter also comes into play here. Predetermine your budget (at least how high you are willing to go) and add that to your search filters from the beginning. There’s nothing worse than finding the place of your dreams and then finding out it costs you an arm and a leg!
While, we as a family, prefer to tour the city walking, it’s also essential to factor in transportation to and from your apartment. Look for mentions of metro stations, taxi stands, and bus stops nearby. The distance from the airport or railway station requires consideration. This distance can be very expensive in some cities. So, it is advisable to plan accordingly.
Moreover, never underestimate the importance of grocery stores, chemists, and restaurants near your rental. While living in a secluded area may seem like a cheap option, don’t make the mistake we made. On one trip, we were stuck in a gorgeous cottage in the middle of nowhere. We had to pay through our noses every time we needed groceries or even food delivered. We learnt our lesson – sometimes it pays to splurge even a wee bit.
I’m afraid when it comes to choosing a BnB, looks matter. I admit I get suspicious about apartment photos with a profusion of arty close-ups or too many images of lampshades and dinner plates. The rooms must be shown in their entirety and preferably from different angles. Be aware that photos taken with a fish-eye lens or from atop a ladder, more often than not, are just ways to make a room appear larger than it is. A lot of hosts take sub-par photos for their listings. This says a lot about their investment in maintaining the space and doesn’t bode well for future transactions. I would likely knock these off the list of potential options.
“Could I live here?" My go-to filter for choosing a holiday home rental on Airbnb is to ask myself: can I see myself living here permanently? Nine times out of ten, I use Airbnb to fulfil my aspirational daydreams! I imagine a sprawling villa with a pool in Goa as my summer home. Would this also be my dream house in Gangtok? Or does this apartment in Kolkata excite me with its decor and design?
Travel is all about escape, and platforms like Airbnb, offer a way to tick several dreams off your bucket list. We used the app extensively during the pandemic to book staycations in different BnBs in our city. The joy of waking up in new surroundings gave us that much-needed break from the monotony of daily life during the lockdown.
Once I’ve shortlisted an apartment that fits our budget and locality, I go straight to the reviews. I also have a policy not to book any apartment with no reviews. Though we may miss out on new additions to the rentals, it's a chance I am willing to take.
When it comes to reviews, the more, the merrier. Listings with 10 or 20+ reviews usually offer a more concise picture. One-word reviews such as 'great' or 'friendly' are ignored. When I read reviews, I look for red flags, such as 'noisy,' 'dirty,' 'unresponsive host,' or 'smaller than it looks.' On the flip side, recurring feedback, such as 'friendly host,' 'great location,' or 'easy check-in,' are always considered while making the final decision. The best reviews are those with in-depth feedback discussing the pros and cons of the home and the neighbouring area.
In addition, it's advisable to contact the host before booking the accommodation. Try and create a rapport from the get-go. Airbnbs, by and large, are homes the owners are opening up for you. A few lines describing who you are travelling with and how much you love their home can go a long way towards building a friendly and responsive relationship.
Remember, the most significant benefit Airbnb offers over a hotel is that your hosts can double as personal guides to a new city. Use their suggestions for local restaurants, what not to miss, and how to get around. They will clue you into the hidden gems of their hometown that guidebooks often gloss over. Finally, it is always good to leave a review after your stay. Remember, your feedback could help someone else make up their mind.
Before you hit the 'Book,' double-check the extra costs, if any. Add-ons, such as service fees, refundable deposits, and cleaning charges, vary quite a bit and can make a massive difference to your final price. So always be alert. There have been instances where a service that was promised wasn’t delivered. Now, you can take this up with Airbnb by raising a complaint. But the easier way would be to negotiate with your host and come to a compromise or an adjustment.
Let me recall an incident that happened to us. The host of a villa in Goa had included breakfast in the listing. However, due to staffing issues, he could not fulfil this inclusion. Instead, after a discussion, we agreed to offset the missing breakfast with a daily cleaning service. It was a win-win for all!
Similarly, check the cancellation policies while booking. Even if a ‘Free Cancellation’ exists on a listing, it doesn’t necessarily mean a full refund. There are usually time limits and restrictions involved. Read the fine print and stay informed.
And it's a wrap – these are my top three tips to find the holiday home rental of your dreams. Try them out for yourself and enjoy your dream holiday!
The Adani One expressly disclaims all liability, direct and indirect, in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this Blog. The Blog is an opinion of the contributor based on the collation of data from various sources and is provided only for information purpose. Adani One does not canvass, advertise, solicit, invite or induct for any product, merchandise, information, brand or any other materials mentioned in the Blog, nor does it obtain any monetary benefit from the same. Reader is advised to read and apply his/her intellect and discretion in this regard. Any Intellectual Property mentioned in this blog belongs to the rightful owner. We do not intent to claim any interest over the same.
