A Guide to Booking and Living in Monthly Airbnb Rentals
/As someone who has lived in monthly Airbnbs across Europe and the US, and served as an Airbnb host for monthly rentals in San Diego, I’ve become quite well-versed in making the most of an extended stay. A few months ago, I moved out of my apartment in California to truly embrace the remote-work/location-independent lifestyle, and have been bouncing around between Airbnbs in various countries ever since. Prior to moving out of my apartment, I was still doing the same thing but it was much less cost effective considering I essentially was paying for rent in two places: first for my apartment and second for wherever I was traveling at the time. I’ve personally found that there are many benefits to traveling more slowly and really taking my time to enjoy and get to know a place, and living in monthly Airbnbs is one of the best ways to take advantage of it.
Living in monthly Airbnbs is certainly a rewarding and exciting experience, and by following these practical tips, you will be able to better manage your expectations, avoid potential hiccups, and make the most of your stay in a new destination.
1. Filter for listings with a Superhost
Aside from being able to narrow down to options that are highly-rated and well-managed, the greatest benefit to choosing an Airbnb listing from a Superhost is that your reservation is much less likely to get canceled. Airbnb Superhosts are highly motivated to maintain their status because it can increase their overall bookings and earnings, and in order to earn and keep a Superhost badge, they must have a cancelation rate of less than 1%. If you are booking a month-long Airbnb stay, a potential cancelation and having to find a replacement at the last minute for an entire month is certainly something you would like to avoid if you can. Additionally, you can also filter for things like wifi, an entire place, a dedicated workspace, self check-in, and other conveniences that match your preferences and needs while living and traveling abroad.
2. Book early so you don’t have to sacrifice amenities
If amenities like having a designated workspace or a washing machine are non-negotiable for you to enjoy your month-long Airbnb stay, start looking and book as early as possible to increase the likelihood of finding an available place that matches your criteria and fits within your budget. I’ve found that most hosts open their calendars six months in advance, so if you can book as soon as their calendars open, the better chance you have finding the perfect place.
3. Open your search to slightly above your budget, and negotiate
If you have been searching the platform and haven’t found exactly what you’re looking for, consider raising the budget filter and messaging hosts to see if they are willing to offer additional discounts. If you have a strong Airbnb guest profile with great reviews and write a nice message, the host may be willing to accommodate you and send a price offer that fits within your budget. When I was an Airbnb host, I would get direct messages all the time asking for additional discounts for month-long stays, and if their profile and communication gave me the impression that they would be a great guest and the experience would likely be positive, it was still worth it to me to offer a slight discount below my advertised rates.
I’ve also found when that when creating my budget for monthly stays, I take into account what I had been paying in rent for my California apartment, plus the additional utilities, and plus the additional costs for accommodation when I would travel. Because I found that the cost for monthly Airbnb stays around the world were in many cases less than what I was paying in rent in California, and because I personally enjoy exploring new environments, it was an easy decision to end my standard lease and move my belongings and furniture into a small storage unit and set off bouncing between Airbnbs. The costs of living in different areas of the world can very greatly, so my monthly budget for any given place will largely be determined by what type of place I personally feel comfortable staying in, and I’ll average the cost over the course of six months. For example, I may save so much money by living “under-budget” in Central or South America, that I could splurge for a month on a beautiful apartment that would otherwise be “over-budget” in a city like Paris or New York, as long as my six-month average falls in line with my overall budget.
4. Open your search outside of Airbnb
While there are many benefits to booking on Airbnb, you may be able to expand your options by opening your search to other platforms like VRBO, Booking.com, Plum Guide, Blueground, or by searching for local agencies (search “city + furnished monthly apartment rental” on Google). Another trick for finding local agencies is to take note of the host on an Airbnb listing. In many cases, the listing will be managed by an individual, but sometimes a listing will be managed by a professional property manager or agency/business. You can then search for the agency on Google, and see if they offer direct bookings which may be available at a lower price. Additionally, professionally managed properties (either booked on Airbnb or another platform) tend to function more like serviced rentals and not someone’s personal home, meaning the accommodations may have higher standards for quality furnishings and linens, and have less personal belongings throughout the space.
5. Bring an extension cord (or 2)
In my years of extensive traveling as a remote worker, I’ve learned that something as simple as an extension cord can make all the difference between a comfortable work station and an uncomfortable work station. Constantly changing environments can be stimulating, motivating, and exciting, but it comes with the disadvantage of often having to re-configure a space where you can work without distraction and be productive. By bringing an extension cord in addition to your travel adapter, you can be sure that an awkwardly placed outlet won’t prohibit you from working comfortably.
6. Clearly separate your belongings from the host’s belongings (if there are any)
If the Airbnb you’ve booked is someone’s personal home, you may find that the closets, drawers, and shelves will contain some of the host’s or home owner’s personal belongings. If this is the case, I will usually just tidy up in such a way that is respectful of their things to make a clear distinction from my own belongings, and to avoid potentially damaging something that would be inconvenient to replace. This will make it easier to stay organized during your stay, and will make you less likely to forget something when you check out.
7. Make it feel like home
The housewarming gifts I purchased for myself upon arriving to my month-long Airbnb in Paris, France
I’ve made a tradition of buying myself housewarming gifts every time I check in to a month-long Airbnb stay. I love fresh flowers and will always bring a candle to light during my stay (unless it’s explicitly forbidden by the host). As soon as I arrive, locating a nearby market or flower shop is a nice first errand and a lovely way to start getting familiar with my new neighborhood. Instead of buying a candle locally (which is also a nice option!), I will bring one from the Diptyque range so I can purchase it again in the future and have the scent remind me of my experiences living in different locations around the world.
8. Bring your own laundry machine cleaning tablets
Having been a property manager of both standard lease apartments and Airbnbs, I learned that using laundry machine cleaning tablets is something most tenants and landlords do not do enough. You can buy a package of individually wrapped tablets on Amazon, and they are small enough to be convenient to travel with. Though almost all of the washing machines I’ve experienced in my Airbnbs have been great, there have been instances where a washing machine seemed a little less fresh and was in need of a cleaning. It’s also helpful to use the tablets as soon as you arrive because you don’t know if the previous guests or host could have used bleach in the machine, or something that might damage or stain your laundry. And while you’re at it, consider traveling with Liquidless Laundry Detergent Sheets— a must-have of mine for all of my travels.
9. Ask the host about additional cleanings
Cleaning the place or having it cleaned regularly has many obvious benefits. The place will be kept in great condition, be more manageable when you leave, and you will get to enjoy a clean space during your stay. Additionally, the simple act of asking your host about cleanings will give them peace of mind that their place is being taken care of and in good hands. You can also let your host know that you will be happy to pay for the additional cleanings through the Airbnb platform if they are willing to coordinate, but I’ve also had experiences in the past where the host is happy to make a referral and pass along the contact information to handle the coordination myself and pay the cleaners directly.
10. If you have to buy something, don’t stress
An Airbnb listing will clearly state all of the amenities that you can expect in the accommodation, but there may be times where something doesn’t exactly match your preferences. For example, a host may stock the place with paper towels when you prefer to use dish cloths, or it may have a stovetop kettle when you would prefer to use an electric water boiler. Supplies like trash bags, laundry detergent, or cleaning products may also run out during your stay, so rather than requesting replacements from your host, I suggest just going out to buy them and appreciate these opportunities to live like a local. A month is a considerable amount of time to stay in a place, so while it’s important to have the things that make you feel at home, it’s also important to remain open-minded and practical- especially considering you may be limited by what you are able to pack or check in your luggage if flying.
My latest Airbnb stay was at a ski cabin in Lake Tahoe, and I had the luxury of being able to drive my truck there so I wasn’t limited by how much I was able to pack- being able to bring some of my favorite personal conveniences like my Nespresso machine, Nutribullet, and electric water kettle truly felt like a real luxury, but would have been quite unreasonable if I had to fly and check it in my luggage!
11. Plan ahead if you need to receive mail
If it is essential for you to be able to receive mail or packages while you are living in an Airbnb, either domestically or abroad, find out from the host if it is possible before you book or begin your stay. Depending on the address, you may need separate access to a mailbox which would need to be coordinated by your host ahead of time. On that same note, don’t assume that the listing’s address is an appropriate mailing address for you to receive mail. In some cases, receiving mail may in fact be quite easy to your Airbnb’s address, but it is always considerate to ask your host ahead of time if it is possible. If it’s not possible to receive mail directly, you can check with a local post office or shipping center if you can apply to receive mail at one of their locations.
12. Be flexible and understanding
My rule of thumb: if I get there and am delighted, I’m grateful I get to stay there for a whole month! Or if I get there and my expectations are not totally met, then I’m grateful that I will only be there for a month! Of course, if you arrive and your accommodation is nothing like what you expected or you don’t feel safe for any reason, then it’s totally appropriate to seek alternatives though they may come at a high financial cost. But by following the tips previously mentioned in this article, you should be able to avoid an experience where you are totally disappointed. By managing your expectations and appreciating any opportunity to live like a local, you will find that your journey through month-long Airbnb stays will be rewarding, exciting, and memorable.
13. Earn miles and points for each Airbnb booking
Make the most of your “rent” payments and earn rewards that you can redeem for future travel. You can earn 1 mile on Delta for every dollar spent on Airbnb if you first visit deltaairbnb.com and click through to the platform using their affiliate link. Your Delta miles can be redeemed for future flights, upgrades, seat assignments, and more! Using a travel credit card like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve will 3x or 5x your points for a travel purchase made on Airbnb, and you can earn Ultimate Rewards that you can redeem for flights, hotels, and car rentals, among other travel categories.
Are you considering a monthly Airbnb lifestyle and have any questions about my personal experience? Let me know in the comments below!
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