Two Years Living in Airbnbs: Here's What I've Learnt

Season's greetings, JFC-ers!

There's something about all the joy and glee going around in December that makes me actively seek out the weirder side of the festivities. And this year's Creepy Crimbo Crown goes to... Greece's kallikantzaroi goblins!

Much like Iceland's Yule Lads, these wee guys roam around causing mischief, until they're banished on 6th January. But don't worry, just hang a pig's jawbone above the front door and your house will be just fine. How very festive indeed!

Safe travels and happy holidays,

I’ve spent almost two years living in Airbnbs full-time as a digital nomad. I usually stay for about 1–3 months (with some shorter term rentals in between) so it’s safe to say I’m pretty familiar with the lifestyle. 

Airbnb is an incredible resource for slow travel, but there’s definitely a learning curve to it, and lots to look out for when it comes to using it safely, affordably, and ethically. There are also some misconceptions that could use clearing up, and some secrets that should be shared!

I usually stay in the US or Canada, with a couple stays in England. So I’ve checked in with my fellow writer Kristi, who has a lot of international experience with long-term Airbnbs, and verified that these tips apply pretty widely around the world.

We’re also not affiliated with Airbnb in any way — that’s how you know you’re getting the real truth here.

Misconceptions

Let’s get these out of the way first — while it’s far from a perfect company, I think a lot of hesitation towards Airbnb comes from inexperience. Here’s my take on some popular complaints, and why they don’t stop me from using the service.

 “Airbnb owners drive up housing prices and wreck the market!”

There’s some truth to this, but it’s nowhere near as widespread as people imagine. There are too many other factors at play controlling rapid rent inflation. 

Without getting into too much detail about housing markets, I can say from experience that many properties on Airbnb are not places that would be available for permanent housing if the website disappeared. Think basements, spare rooms, guest houses, and trailers. Some people even rent vacant lots to campers. Those flashy mansions on the homepage represent a surprisingly small fraction of what’s actually available.

So if this is what’s holding you back, you’ll be happy to know I’ve never found it difficult to book the sort of place that wouldn’t be on the market at all without Airbnb, one where I know my money is mostly going into local hands.

“That must be super expensive!”

Monthly Airbnb rentals are always going to be pricier than standard leases in the same neighborhood, but there are a few things to consider:

• You have nearly absolute flexibility on move-in and move-out dates.
  
  
• You don’t have to do a credit/background check or fill out applications like you might with a regular lease.
  
  
• It’s fully furnished, with utilities included.
  
  
• You have a host (usually onsite or close-by) whom you get to review at the end.
  
  
• You will almost never pay the nightly price. Most hosts offer massive discounts for stays of 30+ days. This has saved me over $1,000 a month before. There’s a reason I prefer hotels for short stays and use Airbnb for longer rentals.

I generally stay in one-room homes like guest houses (comparable to a studio apartment) in either small cities or rural areas in the US and Canada. My monthly costs range between $1,100 and $1,400 USD per month. In my hometown of San Diego, studio apartments regularly cost $2k-$3k, so it’s actually far cheaper for me to switch Airbnbs every month than to try and rent a permanent spot at home. While you can definitely find some swanky places on the site, you don’t need to break the bank to use the service. 

More cost-saving tips below!

“Airbnbs have crazy rules and cleaning expectations!”

I’m honestly not sure where this myth comes from. Hosts set their own rules, so you’ll find some oddball requests once in a while, but you don’t have to book those rentals. That is absolutely not the norm. The most I’ve ever been asked to do is not throw parties or smoke indoors, and to take the trash out before I leave. Just read the listing thoroughly to make sure you’re okay with the host’s expectations.

My tips for booking long-term Airbnbs

• Book as far in advance as you can. Prices don’t typically fluctuate like airfare. Because you need long stretches of availability, it’s best to book your spot as soon as you’ve made your decision. I usually aim for 3–5 months in advance.
  
  
• Stay in each spot for at least 30 days to get the discount. Hosts set those discounts, so some might offer it for 14 days, or 60 days, but there’s almost always a discount. Play around with the trip length until you’re satisfied with your savings.
  
  
• Be flexible on location (or prepare to make other compromises). There are three main components to a good booking: location, quality of home, and price. You need to be highly flexible on at least one of those criteria, and I suggest you loosen up on the location. You’re there for at least a month! You’ll have time to explore. You don’t need to be right next to the action. Especially if you work from home, you’ll be happier in a nicer room.
  
  I cast pretty wide nets: “Southern Utah” or “anywhere in England” or “somewhere in the desert” are all criteria I’ve started with and found comfortable, affordable spots. When I want to stay in a specific city, I generally have to either take a huge hit to my comfort level, splurge for a month, or get extremely lucky.
  
  
• Read listings with a fine-tooth comb. “I don’t need to make sure that amenity is listed, every home has that!” WRONG. You have no idea what kinds of things can be missing from Airbnbs. If you have deal-breakers (even basic things like heating or hot water) then you need to ensure they are either listed on the page, or message the host and ask. And be warned — it’s common for hosts to say they have a “kitchen” when what they really mean is a mini fridge and a microwave.

• You can haggle. You can also reach out to hosts and try to negotiate a lower price. Kristi did this all over Europe and regularly saved cash ($500–$1200 a month!)
  
   Her advice:
  
  “Find 3–5 options that are slightly higher than your budget and send a friendly and polite message stating your maximum budget and ask if they would be willing to negotiate on the price. I found that at least 1 of the 5 would say yes, and I would go from there.”
• Lastly, remember that the host also reviews you as a guest. Bad reviews can tank your chances of securing bookings, but if you’re polite, follow the rules, and don’t leave the place a wreck, you’ll be fine.
  

So, while Airbnbs can absolutely be expensive, complicated, and unethical, they don’t have to be. There's a reason they became so popular so quickly, and that homely comforts aspect really can win out over a hotel, especially if you'll be staying awhile like me.

If you’re thoughtful and open-minded about your decisions, living full-time in short-term rentals makes a great way to explore the world without dropping your entire savings on a vacation.

Do you have experience of staying long-term in Airbnbs (or similar)? I'd love to hear your tricks for finding your next temporary home, and hear about what makes short-term rental accommodation more appealing to you than a hotel. Just hit 'Reply'!

Since this is officially our festive edition, we thought we'd rustle up our own take on a famous Christmas song, and gift you 12 altogether less usual travel ideas for 2025...

For twelve drummers drumming: Head to Japan over Easter, 19th-20th April, for the Narita Drum Festival. Expect a whole weekend of traditional Taiko drumming echoing through the streets as part of the 35th annual festival. 

The event typically sees around 200,000 spectators flock to the impressive venue of Naritasan Temple over the course of the weekend, so prepare to compete for a good view!

For eleven pipers piping: You shouldn’t be shocked by this one — it’s a bagpiping festival in Scotland! Piping Live! and the World Pipe Band Championships will be taking place in Glasgow from 10th–17th August, attracting pipe bands from all over the world for a week of concerts, parades, and good old-fashioned bagpipe show downs.

For ten lords a’leaping: Head to the little town of Castrillo de Murcia in northern Spain, which hosts one of the world’s strangest festivals every year during June…El Colacho.

During the week-long religious festival, performers in devil outfits run riot through the streets, insulting and whipping passers-by and generally causing chaos — before they’re finally driven out by the good men of the town.

El Colacho ends somewhat controversially, with the performers symbolically leaping over the town’s babies (who are laid gently on a mattress, we should emphasize) to protect the infants’ innocence.

We have to admit that it all sounds a bit terrifying, but there have been no reports of accidents in the festival’s history, thankfully. And for less child endangerment, there’s always the adumu jumping rituals of the Maasai.

For nine ladies dancing: Take a trip to the beautiful subtropical Yap in Micronesia.

Yap’s waters are home to over 100 manta rays, and if you go for a dive at the islands’ cleaning stations between December and April, you might just witness nature’s most spectacular dance-contest.

As part of their courtship rituals, female manta rays will lead hordes of males through the sea on long, elaborate dances for hours at a time. Uncanny. Unearthly. Unforgettable.

For eight maids a’milking: Fly over to the city of Bra in northern Italy during September, and take part in Cheese 2025.

It is (yes, you guessed it), the world’s biggest dairy festival, with crowds coming in their thousands to sample delicious curds and whey from across the face of the globe

The event's chill vibes and focus on animal welfare and environmental sustainability is a great fit for Bra in general.

It's a 'Slow City', part of an Italian movement that has deliberately stepped back from factories and industry to embrace relaxed, peasant-style eco-living — with a fully pedestrianised city centre, an array of communal vegetable gardens, and more.

For seven swans a’swimming: Stop by Tokachigawa Onsen in Hokkaido, Japan during late January to mid-February each year.

Renowned for its hot springs and glorious winter views, this charming town also plays host to a yearly ‘swan festival’ of lights, with an impressive illuminated display in the snow that’s meant to resemble the elegant movement of birds. Because what says “elegance” better than a laser show?

For six geese a’laying: Visit the Mother Goose House, found in a town called Hazard, in rural Kentucky. This bizarre and delightful home was built to resemble a colossal goose back in the 1930s, and has since become a beloved local landmark.

Tragedy struck a few years ago, when strong winds led to Mother Goose being beheaded. Local residents rallied around, and successfully raised the funds required to rebuild her.

For FIVE GOLD RINGS: Book your flights to Australia, where you can legally buy a miner’s permit and search for gold buried in the hills like an old-fashioned prospector.

Your odds of finding a nugget as big as your fist are slim, unfortunately — but in 2019, one prospector stumbled onto a $100,000 lump of gold near Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia, so we’d suggest starting there!

Alternatively, head to the old-timey town of Sovereign Hill and learn more about the fascinating history of gold mining in Oz.

For four calling birds: Pay a trip to the sprawling cloud forests of Monteverde, Costa Rica, home to magnificent waterfalls and a ton of rare wildlife, including the Resplendent Quetzal (what a name!). 

There are over 400 species of bird living in Costa Rica’s cloud forests, so don’t forget your binoculars, a little patience, and a rain jacket — unsurprisingly, it can get a little damp up there (evidence from my trip there this year below).

For three French hens: Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kentucky is the place to head for a real hen party — on the last weekend of September each year, Laurel County hosts the ‘World Chicken Festival’ in honour of its very own state hero, Colonel Sanders.

If giant skillets of deep-fried chicken don’t sound like your thing, you can always take a walk in the 700,000-acre depths of the nearby Daniel Boone National Forest.

For two turtle doves: Stop by the coastal village of Velas in western India during March.

This is the time when adorable, baby Olive Ridley turtles hatch from their eggs and crawl towards the shore - and Velas holds a yearly Turtle Festival in honour of the event.

If you’re crying out, “but wait, those are turtles, not turtle-doves!” then you might prefer a trip to eastern England during the spring–summer breeding season. Turtle doves can be tough to spot, so your best bet is to head to a nature reserve that they’re known to visit.

For a partridge in a pear tree: As Nat Geo sensibly points out, partridges don’t tend to sit in pear trees.

But if you go cycling through the Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park in France during the spring, you’ll be treated to the spectacular sight of the region's pear trees in bloom.

There’s even a ‘Pear Route’ you can follow, stopping off at the charmingly colourful town of Domfront which is renowned for its delicious pear cider). Santé!

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.

• Bleary-eyed revellers suffering the effects of the office Christmas party last weekend could have been forgiven for thinking they were hallucinating, as thousands of Santas ran rampant through the streets of New York City.
• Also on the loose this week is the world’s largest iceberg, which is slowly making its way north from Antarctica.
• It looks like Editor Katy was ahead of the curve on this one, as TimeOut puts Uzbekistan top of its ‘most desirable’ list.
• And finally, it turns out pigs really can fly! Dutch airline KLM had an absolutely stinking week, as a flight from Amsterdam to Mexico City had to be diverted to Bermuda due to the awful pong emanating from the 100 pigs in the cargo hold. 

  After a 30-hour beach break and a stretch of the trotters, passengers, pigs, and crew were all able to return to the plane and continue their journey.