Life in a Low-End Airbnb

Airbnb likes to market its high-end offerings. Commercials usually display luxurious settings that are an alternative to 4 or 5-star hotels and resorts. However, many budget travelers, struggling digital nomads, and even people needing long-term accommodations use the service as well. Having quite a bit of experience at the lower end of the Airbnb spectrum, I thought I’d share some reflections and focus on a particularly interesting stay.

Where the F*** Is It?

As you go down in price, locations get further away from city centers. I’ve spent many hours searching for lodgings, seemingly hours from the airport or train station. To be fair, some of this came down to poor planning on my part, such as entering a country without cell phone coverage.

In Nice, France, I booked a place that turned out to be in a mostly Arab/Moroccan neighborhood high in the hills where neither English nor French is widely spoken. It took me several hours to find the place. It was fine once I found it. The hosts turned out to be very friendly and even invited me to eat with them.

I’ve gotten lost in the outer suburbs of London, Paris, and Toronto trying to find the place. Once such experience was on New Year’s Eve during an extreme cold spell in the suburbs of Toronto.