Living like a local has never been easier. There are all kinds of sites like Airbnb out there offering you the chance to stay in local homes, quirky places and other unconventional sleeping quarters — all much more exciting than a hotel.
Here are just a few places where you can find your dream accommodation, be it a hilltop villa in Italy, a chic New York City apartment, a traditional ryokan in Japan or a cozy chalet in Whistler.
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Trade spaces in 187 countries with no limit to your swaps!
Gain access to more than 400,000 homes.
Earn GuestPoints by renting your home for savings on future stays.
Choose from a yearly or nightly plan.
Innclusive
A site that emphasizes diversity and inclusivity.
Reward system lets you earn money through referrals.
Available in 130+ countries.
Attend networking events to meet like-minded travelers.
Kid and Coe
The ultimate platform for kid-friendly accommodations throughout the world.
Partners with concierge services and baby equipment rental companies to ensure you’ve got what you need.
Personally reviewed properties ensure suitability for families.
Host or exchange your own home to earn discounts on future stays.
One Fine Stay
Curated abodes with luxurious amenities and a personal greeting on arrival.
Exclusive properties that meet high standards.
No booking fees at checkout.
Enjoy boutique toiletries, quality linens and 24/7 customer support by phone or text.
TripAdvisor Rentals
This user review and advice forum offers thousands of vacation rentals right on its site.
Compare vacation homes and hotels in one place.
Full refunds on misrepresented properties.
Homes, condos, cottages, rural retreats and more.
Tripping
Compare 10 million properties worldwide to save time and money.
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Are sites like Airbnb safe?
Yes, sites like Airbnbs are generally safe — as long as you stay with hosts that have a track record of happy guests. Also be sure to use basic street smarts, keeping your wits about you and looking for red flags like a host that doesn’t respond. Most Airbnb alternatives have a verification system so you can be sure that the person you’re staying with has been vetted by the site.
Like hotels, listings on sites like Airbnb get reviewed by previous guests, which are usually clearly displayed on each listing. For example, on this listing on Homestay, the host has an average of 5/5 based on 39 reviews. The green badge on the upper right corner means the host is verified by the company.
When looking for a place to stay, find a host that has a higher number of reviews — it will also likely mean they’re a more experienced host.
Similar to the green badge used by Homestay, Airbnb has “super hosts”, who have received five stars from at least 80% of their guests.
It’s also recommended to check the area that you’re staying in. Check online to see how far the stay is from the attractions you’d like to visit and check out Google Maps’ street view function to get a feel for what the local area is like.
Traveling during COVID-19
The CDC advises postponing travel to protect yourself and your family from getting or spreading COVID-19. If you plan to travel during the pandemic, monitor the risk assessment levels for your destination when planning your trip, before departure and on arrival. Follow safety measures that include wearing a mask in public, social distancing and washing your hands. If you are diagnosed with, have symptoms of or are waiting for test results for COVID-19 — or are otherwise at risk of illness — do not attend gatherings or travel for 14 days.
How do I pay?
Most sites act as a middleman between the guest and host and allow you to pay for your stay through their platform. This is also the safest way to pay, as it will offer a secure payment system and you’ll get a confirmation screen or email stating you’ve paid.
Like hotels, some prefer you pay up front when you make the booking, while others you’ll pay for closer to your stay date.
When you pay up front, it may take a day or two to process your booking as the host needs to accept your request to stay before your card is charged.
Planning a trip? Check out these deals from Airbnb alternatives
Each site like Airbnb has its own distinct flavor, whether you’re looking for entire vacation homes or just a room to borrow. After securing a spot to rest your head, find the cheapest deals on flights.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a site like Airbnb for boat rentals? Yes. Boatsetter lets you rent a boat directly from the owner in hundreds of locations around the US.
How can I book a private room within a house on VRBO? The key difference between Airbnb and VRBO is that Airbnb lets you rent rooms within houses occupied by other people. VRBO rents full properties only.
How many properties does Airbnb list? Airbnb advertises more than 7 million properties worldwide — more than any other homesharing site.
Alex Keshen is the global travel publisher at Finder and has been living, breathing and, of course, writing about all things travel for more than 10 years. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada and has appeared in Travel Weekly and the Huffington Post. A master of maximising her annual leave and finding the best bargains around, she can’t remember the last time her backpack weighed more than 10kg and is happy to share her tips and tricks to help you travel better.
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