When we choose the place to stay online, the display pictures are one of the key tools that will sway our opinion. After all, a picture tells a thousand words. I’m writing some words that you may not have been able to decipher, the first time around, from that picture. It’s in the interest of an accomodation host (AirBnb or otherwise) to present the best version of their stay to potential guests. Here are some things I have found are hidden in the details of those pictures.
Drinking Water
Coming from inner suburbia in Australia, it took me some time to understand that not every house has drinking water accessible in the kitchen. It is not a given in every household in Malaysia, that the quality of the water from the kitchen tap is drinkable. Many households will make use of bottled water, water filters, or boiled water. I remember one time our AirBnb host actually had to write to us, telling us the water supply in the local region had some contamination issues. Our water was affected and you could taste the effects when brushing your teeth and showering.
My advice for AirBnb guests would be to check the pictures of your planned Stay, especially the kitchen. Do they have a water filter there as one of the amenities? If you can’t see it, check their amenities list or send them a message. It might mean that you have to pay a little extra, but both my wife and I think it’s totally worthwhile. Not having to constantly buy water for the duration of your trip saves time and money. Writing at the time of COVID-19, when many countries are exercising lockdown it also means you can stay inside for longer periods of time; you don’t need to keep going out just for bottles of water (which are in short demand anyway!)
Aesthetics
Everyone wants to love where they are staying right? It’s part of the joy of staying at AirBnbs, to stay in a house that has been lovingly designed and reflects the personality of the host. The choice of which place to stay is often affected by how much we like the look of the place too. For me, if someone has taken good care in selecting pleasant aesthetics for their house it probably also means they have carefully arranged the rest of the house for their guests.
Wallpaper and furniture finishings can be notoriously tricky to evaluate from a small picture. Wallpaper can really give a room it’s own character if the designs are correctly chosen. Well chosen wooden textures can make a room feel homey, but incorrect textures might make it feel cheap and tacky. I was only able to discover this once I sat down in the particular room and was forced to look at very plastic looking wood all day. I really enjoy seeing, whether the host is a minimalist or has a quirky taste, consistency amongst all the different choices. When all the wooden furniture in the room is the same, or when the metal finishings match the colours of the rest furniture, the stay becomes even more enjoyable.
Age of aesthetics and home things
Similar to the aesthetics are the age and functionality of the things in your AirBnb stay. Remember that the AirBnb pictures were probably taken when the stay and all its furnishings were nice and new. Who knows how many people have stayed at this place? It’s happened more than a few times that couches, shelves, and tables were much less sturdy than we thought; made of synthetic materials and held up by small legs or brackets. Be careful navigating these items and always make sure how strong something is before dumping your brimming suitcase on top of it. You may not be able to see it from the picture, but if there is a couch in the middle of the room, check if you can see the state of the cushions. We had a lovely blue coloured couch one time, but the moment we sat on it, we realised it was just the couch frame and very basic cushions underneath.
Likewise, the age of all these things might be very difficult to ascertain from online pictures. I feel this matters less for guests who are doing a weekend or one week stay. However for those of us who stay a few months a time, or perhaps are trapped due to your countries COVID-19 lockdown rules, things may become apparent that you hadn’t noticed before. Any furniture that is white is, unfortunately, is extremely susceptible to showing signs of ageing. This goes the same for bathroom and toilet facilities, although I’ve come to expect that these ares are going to look a little ‘lived in’. On this note, one horror story my wife and I had, we stayed a few days in an AirBnb stay and the bathroom sink looked days away from falling off. There were cracks all around the wall where the sink should’ve been connected, I had no idea how it was staying up! Another thing was our foot towel was very old, frayed, and had someone’s boot marks on it; I’d rather not have anything there at all! I will add, this was definitely a cheaper priced stay and you may say that we are equally to blame for choosing it.
Tissue paper usage & Kitchen ware
Again, for us who stay in AirBnb’s longer than a week or two, you may prefer finding places with cooking facilities. A stove or microwave can greatly decrease the amount that you rely on takeaway food. Something I have noticed is just how useful a box of tissues or a roll of absorbent kitchen wipes can be; it can’t be understated. It helps to clean up kitchen mess, and remove dust and dirt. Another thing you may consider having ready are some cutlery and kitchen ware (maybe a kitchen knife and chopping block); if you travel with only the pack on your back you may not find this practical, however these things are great for people with dietary requirements as well as well those who want a bit more independence. What is supplied may not be great so having your own functional utensils can help you cook at home and it also removes any chances of you ruining the host’s equipment. It may not be visible from a few nights stay, but after many washes and uses of a chopping board or plates, you may find you see just how old those things are.
I hope these things will help you in finding your next AirBnb stay; whether you are in the need for temporary housing during COVID-19 or planning your next holiday just helps take your mind off all that’s going on right now.
