how to stay safe with airbnb

On my recent post about Adeje, you guys were all so shocked about my Airbnb host and how they treated us, with y'all wanting advice on how to avoid having the same fate. Nearly being left stranded and homeless on a foreign island is something no one should have to go through with such a trusted home-sharing site, and so I feel as if I am now qualified enough to give you guys tips on how to avoid getting left in the dark like we were.

Make sure your host has good reviews and limited cancellations

The host that left me in the cold had many negative reviews, and, stupidly, I didn't bat an eye at the sheer amount of complaints they had. Not only that but half of their stays were cancelled last minute, meaning they were probably more focused on tax evasion than temporarily homing travellers. Don't feel too shy to contact past visitors to the host's home either if you're unsure about anything.

Communicate with the host (but only over the website)

My host ignored all of my messages, and then denied owning a place when we rang them - red flags everywhere! Make sure you keep in contact with your host with the days leading up to your stay, but never over alternative sites - especially when it comes to money.

READ THE DESCRIPTION AND LOOK AT THE PHOTOS

If the description is just "home to rent", I'd probably avoid it and go with a host who talks about their house and gives recommendations of the area. The dodgy host I stayed with literally had two photos, and they were smudged and awful, and basically no explanation about the location, things to expect, etc. Heck, we didn't even get a house number!

Follow other safety measures you would if you were staying in a hotel

Letting other people know where you are, keeping your passport somewhere safe, making yourself familiar with the fire escape, etc, are all things you should be doing anyway, regardless of whether you stay in a commercial hotel or a little cottage owned by a 94 year old. 

Just like any other aspect in regards to travel, there's always an element of danger going to be present. And like with all other aspects, there are ways to keep yourself safe. Don't be an idiot like I was, and make sure everything is in order before you book a last-minute flight to a foreign country.