Lydia Swinscoe, a solo travel expert, has offered nine tips for selecting Airbnb stays, based on her experiences across 76 properties since the platform's inception in 2008. Her advice covers various aspects, from ensuring personal safety to finding cost-effective options.
Swinscoe suggests that solo travellers prioritise flats and apartments above ground level, noting that ground-floor homes often have multiple entry points and windows that can make her feel less secure. She also recommends travelling off-season to avoid higher prices during peak times and weekends, which can lead to lower Airbnb rates.
For security, Swinscoe advises checking for strong inner bolts on doors, particularly with digital keypad entry systems, and messaging hosts before booking if these are not visible in images. When considering shared homes, she stresses the importance of vetting hosts by checking how long they have been renting, thoroughly reading reviews, and seeing if they have been reviewed by other Airbnb hosts on their own travels.
Other tips include scanning listings for details that align with personal interests, looking for guidebooks as a sign of a caring host, and securing Airbnbs with kitchens for situations where going out alone at night might feel unsafe.