Airbnb is probably the best way to find the perfect accommodation when you travel with your toddlers. You can find any type of accommodation on Airbnb, from renting a private room to booking an entire apartment that makes it convenient to travel with your family.
Unlike standard hotel rooms, many Airbnb accommodations often provide more space, making it a great platform to find a place to stay when travelling with toddlers who need more room to play and explore.
In this post, we will share some tips on choosing the best Airbnb accommodation when travelling with toddlers. From reaching out to your potential Airbnb host, to using their filter features to ensure that you book the most suitable accommodation for your family, here are some tips for booking the best Airbnb for your family holiday!
7 Steps to Selecting the Perfect Airbnb for Traveling with Toddlers
- Reach Out to the Host Before Booking
- Look for a Superhost
- Use the “More Filters” Function
- Find the Accommodation in a Family-Friendly Neighbourhood
- Research Thoroughly
- Check the Reviews and Ratings
- Consider the Flexibility of Check-In and Check-Out Times
#1 Reach Out to the Host Before Booking
While making a direct booking on Airbnb is possible, reaching out to the potential host before making a reservation is highly recommended to ensure that your accommodation suits you and your family. After all, your accommodation will be your temporary home during the holiday!
Contacting your Airbnb host before booking is also important, as some hosts often forget to update their accommodation status on the platform. There’s a chance that Airbnb shows that the accommodation is available even though it’s occupied, so they may have to reject your booking request, in which case it may take a few days for you to get the refund from Airbnb.
To minimise this inconvenience, you can contact your potential host to ensure the availability of the accommodation so they can invite you to reserve it. In addition, you can also ask specific questions or any concerns you may have before deciding whether the property is suitable for you and your family, especially when you travel with a toddler.
Reach out to your host and inquire about child-friendly aspects of the accommodation, so you can prepare to pack some childproof tools when needed. You can also check with your host whether an elevator is available at their accommodation for easy mobility, especially when using a baby stroller to get around.
#2 Look for a Superhost
Airbnb gives Superhost status to experienced hosts that have consistently provided exceptional experiences to their guests, so booking an Airbnb accommodation listed by a Superhost is the most recommended way to get top-notch accommodation for you and your family!
Superhosts on Airbnb typically offer well-maintained and high-quality accommodations. They’re proven reliable to meet your expectations to find the best Airbnb accommodation for your trip, and they’ve earned this status based on their previous guests’ experience of staying at their property.
You can expect professionalism and commitment to ensure a smooth and positive experience while booking accommodation through an Airbnb superhost. When travelling with toddlers, you may have specific questions or concerns that need to be addressed promptly, so what’s better than staying at a Superhost that can provide you with detailed information about what you need?
#3 Use the “More Filters” Function
Be more specific about the accommodation you need when travelling with toddlers by using the “More Filters” feature on your Airbnb app. You can filter all the recommended accommodations based on what you consider important for the accommodation.
For instance, you can set the budget accordingly so the recommended listings that show up will only include accommodations within your budget. When you travel with a toddler, you’ll most likely need your privacy and through this feature, you can check “Entire place” for the type of place suitable for your family trip.
In addition, you can also choose the specific needs for your accommodation on this “More Filters” function, including how many bedrooms or bathrooms you need in the property or whether you need some specific amenities to enhance your stay with your family.
As parents travelling with toddlers, you may want to consider booking an Airbnb accommodation with a kitchen so you can prepare healthy snacks and food for your children. You can also check extra amenities like a washer and dryer, which can be essential when travelling with a young toddler who isn’t potty-trained!
#4 Find the Accommodation in a Family-Friendly Neighbourhood
When travelling with your kids, booking accommodation in a family-friendly neighbourhood that offers convenient access to parks, playgrounds, or even supermarkets and restaurants can enhance your travel experience.
Choosing a family-friendly neighbourhood for your accommodation is also important, as the neighbourhood most likely prioritises safety which can provide a secure environment when you’re travelling with toddlers.
You can also consider the proximity to attractions or activities suitable for toddlers to make your stay more enjoyable. By doing so, you can save money on transportation, especially if all these attractions are within walking distance from your accommodation. On top of that, you can also allow your child to experience the local life while interacting and playing with other kids!
#5 Research Thoroughly
Choosing the best Airbnb accommodation for your family can be overwhelming, especially when looking for a place to stay in a popular city where so many options are available.
It can be overwhelming to find the most suitable accommodation through the listings on Airbnb, but you need to research thoroughly to find the best one for your family. Sorting out the best accommodation for your stay may take some time, especially when you travel with your toddlers.
Alternatively, you can create a wishlist before reaching out to the potential host in your destination. Go through the listings, and click the “love” icon on top of the accommodation you like and create a wishlist so you can sort it later when you’re ready to make a reservation.
Carefully read the description for each accommodation, and review pictures in detail so you can reach out to the potential hosts with appropriate questions to ensure there won’t be misunderstanding about the property before you complete the booking.
#6 Check the Reviews and Ratings
So you’ve read the description on the listing, and you’re sure the host didn’t forge the accommodation pictures. Before completing the booking, don’t forget to check the reviews and ratings to see what the previous guests had to say about both the property and the host.
Checking reviews before booking an Airbnb is essential, especially if you travel with your kids. Reviews provide valuable insights and firsthand experiences from previous guests, so you can make an informed decision before booking the accommodation.
Reviews given to the listing are usually unbiased feedback from the real guests who have stayed at the property, so you can rely on them to highlight their actual experience with the Airbnb accommodation to find out what to expect when you eventually decide to stay there.
While Airbnb listings usually provide details about the property, reviews from previous guests can confirm whether the information is accurate so you can minimise making a reservation for any accommodation with discrepancies according to the review. The reviews and ratings can also shed light on the safety and security of the surrounding neighbourhood, which can be crucial when travelling with young children.
#7 Consider the Flexibility of Check-In and Check-Out Time
All the listings on Airbnb usually state the check-in and check-out time, but if there’s anything you need to know about travelling with toddlers, it is that sometimes it’s difficult to stick with your schedule because of the circumstances surrounding them.
Consider reaching out to your host to see if there’s any flexibility for check-in and check-out time and whether there’s any additional charge for it so you can expect the possibility when it happens.
Toddlers thrive on routine and consistency. Staying at an accommodation with flexible check-in and check-out times can allow you to align your arrival and departure according to your child’s schedule. That way, you can plan your travel to accommodate their nap times or meal times to minimise disruptions in their routine which can help them feel more comfortable before the trip back home, especially when you need to travel on a long-haul flight with them.
Conclusion
Airbnb is one of the market leaders in terms of accommodation booking platforms, and it’s especially favoured by families travelling with kids as the app provides numerous family-friendly accommodations that provide space and amenities suitable for families with young children.
Choosing the best Airbnb accommodation when travelling with toddlers can be tedious, but it’s not too difficult if you can be vigilant when doing the research through listings and maintain great communication with the host before completing your booking.
So, are you ready to book an Airbnb accommodation for a trip with your children?
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