How to Choose the Right Short-Term Rental
Introduction
As a digital nomad, my biggest and most important expense is usually my lodging. While I ideally spend most of my time outside exploring the city, I still work remotely from home, so having a comfortable place to stay makes a huge difference in my overall experience. I’ve stayed in some beautiful places, and others with quirks or problems that, in retrospect, could probably have been avoided.
Still, while it’s impossible to eliminate all the risk that comes with booking a rental before seeing it in person, I’ve developed a few methods that help me feel more confident in the places I book.
Know What You’re Looking For: Search Filters
The first thing I do when researching a new rental is filter my search based on my non-negotiables: a kitchen and reliable internet. Then I get a sense of pricing in the area I’m considering (including specific neighborhoods when that matters) and set a budget ceiling.
From there, depending on what’s available within my budget, I start adding additional preferences like a washing machine, air conditioning, or a balcony.
Certain platforms are easier for filtering results. I like Booking.com
because it often has cheaper options, but I find its filtering system a bit unwieldy, especially when trying to browse using the map feature. I find Airbnb much easier to use, though prices there are often higher.
Either way, my goal is to narrow my options down to three to five places based on amenities before doing a deeper dive into each listing.
*Free Cancellation
When I’m booking a trip far in advance, I prioritize places that offer free cancellation. Booking.com tends to have a lot of options with free cancellation and no upfront deposit, especially for users with higher loyalty status. I’ve had to change my travel plans plenty of times, and having the flexibility to change plans without losing money I’ve already paid is incredibly helpful. So while it’s not a necessity, it is a consideration.
Reading Reviews for Red and Green Flags
It goes without saying that reviews are one of the best ways to gauge whether a rental is actually a good fit.
Bad reviews are also an obvious way to narrow down choices. I tend to not take a single bad review out of a sea of raves very seriously. But multiple reviews mentioning the same issue — cleanliness problems, an uncomfortable bed, a bad location — are usually a stronger sign that a place isn’t for me.
I also tend to go a bit more in-depth. I search reviews for keywords like ‘internet,’ ‘Wi-Fi,’ ‘desk,’ or ‘kitchen’ and also look for reviewers that stayed for over a month. Even better are reviews mentioning remote work or saying the rental worked well for digital nomads. This can help me decide between 2-3 good options. After all, a place that works well for a week-long vacation might not work as well for a month or longer.
The other thing I always look for is reviews specifically written by women. Especially if I’m looking to gauge the safety and comfort of a location, I feel more comfortable hearing that other women found a place safe and comfortable, especially if they mention being a solo female traveler.
*If Rental Has No Reviews
Of course, if there aren’t reviews for a place, it’s up to your discretion whether you’re willing to take a chance on a place.
I usually have a rule against no-review stays, although it can be tempting when hosts offer a ‘new listing’ discount. If it’s in a place that I know well, I am more willing to take a gamble. If it’s somewhere I’ve never been, however, I err on the side of caution.
Messaging Hosts
Again, a standard course of action when booking a rental would be to message the potential hosts with any questions the listing didn’t already answer. I usually ask hosts whether they know the internet speed and explain that I’m a remote worker and need to be able to join Zoom calls during the week.
Even if the listing already answers my questions — for example, some hosts include internet speed test screenshots — I still like reaching out to see how the host responds. First, because there are a number of listings that are dormant, and getting no response early can save the frustration of discovering later that the listing is inactive.
Secondly, the way a host communicates is my first real vibe check. I once decided against a place not because the host wasn’t responsive but because they sent me about 13 messages in 10 minutes that included asking for my full name and passport number before they would accept my booking request (which I had not placed yet), and when I didn’t reply for a few hours sent a follow-up message that came across to me as passive-aggressive.
This was a host that had incredible reviews, including for their hospitality during guests’ stays, so it’s entirely possible that this person was in fact a great host. Still, intuition matters, and when you’re choosing between 3 good options, even a small reason to narrow down the list can be helpful.
Cross-Checking Different Platforms
Once I’ve decided on a place, I like to check that it isn’t listed anywhere else at a lower price. Some hosts post their rentals across multiple sites, often with different price points (because of the fees charged by the different sites, I assume).
I’ve saved hundreds of dollars by booking the same rental I originally found on Airbnb through Vrbo instead, and vice versa. Of course, this can also be helpful if you collect loyalty points on one platform versus another.
I’ve also had hosts offer to book off-platform to save on the hosting fees associated with platforms. I know people who have done this successfully, but I can also imagine the horror stories of scams or last-minute cancellations.
When I had a host cancel my Paris booking after it had already been confirmed and paid for, Vrbo support covered me for a new rental on their platform up to 1.5x the cost of the original. Having the extra layer of protection in case something goes wrong is worth the fee I pay for using a booking platform. To otherwise save money as best as possible, checking the different sites (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking, local platforms, etc.) has been the most successful route for me.
Conclusion
Finding the right short-term rental can be nerve-wracking. What’s worked best for me is doing as much research as possible and focusing less on finding the perfect place and more on finding one that works well enough.
I’ve stayed in some unfortunate rentals, ones with problems and inconveniences. Ultimately, though, none of them have been dangerous or truly unbearable, and when going from place to place, I’ve decided most things can be endured for a couple of months if it means getting to explore a beautiful new place.
This is what works well for me. It might not work for everyone, but hopefully it provides a useful starting point for anyone trying to choose a short-term rental with a bit more confidence.
