We are currently staying in our 33rd (21st through Airbnb) home of our trip. We have stayed in a few hotels however for those of you who know our boys well they are not exactly quiet, staying in one room altogether for too long is just a little bit too intense for all of us.... Having our own place as a base in the different places we have visited has given us the ability to cook, do school work, explore the area and for the boys to be as loud as they want to be. I thought it would be time to write up a few things on what we love and what has caused us problems in our homesharing journey. The time we have spent at the different places varies greatly from 1 night to over 9 weeks but the factors that make it great remain constant.
Having a great host - some hosts we have only spoken to via Airbnb prior to arrival, others have been there to welcome us and others have been in constant communication (in person or whats app) during our stay. We have met some of the loveliest people who genuinely take an interest and go out of their way to help with everything. Communication before is vital to understand more about where we are staying, what is included and logistics, particularly when arriving at a new town or country. Local knowledge, hints and tips has helped us to work out what to do, how to ensure we are safe and also see the best parts of the place we are staying. Restaurants recommended by locals are always a must.
Location - this is something we haven’t always got right, often because we don’t really know the areas of the place we are visiting so we are making a guess based on price, reviews and TripAdvisor. Sometimes we have had a car, other times relied on buses or Uber. It’s worth taking more time to ensure the location of the home is close to places we want to see/spend time and local shops.
Cleanliness - to be fair most of the places have been pretty good, some have had dodgy bathrooms but that’s more about travelling in Central America - sewage smells are never great particularly in small spaces... we are pretty tidy and can now unpack quickly to make our new home our home. It is going to be strange once we are back in Bronte with all our ‘stuff’ we haven’t really needed.
Good beds - we have had some terrible mattresses, ones where Tim’s feet hang off the end and also where we are practically rolling off the bed. Pillows - now we are not fussy pillow people but there have been some bad pillows, small rocks, lumpy or just huge. To be fair the boys have become really adaptable about where they sleep, Archie still manages to find our bed in whatever home we are in and creep in in the early hours (more noticeable when you're in a small double). They don't like sleeping in a bed together as Dexter is a wriggler and Archie doesn't move, they just fight - normally this is when we are in a hotel room and there are only two double beds. Then we just end up with a kid each for a more peaceful night for all.
Extra bits - Certain things have become a must for us and most places have had them, coffee maker and a blender for sure. It is always good when drinking water or a water filter is in the home rather than us buying more plastic bottles of water. Some places include kids books and games which is great for the boys as the only things they have are what they can fit in their backpack and they are getting a little bored of them. We do carry some basic kitchen utensils such as bottle opener, grater and peeler as often they are not there or crappy, don't get Tim started on the pains of not having a sharp knife.
Silent air con and fans - they don't need to be silent just not sound like a train coming through your room (and work).
Space - this is tough as on the budget we are traveling on we can't be too picky, our minimum is to ensure we have 2 bedrooms and a decent eating space, outside area is a bonus but with the mostiques it's not always used. We also all need to all have our 'own space', alternative Tim and I alternate with who goes to the shops or just escapes on their own for an hour or two.
Washing machine - oh how I wish every place had one.... more likely don't than do but I'm getting good at weighing our washing and hunting down a lavanderia.
Wifi - Unfortunately without this it makes things hard, not just about connection to home or social media but also for planning what we are doing, what's apping to organise trips or things to do, downloading books for the kids, reading eggs, writing this blog, facetiming friends, doing our yoga app all need wifi. We have had many homes without wifi or really crappy wifi and we have all survived.....
Quality of reviews - in today's world when researching anything to buy, or places to go, or stay, reviews are key in making a decision. Totally true for picking where we will stay, has also made me think carefully about what I write - making it useful for the next guest staying, being truthful and clear to ensure not miscommunicated (or translated).
We have a few more places to stay in over the coming months, we haven't picked them all be we are certainly sure about what we look for now.
Pura Vida
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