How to find the perfect apartment rental for your vacation

I used to hate renting apartments from sites like Airbnb or VRBO. As a solo traveler, I prefer the social atmosphere of a hostel. You meet people, the hostels host events, and they are places you “should stay” as a backpacker.

When I do want somewhere other than a hotel, I use hotel networks like Couchsurfing, or simply stay with friends.

But after nearly two decades of living a nomadic life, sometimes I like my privacy and the ability to “create a home.” I love to cook and just relax on the couch and relax.

While apartment rentals often contribute to overtourism (more on that below), there are still plenty of real landlords renting out where they live.

Here’s a detailed guide on how they work, how to choose the perfect apartment, and how not to contribute to overtourism/upset the locals!

How does apartment rental work?

Apartment rental websites allow locals to rent out individual rooms, shared spaces or entire houses/apartments. Landlords list their locations online, post photos, write a description, hit publish, and, pretty soon, they can start making extra money using their unused space.

The booking process is just like booking any other type of accommodation online. You search the database, find a place you like, create an account and request a reservation. When the owner accepts, you will receive a confirmation letter.

Apartment rentals represent a space between a hostel and a hotel. If you’re traveling for business and want the comforts of home, you probably won’t stay in a hotel. But a hotel might be too expensive or impersonal for you. Renting an apartment is a perfect compromise.

Traveling with friends or a large group? This is definitely your choice. Cramming a group of people into a rental/apartment is much cheaper per person than a hotel or hotel room. Plus, you have room to stretch out and relax. Dormitories and cramped hotels don’t give you a lot of “me” time.

If you don’t want a full apartment but want to save money, Airbnb has a new feature called Rooms that lets you search for listings in people’s homes or hotels. It’s like what Airbnb used to be – people renting out extra rooms or hotels to make extra cash. You always have your own room and sometimes a private entrance. You can also interact with hosts who can provide many insider tips and insights into your destination.

I’ve used Rooms many times over the past few years in Los Angeles, Rome, Paris, Nice, and for me, as a solo traveler, it’s been a much better way to travel. I highly recommend doing this as a way to combat the negative effects of these platforms (more on that below). Also, since hotels have become more expensive over the years, rooms are often cheaper than hotels! You can stay and meet locals and save money! Win-win!

How to choose the right apartment

Unfortunately, as accommodation rentals have become mainstream, finding good landlords has become increasingly difficult. Many landlords now own multiple properties and live elsewhere. This means you often deal with the property manager and never interact with the actual property owner. Also, many of the apartments are actually not as nice as they appear in the photos. In order to find suitable accommodation, I followed the following criteria when looking for accommodation on these platforms:

1. Do they have positive reviews? – If others have lived there, had a great time, and found the apartment advertised, you probably will too.
2. Do they have multiple listings? – This is important because many people use these sites to work as property managers. They bought a bunch of apartments and re-rented them on Airbnb. I try to avoid these places because they cause a lot of problems for the local rental market and lack the personal touch that landlords have when renting out their own apartments.
3. Do they have accurate photos? – Any listing that doesn’t include lots of (high-quality) photos is probably hiding something (or at least misrepresenting the accommodation).
4. Are they active users or super hosts? – Active users are good users, so check when they last logged in. If it’s been a while, your query may have gone unanswered.
5. Has their calendar been updated? – While listings only show up in searches when available, hosts don’t always update their calendars. If someone hasn’t updated their calendar in 30 days, I tend to skip it. There’s nothing worse than going to book a place, only to have them cancel and say, “Oops, sorry, no seats available!”
6. Are they verified? – Verified accounts are less likely to be suspicious people because the listing site found at least some background information about them.
7. Have they been someone else’s guest before? – If they are someone’s guest and it goes well, they are likely to be reliable.

These rules are helpful guidelines, but ultimately, you have to follow your gut. I don’t need a list to hit all the points. I once had a host who only ticked these boxes, but she was my favorite host ever! Sometimes, in places where you don’t have a lot of hosts, you might want to be a little looser with this list.

But the more satisfying a place is, the more comfortable I feel when renting an apartment.

How to avoid overtourism
Over the years, Airbnb and other apartment rental sites have dramatically increased rental prices and squeezed out the locals you want to interact with as people began buying multiple properties to rent to tourists. This is a big problem.

In many places, including Lisbon and Venice, most locals can no longer afford rent. It’s not just cities. Rural areas are now also affected.

There have been outcry against Airbnb (and similar sites) in Barcelona. Across Europe, you’ll often see “Airbnb come home!” graffiti. Japan cracks down on Airbnb. New York City now has strict laws against this as well. Mexico City residents protest. Every day brings new stories about boycotts of these sites.

Considering the local resistance and the problems with overtourism and the real estate market, I would strongly recommend using Airbnb or similar services only when renting a room in someone’s house, especially in the big cities in Europe. As I mentioned above, Airbnb has a new feature called Rooms that allows you to easily search for rooms in homes where people actually live. They are proven lists and a better way to use the platform. It’s like what Airbnb was like before it got big – people renting out extra rooms or hotels to make extra cash. I highly recommend it.

However, if you can’t, try to make sure that the place you rent is either a licensed B&B (if it’s just for tourists) or someone’s house where they actually live. This way you won’t add to any local housing problems!

Help end overtourism. You have power. Don’t replace the person you want to visit!

Safety precautions

These websites operate on trust. All of these companies try to verify buyers and sellers to make sure no one ends up robbing anyone else, but you sometimes hear reports of sex parties, robberies, or creepy hosts.

However, apartment rental companies do offer a window through which you can get your money back if the listing you find isn’t as advertised. Just call their 24-hour hotline and they’ll find you somewhere else (you can also start the conversation via social media). They also hold your money in escrow so you can get your money back if the location isn’t as advertised. You never give it directly to the owner.

All types of accommodations have risks (cleaners can steal things from hotel rooms, roommates can take clothes from the hostel, couch surfers can get creepy), which is why these rules are important. I don’t think renting an apartment is safer than other options, and the benefits far outweigh the potential dangers.

Best website to find apartments for rent

I think these are the three best websites for finding apartments:

Another option for long-term travelers is house sitting and pet sitting. In exchange for taking care of someone’s property or pets while traveling, you can get free accommodation. This is a great option for slow/long-term travelers who want to stay in one location for longer. Check out this article to learn more!

When done right, apartment rentals are safe, affordable, and can help you have a more authentic experience. Use the tips above and give it a try on your next trip. You’ll save money, stay away from tourists, and have a better trip!

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