Like Yelp, but for where you sleep and bathe!

I’ve been booking most of my accommodations for this trip through AirBnB, which is insanely cheap compared to hotel or even B&B lodgings. In most cases I’m paying roughly hostel prices for apartments (or, in the wealthier nations, B&B-style guest rooms). And that’s neat!

What’s weird is that there’s a bit of wild west-ism to the AirBnB market. Since these are private individuals typically renting just one room or flat at a time, there’s no such thing as a guidebook recommendation. Instead, you rely on photos of the place (if they don’t show the bathroom do not book) and previous guest reviews. Yes: you are at the mercy of Internet Reviewers, and as we have all learned from Yelp, Internet Reviewers are known for their sage and not-at-all-neurotic-or-insane preferences. Here, for instance, is a highlight from a recent search:

 

As with insane Yelp reviews, this is captivating because of the kernel of possibility at the core. Doesthe host fly off the handle? Does she sit in front of the TV waiting for her phone to ring, like a Hammer Studios monster brooding in front of a roaring fire? It’s possible, but maybe not worth making that assumption based on a user who’s threatening to sue over a couple of pairs of shoes. For an indecisive planner like me, this stuff is gold. I could weigh the pros and cons for months! Who even needs to go to Europe when I can while away the hours picking away at these questions?