hostess of the mostess.
our stockholm airbnb.
i’ve been using airbnb for about five years now, and i’ve always had really wonderful experiences. and part of what made those travel stays great were the attentive, caring and thoughtful hosts i’ve had. in paris, i stayed in a five story walk-up in le marais, and the host lugged my heavy suitcase up all those winding narrow stairs for me. in amsterdam, my host left me his bike and tons of handwritten guides to the city. in venice, our hostess, sylvia was so amazing we created a hashtag for her: #whatwouldsylviado. she went the extra mile and about 10 more miles further than that. not only was her home stunning, our kitchen was stocked with pasta, fresh fruits & veggies, eggs, bacon, milk and everything else you could need to make a few simple, but delicious meals upon arrival, even wine. when you’ve been traveling long distances it’s these little touches that make all the difference upon arriving in a new place. in the past, i’ve rented my old apartment in san francisco out on airbnb with the permission of my landlord and i wanted to be the kind of generous host i’d been treated to in my own travels. i wanted to add those extra touches that make travel memorable and stress-free. and now, with my new home, i want to be that kind of airbnb host again.
sylvia’s amazing venice airbnb (above below).
when i was shopping for my new L.A. house, i was hoping to find a place with a small, private in-law unit available for family and friends to stay in when they visit. i also wanted to be able to supplement my mortgage payment with an airbnb rental and share my neighborhood with travelers from all over the world. one of the coolest things about traveling with airbnb is that my stays have always felt really personal. i’m not the kind of traveler that likes a lot of touristy places or agendas. i like to wing it — i like to feel like a local when i arrive in a new city. i love going to farmers markets, local bodegas, and flower marts, and having an airbnb rental feel as though i live there, albeit a short while, is important to me. it seems like the only way to really experience a city for what it truly is. so that’s what i’m aiming to provide as an airbnb hostess in my new echo park home.
the cozy amsterdam airbnb i stayed in.
being that kind of welcoming host that goes above and beyond is important to me. with the help of CB2, as you probably saw, we converted my empty private studio downstairs into a comfy, cozy place for guests to stay. and with hosting on airbnb in mind, i’ve added lots of extra touches i think my guests would like — things that i’ve learned as a longtime airbnb’r that really make my stays that much more special. i’ve added all the plates, cups, wine glasses and utensils I think my guests could need, as well as an electric kettle and french press coffee maker; a mini fridge stocked with sparkling and still water, coffee, and cream. when new guests arrive i’ll add fresh-baked goods, fruit and breakfast foods for their first morning. i’ve added a microwave and a case of microwave popcorn and a bottle of wine for late night snacks. i’ve added a martini shaker, cocktail tools and a small BBQ. i’ve even included a picnic table, umbrella and lush plants on their private porch.
our charming brooklyn airbnb.
i’ve also included down comforters and pillows and nice sheets, along with a few extra throw blankets. in the bathroom, i’ve included soft fluffy towels (not my old hand-me-downs) and some pretty Moroccan towels, too; some lovely body wash, shampoo and conditioner for their convenience; a hairdryer and also a small first aid and sewing kit. naturally there’s access to free wifi. in other words, hopefully i’ve made my airbnb rental as much like a home-away-from-home as they could hope for. it’s the kind of airbnb host i want to be, and the welcoming experience i’d like my guests to feel. i’m so excited for my first guests! i’ll let you know how it goes, and we’ll share an updated tour of my airbnb rental very soon.
my paris airbnb.
• this post in partnership with airbnb, but all thoughts, reviews and opinions are my own. i’m a proud hostess on airbnb!
