Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Apartment Rentals
One option for group travelers, or even people traveling alone but not interested in hostels, is apartment
rentals. Such rentals are apartments owned, furnished, and taken care of by someone else and that you rent
like a hotel room. People list an extra room, couch, or property they own and want to make money from. It's
like Couchsurfing, except you pay for it and get your own space. There are many companies in the world
that will help you find these apartments, such as:
9flats
(9flats.com): With about thirty thousand listings, 9flats has a good inventory that is
particularly strong in Europe but weaker worldwide.
Airbnb
(airbnb.com): The largest apartment website out there, with a strong inventory
throughout the world. It is the most popular and has the largest variety of room offerings.
Homeaway
(homeaway.com): One of the oldest and largest rental companies, with a strong
global presence and a focus more on renting whole apartments and houses than single
rooms.
Roomorama
(roomorama.com): An emerging company with a strong presence in Europe,
the United States, and Canada, with listings in more than three thousand cities.
Wimdu
(wimdu.com): Airbnb's largest competitor, with listings in more than one hundred
countries, they have the second-largest inventory in the world and have a strong focus on
small apartments, bed-and-breakfasts, and single rooms.
Apartment rental prices depend on a number of factors: distance from the city center, competition on the
site (lots of choices equals better prices), size, and amenities. Prices can be as little as $20 USD per night
or as high as $200 USD per night. Generally, a single room, near a train station, in a city center will cost
around $50 USD per night. Larger rooms for groups of three or more will cost from $100.
In order to book an apartment, after searching for and finding a place you like on one of the above web-
sites, you create an account (many of these sites use Facebook Connect and you can sign in with your Face-
book account), add your personal information, and book a place. The companies verify your identity and
credit card, then connect you with the apartment's owner, who either approves or disapproves you. If the
owner approves, your booking is confirmed.
Scams have happened in the past, and companies are now doing a lot of work to ensure that people don't
end up robbed, in places that don't look as advertised, or that owners don't end up with renters who steal
everything. Safety and security have become chief concerns over the years.
To ensure that your money is safe, payment is always made via the company website and never directly
to the property owner. The website holds the money for twenty-four hours after check-in, in case there is a
problem, the host doesn't show up, or something is not as advertised. If there is a problem and you leave,
the host does not get paid and you get a refund.
To ensure you are safe, these websites require property owners to have complete profiles, photos, and
verified addresses and to use their real name, provide telephone numbers, and have a credit card on file. Ad-
ditionally, they allow users to leave reviews of their stay and rate the property. Homeowners can get verified
by the companies with site visits. Just as with the hospitality and home exchange websites, these sites go to
great lengths to ensure that everything is aboveboard.
