Home Away From Home with Airbnb

Because we travel so often, and because hotels can get expensive very quickly, Airbnb has become our go-to when it comes to finding lodging. For our recent Europe trip, we knew that being gone almost three weeks meant we had to balance our budget and not stay in hotels every night. Plus, when you're traveling for long periods like that, being able to stay somewhere that's a bit more home-like and offers the ability to cook a meal or lounge on a couch is really nice. And we love the way staying in an Airbnb apartment or house puts you right in a local neighborhood, giving you the feeling of living like a local and being much more personal than a cookie-cutter hotel.

Founded in 2008, Airbnb is a collaborative hospitality service, offering worldwide rentals. Whether you're looking for a long weekend getaway or months-long rental, you can find it here. The homes are privately owned, and each host sets their own rates and rules for their place. It can actually be a little overwhelming, especially if you're staying in a big city. So I thought it might be helpful to share a few tips on my own methods of finding that perfect Air BnB for every vacation.

Research:
Once you've figured out your destination, do a little research on neighborhoods and where exactly you'd like to be. You can google "best neighborhoods in X city" and find out a lot, with info on things like transportation, shopping and crime statistics. You might want a certain part of town based on sights you want to see, or something close to the airport if you just have a quick layover. Websites like Trip Advisor, Yelp and Travelocity can provide reviews of certain areas, things to do and the best restaurants in any given city. It just depends on what you want for your particular visit. When we were in Rome, we knew we'd only be there a couple days and we wanted to be close to Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps,  two sights I really wanted to see. So we made sure to look in neighborhoods that were within walking distance of these places. The apartment we chose was so cute, and in a great location. We were also literally steps from the Pantheon!

 

Set your price point:
Like most of us working peeps, we travel on a budget. I try to keep our nightly rental costs as low as  I can, without it meaning we'd have to sleep on some strangers couch. Depending on our destination, I usually set my maximum price between $100-150 a night. I've also found that sometimes it's worth it to nudge that price point up to the next level. Increasing your budget by as little as $25 a night can sometimes make a huge difference in the caliber of rentals that open up. On our recent trip to Barcelona, we were having a tough time finding a place we liked, so we bumped the price point up and ended up finding a place just $10 more per day than the original price range we'd been looking at:

 

Look at that view! In regards to price points, keep in mind that prices can fluctuate and even the price you see when you first look on the website can vary. Always click on the link to a place you're interested in, because the price shown tends to be an "average" price. When you click on the link to a place, the actual rental price is often at least a few dollars cheaper than the "average" price shown on the main page.

Set your filters:
Do you want a one bedroom or two bedroom? Apartment, condo, house? Certain amenities you can't live without? Do you want to share space (yep, you can rent a room, super affordable and a great option for solo travelers!) or have the entire home to yourself? You can select a myriad of filters to accommodate your individual preferences. We aren't co-habitators by nature (well, except with each other!) so I always make sure to set my filter to "entire home or apartment". Depending on where we're going, I also might set perimeters for things like a pool, full kitchen, washer-dryer, etc. Each rental will have a list of amenities, including things like kitchen supplies, bedding and hair dryers. The place we chose in Madrid, another really nice, central location, did mention that guests should be able to climb stairs. What wasn't mentioned was that these stairs were kind of the stairs of death...

But look at the adorable balcony and amazing view we got!

 

 

Check out host reviews:
While I don't base my decision 100 percent on travelers reviews, I definitely read them and consider them when booking a place. Having worked in the travel and hospitality industry for many years,  I totally get it that you can't please everyone and sometimes people are going to complain no matter what. But I do take note of those reviews that might say a host was very hard to communicate with, or a place that was less than clean, especially if there are multiple reviews that say this.

Follow the Rules:
Be sure to read all the rules and regulations as listed by the individual hosts and abide by them. It's important to remember that you're often in an apartment building, and there are other people living there. If a host says no noise after 10pm, that's what they mean. If they ask you to please take the trash to the curb when you leave, show respect and do so. We always try to make a point of leaving a place as clean as when we went in (sometimes cleaner!) and as an Airbnb guest, you should also remember that those reviews go both ways. Hosts can review their guests and if a host leaves YOU a bad review, other hosts might not want to rent to you.

Airbnb has opened up a whole new world for travelers, making accommodations more affordable and convenient than ever before. While we love our stints at great hotels, using Airbnb helps us keep our travel costs down, which means more money for our other favorite things in life; wine and food!!

Gondolas and Grandeur in Venice

Visting Venice, Italy has long been on my short list of "must see" places. I'd been to Italy once before, but didn't make it to Venice on that trip. Oh, and I've been to Venice Beach, California lots of times! Much as I love it, not the same, folks, not the same. LOL.

Anyway, when B and I were planning our big European adventure for this fall, I knew Venice had to somehow make it on the itinerary. I had to see the canals, explore the cathedrals, experience the art and find out if all my romantic dreams of the city were really true. Little did I know, B had even bigger plans (more on that later!) I was really excited when he told me we were staying at the hotel Ai Cavalieri, which is located just off the Grand Canal. The website assured luxury and privacy, while still offering the convenience of being near the major tourist sights.

We arrived in Venice via the train from Rome, and it was initially a bit chaotic as we made our way from the train station to the taxi stands. Of course, being Venice, taxis are really water taxis, which is pretty much one of the coolest things I've ever seen. The only unfortunate part of the water taxi ride was the cost. I think it was about 70 Euros, or about 82 dollars U.S., which is a big chunk of change! There are also water buses there, but we were tired and just wanted to get to our hotel, so we opted to bite the bullet and spend the cash.

As we journeyed along the canals, I was already overwhelmed by the beauty of the place. My first view was of the art installation by Lorenzo Quinn. Titled "Support" and created for the 2017 Venice Biennale, this giant pair of hands makes a statement about the effects of climate change and rising sea levels on the city.  I'd seen some pictures of it before we arrived, but seeing it in person took my breath away.

Our taxi dropped us at the entrance to the hotel, and we walked in, immediately immersed in opulent, yet classy decor. Chandeliers led us to the front desk, all of it making me feel like I'd stepped back in time and in this time period, I was royalty. Rich red carpets, beautiful Murano glass lighting, I couldn't stop looking around and we hadn't even seen our room yet!

 

The front desk staff checked us in quickly and professionally, patient with our questions about the city and offering us a map to help us get around. To be honest, I'm not sure a map in Venice is even worth carrying. You will get lost. Yes, even with your phone and google maps. Venice is a twisty, turny and downright confusing city, so just accept that if you go there, you will end up lost somewhere in a narrow alleyway. Hopefully, it will be an alley with a wine bar, because that became our go-to solution when we got lost. Just have more wine!

Anyway, back to our lovely hotel. Just like the review and website information promised,  Ai Cavalieri is located close to all the major attractions while being far enough off the main drag to be quiet and peaceful. Our room was, quite simply, incredible. Beyond incredible.

Lush bedding, marble bathroom, more beautiful Murano glass everywhere, my true princess self came out in full force and I probably would have been happy to sit in the room for the entirety of our stay.

 

 

The hotel has a small, exclusive bar, called "The Bat Bar", where you can enjoy tea and cookies in the afternoon and receive a complimentary appetizer plate with your drinks. It was never crowded there, and we found it a really nice space to relax in the afternoons and evenings after being out and about.

 

They also serve a complimentary breakfast, and I am happy to say this is nothing like the bagels and coffee breakfasts of other places. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast, yogurt, cereals, fruits, there are options for everyone. You can even purchase additional breakfast items from a separate menu if the free stuff doesn't suit you (although I can't imagine why anyone would do this!) I had two delicious cappuccinos every day (yes, complimentary!) and ate way more breakfast than I usually eat! The staff at the bar and daily breakfast were top notch, never letting a dish sit on a table or a coffee get cold.

While the hotel itself is phenomenal and the location was perfect, it was really the service that made our stay so memorable. Friendly, helpful, yet never intrusive, from the front desk to the bar to the housekeeping staff, every person working there took obvious pride in their job, and never made us feel like we were asking too many questions or bothering them. They helped us arrange a trip to the Murano glass factory, made restaurant suggestions and went over directions repeatedly to help prevent us from getting lost (we still got lost...)

The pinnacle of all this was the surprise B had up his sleeve. With help from Olga at the front desk, he organized a gondola ride for the two of us that took me places I'd never imagined. You see, ever since I saw the movie "A Little Romance" when I was 14 years old,  I'd dreamed of Venice. Legend has it that if you and the one you love kiss while riding a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs, just at Sunset, your love will be eternal. My romantic heart has always loved the idea, and now that we were in Venice, I really wanted to take that gondola ride.

The weather was iffy and for awhile it didn't seem like it was going to happen. I went up to the room while B talked to the front desk about it, figuring my gondola ride might have to stay in my imagination at this point. Then B came up to the room and said, "The gondola is coming in 10 minutes, get ready!" I quickly got dressed and we went down to the lobby, where our gondolier for the night, Nic, was waiting. B had asked the hotel if we could purchase a bottle of prosecco for the ride, and it was waiting for us in the gondola on ice.

Nic took us around the city, chatting with us and telling us some of the history. An eighth-generation gondolier, his love for both his job and the city of Venice was apparent as he told us about the history of the canals, took us by Marco Polo's house and talked about daily life in Venice.

Just as I'd hoped, we came upon the Bridge of Sighs near sunset. As we started to go under it, I was snapping pictures and gazing up at the wonder of this beautiful piece of history. B nudged me. "Aren't we supposed to kiss?" he said. "Oh!" I laughed, "yes!" I kissed him and told him I loved him. He said he loved me too, then paused for a moment, reaching into his pocket.

"I thought this might be a good time to ask you..." he said. And that's all I really heard, because I was blinded by the gorgeous diamond and aquamarine (my birthstone) engagement ring that he was holding up!

When I stopped crying long enough to say "yes" I saw that there was a crowd of people standing on another nearby bridge, watching the whole thing. They all started shouting "yes, yes yes!" cheering when B shouted back "She said yes!" and Nic started singing an Italian love song for us. I don't know that I've ever had a more perfect moment in my life, or felt more loved. To have someone create this just for me, based solely on my childhood memories and dreams, knowing that B had and does listen to everything, hears me, knows me, how could I have said anything other than a resounding yes?

We returned to the hotel where the staff was waiting and Olga breathlessly wanted me to "tell her everything" about the proposal. They were all genuinely thrilled for us, and it felt like we were coming home rather than just coming back to a hotel. B had also talked to them about a celebration dinner (he was pretty sure I'd say yes!) and they had set up a reservation for us following the gondola ride for dinner at a nearby restaurant that was amazing!

Hotel Ai Cavalieri not only made our stay in Venice even more perfect than it already was, they touched our lives on a personal level that I won't soon forget. We're already planning to return to Venice for our anniversary at some point, and there's no doubt in our minds as to where we'll stay.

Venice is a beautiful, magical kind of place. It's forever become part of our story. Hotel Ai Cavalieri is part of that story too. And for just a little while, I was able to feel like I'd stepped into one of my favorite fairy tales, finding romance under the Bridge of Sighs and the stuff of dreams in a hotel fit for a princess.

Windmills and Wine in La Mancha

When we decided to include Spain in our recent Europe trip, I knew that I had to figure out a way to see the historic windmills of La Mancha. Like most high school students, I'd read the book by Miguel de Cervantes and I've always wanted to stand in front of those windmills and see if they were really the "monsters" that Don Quixote thought they were.

Since windmills alone weren't going to be enough to convince B to make the long trek from Madrid, I decided to set us up with a wine tour as well. I came across the Winebus tours via TripAdvisor. They were highly rated and had dates available for the time we were going to be in Madrid, so I decided to go ahead and book the tour.

We met up with Ignacio, the owner and our guide for the day, at a nearby hotel lobby. He said we had ended up being the only ones to book that days tour, which he assured us was a good thing as it gave us a bit more time and the chance to expand the tour a bit if we wanted. I should add that many tour companies charge an additional service fee if the tour ends up being smaller than planned, which Winebus did NOT do. We were charged 140 euros each and there were no hidden or additional charges tacked on.

Our first stop was not part of the planned itinerary. "Since it's just the two of you, would you like to see a castle?" asked Ignacio. Our answer was a resounding yes and we stopped in at Castle Belmonte for a few minutes. This is a well-preserved site, chock full of history. Built in 1456, the castle was a fortress during the Castilian Civil War and takes you back in time the minute you step inside. We only had a few minutes for photos before we had to move on to our next destination, but this is a place I added to my list of "must come back here" places the next time we are in Spain.

Back on the road, we headed to our first winery, Finca Antigua.  Located in the town of Los Hinojosos, between Cuenca and Toledo, Finca Antigua is the perfect blend of modern winery and natural landscapes. The owners have worked hard to make sure that the natural vegetation and animals in the area aren't disturbed (we saw several varieties of birds and some adorable wild rabbits!) while each vineyard section is cultivated to make the most of the grape varietals. We enjoyed a walk through the vineyards and a very informative tour of the winery, culminating in a wonderful tasting at the end! Of course, we couldn't walk away without a purchase, and all the wines were very reasonably priced.

 

 

After all that lovely wine, we need sustenance! Ignacio took us to lunch at Las Musas Restaurante, which features mediterranean food and sits at the very feet of the giants I was seeking...windmills! I was entranced with both the windmills and the delicious food, as well as the views all around us. We even got to take a little tour of the windmills themselves, many of which have been restored to their original working order!

 

Lunch was leisurely and relaxing, and soon we were ready to check out another winery. So we hopped back on the highway and made our way to El Vinculo winery. Featuring limited-production fine wines, El Vinculo is one of the premiere wineries in the area. We enjoyed a tasting of several wines and again, walked away with a bottle for ourselves!

 

 

As we made our way back to Madrid, Ignacio said he had one more thing to show us. The amazing windmills of Consuegra. These windmills highlight some of the best examples of the windmills of La Mancha, sitting on a hill just outside the town and offering a breathtaking view. The sun was just starting to set as we walked around these immense beasts, and I could see for the first time just why Don Quixote thought they were worth battling.

Ignacio's tour was very informative and I was impressed with his knowledge of both his home city of Madrid and the surrounding townships. The Winebus tour was one of the more professional tours I've been on, yet was also always casual and friendly, never stuffy or boring.  It's definitely something I'd consider again when we return to Madrid someday.

Don Quixote never conquered the windmills. Time and disrepair didn't conquer them either, and they stand today as a testament to Spain's history. If you ever want to go tilting at windmills while sipping a bit of wine, consider the Winebus tour during your stay in Madrid! As Ignacio said, "It's an adventure, with a glass of wine in hand!"

Footloose and Fancy Free - Packing for Any Trip!

I dont know about you, but when I travel, the last thing I want is to be weighed down with giant suitcases, schlepping luggage to the airport, dragging it off the baggage carousel and then trying to cram it into the taxi or rental car, all for the purpose of bringing a bunch of stuff I probably didn't need in the first place! I don't see the point of it, and while I might sometimes check a bag on my way home from a trip (if the shopping was especially good!) I almost never check luggage at all. I've got a few tried and true tips on packing for travel, and since I'm gearing up for a multi-country adventure next week, I thought this might be a good time to share them.

First off all, it's important to have the right suitcase. I've had the same trusty Samsonite for 15+ years, and while it is overdue for replacement, my indecisiveness has left me using it one more time for this trip. I've been chatting with a few luggage companies about getting a new bag, but for now, it's what I got.

I love this suitcase because it a) fits in the overhead of most air carriers, b) has a zip out expander and c)fits in the overhead! I prefer fabric suitcases over hard-sided, mainly because there seems to be a bit more "give" to fabric bags, making it easier to fit everything into it. I also love that this is a 4-wheeled bag. I'm telling you, once you try the 4-wheely, you will never use those unstable two-wheeled rollaways again! I also got this great shoulder bag by Amolar, which not only has room for your laptop and other flight essentials, but has a convenient sleeve that allows it to fit over your bag handle. Makes walking through airports a breeze! Both these bags are roomy enough that you can fit everything you need, while still remaining in compliance with the "One bag, one personal bag" rule on most airlines.

Now that you have the perfect bag, make a packing list. I'm an obsessive list-maker and when I'm planning a trip, I find it incredibly helpful to make a comprehensive list of everything I want to bring. Nothing gets left out, from party dresses to underwear, it all goes on the list. I also make note of any special events or tours we might be doing that can require a specific outfit. If  I know we'll be going to a fancy dinner, I make a note to bring a dress for it. Or if we have a hike planned for our trip, I make sure to add "hiking clothes" to my list. I divide the list into clothing items, toiletries, and "other" such as my laptop and headphones. Everything I am taking goes on that list!

Once I have an idea of what I want to bring and what kind of clothes I'll need (is this a beach vacay? Business? A tour? What's the expected weather? What are the cultural norms for dress?) then I start sorting through my closet. I try to stick with comfortable clothes that don't wrinkle and can be rolled up. Most of us who travel often know that rolling items is the best space saver, and lighter clothing items roll better than bulky ones.

 

Layering is key, as well as picking clothes that can be mixed and matched or work for dual purposes. My workout shoes can double as walking shoes on days we plan to be out sightseeing all day. A cute skirt can be paired with a casual tee and sandals, then segue to something fancier with the additional of a silky top and some jewelry. Try to stay with colors that all go together if you can. Your pink and blue striped palazzo pants might be cute, but will they go with more than one top? Sometimes you have to make the sacrifice and leave a favored item at home.

 

For us fashion-conscious girls, shoes are always problematic. I've found that boots are usually just a no, with the  exception of ankle boots, which have thankfully stayed in style this season. I have a pair of black booties that pretty much go with everything, and if I'm short on space in my suitcase, I simply wear them on the plane. Sandals and slip on flats are also my go-to, as you can slide them into a corner pocket without taking up space.

It's also important to remember that with the advent of Airbnb, doing laundry is as simple as making sure the place you book has a washer-dryer. This can really help stretch your luggage contents, plus its just nice to have a few freshly laundered pieces.

If shopping is your thing and you're worried about all the cool finds you won't be able to live without, consider a small collapsable travel bag. There is a wide range of duffles and shoulder bags that fold up for travel, some smaller than a wallet and easy to toss into your suitcase to use as an extra bag later. Check out a review of the 14 Best Foldable Travel Bags for tons of options.

So many times I hear people complain that they ended up bringing far more than they needed for their trip. I think we forget sometimes that in today's modern world, even smaller towns tend to have drugstores and shops. It's really not that hard to pick up a toothbrush or an extra t-shirt if you forget something.

But more than anything else, remember that when you travel, it's not about the stuff. It's about all that you can see, all that you can do, all that you can experience. So lighten your load and make your travel a little freer by streamlining your packing process and leave those unnecessary extras right where they belong - behind you. You won't miss them and you won't need them, I promise.