You may have noted in my first Brooklyn Itinerary that we stayed at a AirBnB in Park Slope. AirBnB is a website that allows verified hosts to post their spare spaces for rent (beds, bedrooms, suites, and entire living spaces). Verified guests then apply to rent the space, and the hosts can accept or deny their request. To become a verified guest you have to submit proof of identity (I used a picture of my driver's license), and both guests and hosts have an opportunity to post public reviews that other people can read.
We've now used AirBnB to find housing four times, and we've had truly unique and pleasant stays at all of them. Even better, it often offers us a cheaper option that is closer to the attractions we're interested in (the beach or restaurants in San Juan, the Botanic Gardens in Denver, and the wedding in Brooklyn).
That said, AirBnB may not be for you if you don't like unique spaces, and specific postings may not be a good choice based on style, amenities or personality. We've found reviews to be accurate and specific, but I have made a choice that I don't apply to any spaces with less than 10 reviews, just so that I can get a better picture of what's available. Depending on the space, you may be sharing your accomodation with your host. We've really enjoyed this aspect, and gotten to know interesting people with great recommendations about their cities, but you may not. That said, every host I've met has been very respectful of private space, and seemed receptive to the amount of socializing we're interested in.
It's also generally not a traditional B&B setup, in that some sort of cold breakfast may or may not be offered, we have not come across any postings that offer a hot breakfast, and it's going to be decorated according to your host's personal style.
For us, AirBnB is a great resource to find cheaper, more interesting housing in the area that we want to stay. It's a good resource for people who are interested in alternatives to traditional hotels, especially if you enjoy meeting locals.
* I have not been compensated for this review in any way. AirBnB knows me only as another customer, and all opinions in this review are my own. *
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