Airbnb-in' All Over The World
my (affordable?) travel style + tips revealed.
Dear OG Readers ~ with all sincerity, thank you for being here. Dear New Subscribers ~ welcome! It is exciting to have you on board. The internet can be a strange place and it’s nice to keep it unique yet easeful together (and with newsletters). Substack is an enlightening, add free, bustling community and I am happy for it on a daily basis.
The writing prompt for this post came from a
collab where was interested in Detailed Inexpensive Travel For Families.I’d love to learn about realistic travel plans and hacks from real life travelers with their families (not the Instagram highlight reel version).
Hi Lori! A non Instagram highlight reel version is my jam!
I am not a luxury traveler. Though I wish! I don’t fly enough to always have points on hand to redeem, or airline status to boast. I’m not a beacon of upgraded levels. I don’t afford first class seats or pricey hotels.
I am a lover of exploring new destinations and I aim to go at it affordably (which feels like it is getting harder and harder to do these days!) I am typically seeking value for accommodations and flights.
I am not always in a budget based mindset when I arrive*, however, I can speak to inexpensive vs. costly destinations as something to be aware of. This way you can make a more informed decision about where to travel!
[How to spend less on accommodations]
Airbnb. I do love hotels, boutique or name brand, but I deeply love a good Airbnb. Traveling as a family of four an Airbnb is often the most affordable answer. A two bedroom apartment with living space, a kitchen, and laundry, is more practical for a family, especially for longer stays. When to book a hotel room? For my travel style and stage in life, a hotel room is preferable on a girls trip or a husband + wife getaway. These are typically expedited, not lengthy trips. a) the kids are at home, and b) no one is cooking or doing laundry!
When it was just Bob and I, we’d look to weight the options. Sometimes an Airbnb was of greater value — less money, yes, and it allowed us to stay somewhere remote, having an authentic lived-in experience, where a hotel might not even exist in the neighborhood. See Pandawa Beach + Sunnuhlíð Farmland, detailed below. Other times, a hotel feels laudable and still fair on price, like Cannery Pier in Astoria, Oregon, Retiro Maya in Tulum, Mexico, Alohalini in Waikiki, Hawaii (below) or AR 218 in Condesa, Mexico City.
If you can spend less per night on accommodations, you might justify staying longer. On a two week trip around Puerto Rico as a family we stayed at three different Airbnbs, enabling us to experience more of the island. If we stayed at the Fairmont San Juan, three nights might have been equivalent to our entire two weeks! A longer stay gives a more enriching visit to a new place. And more time to bond as a family outside the grind.
In the heart of Old San Juan we stayed here and loved it.
Our Airbnb in Rincon (below) was a favorite. This West Coast town was enchanting and laid back. Grocery store visits and meals out were not expensive. Beach parking everywhere is free.
[How to spend less on flights]
Flexibility. To state the obvious, (but maybe not) it is generally easier to be flexible when you don’t have kids or when your kids are little. Be amenable not only regarding travel months and dates to fly when prices are low, but be flexible on your destination! Really! I’ll explain what I mean.
We were ready to book a family trip for a post Christmas / New Year beach getaway. Our friends had a spot picked out (St. John) and a beachfront room with our families name on it. All we had to do was book flights to St. Thomas (none were direct), a rental car or a shuttle (keeping car seat installation in mind), and a ferry to St. John. That is a travel challenge I was up for. Game Changer: flights were upwards of $2000 each. It will come as a surprise to no one, this was not a price we were willing to afford for a logistical challenge so great. If you told me flights were $800 each, I’d probably put in the work with a layover, rental car, ferry, toddler, baby. We didn’t give up, this family was taking a vacation! We found direct flights to Turks & Caicos (what a breeze!) for a low low price on Jet Blue. We still got that holiday beach vacation, even though we had to bail on our friends (they had a family member in line for the room), and at a destination we were more than happy to explore!
A different example of destination flexibility. We were planning our Portugal trip and discovered round trip flights from Boston to Porto (with a layover in Madrid) were half the cost of direct flights from Boston to Lisbon. Porto was not on our initial itinerary and while we decided to add it based on affordable flights, to not visit Porto while in Portugal would have been nonsense! (It is phenom!)
Finally, don’t be fooled by the notion that you should wait to travel until your kids are older, wiser, easier. It won’t be less expensive! If you are daunted by all the logistics / mechanisms / what have you with littles, start here. (If you want a more in depth post on travel with infants + toddlers, let me know.)
I’m not even talking about lap infant status, but that is certainly a good reason to save $. [I’m preferable to a baby having their own seat for long flights. The value there is overnight flight sleeping. (Baby is in their car seat.)] I genuinely love the flexibility you have with babies and toddlers regarding dates and days. So, if you are considering it, I say, book that trip!
It is not always about spending < less per se but about the value + of the spend. If you feel good about the value, your travel mindset shifts!
So yes, I am a lover of Airbnb. Over the years I’ve felt really fortunate to land at some precious, unique, stunning, humbly shared homes.
Here are 5 of my favorites to inspire your wanderlust — your nudge to GET. OFF. THE. WELL. WORN. PATH without spending frivolously. (I don’t know why I am yelling). I guess because I believe if you put in the extra effort, you will be rewarded beyond your wildest [dreams, aspirations, hopes, expectations].
Tiny Home in Akureyri, Iceland | Airbnb Link
Calm Alfabudin energy in a Northern Icelandic dreamscape. You are a 12km drive from the cool city of Akureyri — “the capital of North Iceland.”
Il Rosolaccio in San Gimignano, Tuscany | Airbnb Link
Under the Tuscan sun directly on a vineyard. Accommodations don’t get better than this. Ever? Il Roso included breakfast and a 3 course dinner, plus waitresses who doubled as Camden’s babysitters. (They adored baby Cam and would take him right out of the highchair to play!) I love how laid back Italian culture is!
Casa Cla in Praiano, Italy | Airbnb Link
The Vettica side of Praiano is Amalfi Coast dreams come true x 1000. Skip the Positano madness next door and see how the locals do it in Praiano. Shopping at the market felt neither expensive nor inexpensive. It felt exactly right. This is Italy after all.
Modern House at Pandawa Beach in Nusa Dua, Bali | Airbnb Link
This secluded home is an architectural wonder while the private stretch of beach here is beyond. Grocery shopping in Bali was not expensive, which I’ve documented in the form of local beer, a giant Babybell cheese, crisp wines, and spicy ramen noodles! We also stocked the house with lots of tropical fruits.
Gora Bali Villa in Ubud, Bali | Airbnb Link
Your oasis wonder wall behind the streets of Ubud. All the roads that lead you here are bustling. The villa is tucked next to a rice paddy and comes with caretakers who cook you breakfast every morning! (They cook it next door and deliver it through the garden gate.)
We will do a fair amount of research on reviews, relative location, comparison to hotels, and to other Airbnb homes in the area. So my recommendations are not on a whim! To decide on accommodations is a big check mark in a trip planning step. To then have them surpass expectations is validation you’re onto something!
[Destination Spending + how to save even further]
Keep in mind on the ground affordable destinations. Do your research on more than just exchange rates. I remarked above on local grocery shopping and/or meals included in international Airbnb settings, so when budgeting you can think about how this might help you save money. I’ll share a few more examples.
I was astounded grocery shopping for basics in Turks & Caicos, like kids snacks, milk, wine. A stick of butter cost $12. The memory of that tiny price tag cuts deep as I placed the butter back on the shelf. T&C was on the pricy side for food and drink in Grace Bay and Turtle Cove areas of the island.
On the ground in Bali is inexpensive. My biggest Travel Tip for Ubud (we went in 2017) was: Do not book any tours in advance of arriving. A lot of tours marketed online in USD are majorly overpriced. It is super convenient when there in person to find a driver working for a local, legitimate company; there are stalls along most main streets in Ubud. Our drivers were hospitable to whatever we needed transportation wise during our stay, along with new suggestions for where to visit. I found everyone to be incredibly patient, punctual, reliable, and they could easily customize any kind of itinerary you wanted for the day on a whim! I wrote about Ubud here and here.
Portugal in 2023 was very affordable. (Which was a pleasant surprise.) I remember looking back at a credit card statement thinking, it costs us less dining out every meal, than at home just based on regular grocery shopping. Most out to dinners clocked in around $75 USD. There was one Lisbon dinner spot that was slightly over $100. Grocery stores were jaws drop affordable, we did a big haul at Lidl in Lagos, a popular beach town. Bottom line: Portugal is affordable for families!
Below: eating cockles in Nazare. A Deriva Beach Bar was a $33 lunch (small plates for the kids, two mains, draft Super Bocks!)
Yes, I am talking specifics with destinations I have been to but budget minded travelers should apply the cost of living / cost of traveling idea universally.
*Circling back to the top of this post, I don’t mind a splurge for a fabulous experience. I might want to dine at a Michelin Star if the opportunity presents! And then, even with Airbnb kitchens and light groceries, we’re probably going out for most meals, and lots of cocktails! We’re also shopping — my kids can have a new toy if that’s what keeps them entertained at a nice out-to-dinner. Or if they are not with me, I want to buy them a little something.
I’ve jumped all over the map ;) with these real life examples! I hope that my travel approach and tips feel realistic. This is one of my favorite things to write about.
Affording what the airlines dictate without searching high and low for a decent flight is just not my reality when flying with four. And sure, I want to be pampered at a luxe 5 star resort, but then I’m lulled by the value of locality, and length of stay.
What’s your travel style?
Do you travel affordably or go big and splurge? What do you save on vs. spend on?
If you have affordable travel tips or destinations you love for families, please share them in the comments! (I would love ideas for where to adventure next with the boys!!)
Oh and finally, if you have been to Budapest or Vienna, a call to share your favorite spots with me below. Thank you in advance!!
I LOVED reading your article here and perusing the photos. They were so warm and vibrant and I went on a miniature mind-vacation! :)
You really capture the energy and spirit of the places you travel to. My husband and I took our kids on a vacation in March to St. Croix and loved the island. We stayed at "The Buccaneer" - highly recommend if you're ever looking to travel to that area. :) They have great childcare there too, so we were able to "honeymoon" in the mornings and be with our children for the afternoons/evenings.
Wow! Thank you for sharing your experiences and your beautiful photos! I, too, am an Airbnb lover and love the reminder to go off the beaten path. Exploring local food and culture, eating simply, enjoying the new surroundings are all up my alley. I truly appreciate your tips and you have given me lots to consider (especially flexibility in flights, how to source food inexpensively, and waiting to plan side excursions). Can’t wait to continue to follow your adventures and plan my own!