Gotskaya Tatiana, an exchange student from Russia. (Photo provided to China Daily)
I use Airbnb often as it helps me to find comparatively cheaper accommodation, which, in turn, generates leads to good friends. But people should be careful and read terms and conditions of hosts and be clear about the charges, to avoid disputes and negative experiences. When a friend from Zhejiang province visited me, I found a room in a Beijing hutong (traditional Chinese houses in narrow lanes). That helped a lot because the hutong oozed history everywhere, making us feel as if we were part of an era gone by.
Molly Xu, an internet company employee. (Photo provided to China Daily)
Compared to hotels, the room I booked through a home-sharing website was not only cheaper but afforded me a totally different experience. The host shared useful city travel tips. When I travel to Shanghai, I often book a room in the city's former French Concession. I pay attention to the decoration of a house. The Shanghai house I stayed in once had distinctive features and a long history. On another occasion, I booked a room in the US, but the rental website did not state the room was near a graveyard. When I reached there, the unexpected location took me by surprise.
Ruan Chenxin, legal worker from China. (Photo provided to China Daily)
I often use Airbnb when traveling abroad. I used it the first time for a trip to Miami with my boyfriend. Through Airbnb, we found an independent suite with an open-air balcony, which was just perfect to have drinks. The room was clean and lights romantic. Through Airbnb, you can find homestays, if you do not prefer to stay in hotels. When we went to Keywest, we found a local American family through Airbnb and had hearty meals with them.
Vitto Zhong, a researcher at a university. (Photo provided to China Daily)
When I traveled to Turkey, I used Airbnb to book accommodation. I stayed in an en-suite single room in a villa and paid no more than 300 yuan ($45) per night. I was very satisfied with the accommodation, and will use Airbnb next time. My comfort level was high as I could keep close contact with local residents. The host showed us around in the evenings and introduced us to tasty local food. The guests in other rooms were from different countries such as Japan and Russia. We all befriended each other and spent a lot of happy time together.
