Stylish Airbnbs to book in the UK
The other day I found myself dreaming of a time after lockdown and the freedom to travel again. With it seemingly unlikely that travelling abroad will be an option any time soon, I am coming to terms with the idea of a staycation in England this summer.
We are avid users of Airbnb because of the flexibility it allows when it comes to eating in on holiday. I would love to stay in a hotel but a lot of the time this isn't a feasible option for us right now financially, so Airbnb is the next best thing. The quality of Airbnb’s has really improved over the years as people see it as a good opportunity for a side income. With my annual leave building up at work while on furlough it seems that a road trip around the beautiful English countryside may be on the cards this summer. If we are going to stay in England then why not stay in stylish homes away from home. Below are four very different locations, all stunning in their own ways.
MODERN FARM BARN
This newly converted barn has been beautifully styled and well considered inside and out. Located on a working farm with a freshly planted vineyard this barn offers a cosy countryside retreat, with walks amongst the vines and an evening in the hot tub. This Airbnb is the perfect location for a couple looking for a getaway after lockdown.
Images: Farm barn via Airbnb
COTTAGE NEAR THE COTSWOLD
The home away from home experience! This country cottage is the perfect location for a group of friends or family looking to take some time out of the hustle and bustle of life. Situated near the beautiful Cotswold area this cottage offers privacy and countryside chic. At the heart of the home is a large cosy living room and kitchen perfect for your friends and family to cook together and play board games into the night.
Images: Cottage via Airbnb
CITY STUDIO APARTMENT
This fashionable studio apartment is inside the Whitworth Locke building which includes a gym, an open working space, coffee shop and restaurant. The colourful space has been crafted by the New York Design team Gryzwinski+Pons and is the perfect destination for a person or couple who is after a city stopover.
Images: Locke Studio Apartment via Airbnb
GARDEN STUDIO BY THE SEA
For a short weekend break this is a light, tasteful, and compact Airbnb. The space is small but colourful and relaxing, perfect for an evening in after exploring along the sea front or in the town of Whitstable.
Images: Garden studio via Airbnb
TOP TIPS BEFORE BOOKING
1. Read the fine print
Make sure the listed amenities fit what are you are after, wifi, hot tub, kitchen etc. We once brought pizza to cook back at an Airbnb, to discover it didn't have an oven, so even-though a kitchen is listed as an amenity make sure it has all the kitchen appliances included. Always check the number of bedrooms, the number of places that advertise that they can hold up to six guests yet only have one bed available is shocking. I don't know about you but I would not like to have to decide who gets the bed and who sleeps on a mattress on the floor!
2. Read the reviews
Make sure to scan through most of the reviews left, not everyone will leave reviews which gives you a good indication of how popular the place is and has been. The odd negative review is expected but you want to see if there are any familiar patterns forming. For me, if I see the same problem on two or three reviews that’s enough to put me off. It’s likely more than just two or three people have experienced this issue and not written a review about the property which means this issue could happen to you.
3. Don't get caught out by the cleaning fee and the service fee
Obviously, it goes without saying you want to go away and get the best value for your money. When I first started using Airbnb I used to narrow down the locations based on the initial price on the search results. However, once the cleaning fee and service fee have been added, you end up paying more than the initial advertised price per night. On my last trip to Amsterdam I looked at apartments roughly around a similar price per night, but made sure to assess the cleaning fee and service fee as different host charge different rates. Through doing this I actually figured out the apartment that looked cheaper initially was actually €100 more and outside of the centre of town. Meaning that not only would we would be paying more for the accommodation but also on daily travel costs. This does take time to compare each location, but is really worth it in the long run.
If we are going to stay in the UK for our holidays why not holiday in style with these beautiful airbnbs. I hope the guide helped!