In my recent trip to Croatia and Czech Republic, I stayed in Airbnbs in Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvice and Prague and fell in love with them. Here are my tips and suggestions for using Airbnb in Europe and why you should be staying in Airbnb in Europe on your next holiday.

Sunset in Dubrovnik

There is a joy that cannot be explained as you are lounging in your night wear, sipping wine and listening to the roar of the waves from your private open terrace. It takes me a moment to realize that I am in a foreign land, living in the house of a stranger but feeling completely at home. I am in Dubrovnik in Croatia and I am spending my last day in the country by just spending time with my husband in this lovely Airbnb apartment, watching the moon caress the waves and the Old Town reflecting in its light.

Travel to me has always been about conversations, warmth, local flavor and simple but beautiful experiences like this. As someone who likes slow travel, I like to linger and take in the moments slowly rather than just flitting like a butterfly from one place to another.

Conversations in Plitvice

I need to maintain the delicate balance of privacy and yet be amidst people, which is why I usually seek out boutique hotels than hostels. But this time, during my recent trip to Croatia and Czech Republic, I stayed for the first time in Airbnb in Europe

The pretty village near Plitvice National Park

Every Airbnb experience was unique. My Airbnb Prague apartment, called the Sunny Suite with a terrace was so comfortable and was just six minutes away from the Old Town. In Croatia, I stayed in Airbnbs in Plitvice, Split and in Dubrovnik. While my shortest stay was for about a night, the longest was for four nights . In Plitvice, it was in a pretty village which was just five minutes from the National Park at Katrina’s House while in Split, I stayed in a luxurious apartment called Joy4you and in Dubrovnik, it was near the beautiful old town facing the beach. I have stayed in Bed and Breakfasts and homestays before but this is the first time I experienced a combination of comfort, warmth, privacy, local flavor and yet I felt completely at home in a foreign land, living in the homes of strangers.

The courtyard in Split

When I booked my Airbnbs for the first time,  I was a bit apprehensive as well. Being used to the comfort and convenience of hotels, I was a bit wary of walking into homes of people. I looked for properties where we could be the sole occupants so that we could have complete privacy and I was constantly wondering if the neighbourhoods would be safe and secure.

But my anxieties vanished the moment I landed on their doorsteps. Personally I would recommend an Airbnb experience if you have not tried one before and here are six reasons why you must stay in an Airbnb if you are planning a trip either with family, friends or just travelling solo.

The gardens near Katrina House in Plitvice

1. The Hosts

In this impersonal digital age, there is something charming about connecting with a person and having fascinating conversations with them. For me, the Airbnb experience is all about the hosts and hostess. The connection starts the moment you write to them introducing yourself. I spent a lot of time messaging them and every doubt was patiently answered. In Prague, I did not get a chance to meet Lucie but she left a couple of beers for me and several notes to ensure that I was comfortable. Each of the hosts went out of their way to make the experience special.

Beer served by Airbnb Prague

In Plitvice we stayed in Katrina’s House which was more of a bed and breakfast. Although the room was small, my hostess made the experience special by rummaging a quick breakfast, while her son and daughter in law prepared a special vegetarian dinner for us in their cosy restaurant. Marina in Dubrovnik was personally there to ensure we were comfortable and she even helped us find a parking spot.

Courtyard in Airbnb Split

My personal favourite was in Split in Croatia. I was living in this lovely luxurious studio apartment surrounded by a beautiful garden with a little courtyard while Dorotea was living right next door. She spent time chatting with us, having a cup of tea and sharing all the local secrets. When we were driving towards Dubrovnik, she even suggested the coastal road that we should take and drove along with us to the freeway so that we don’t lose our way.

2. Home away from Home feeling 

I loved the way Ivana and Dorotea had designed their gardens with cute accessories. It was so refreshing to see so much of greenery and flowers around you. I just loved the tiny courtyard in my Split apartment and the wide terrace in Dubrovnik. We would just stock up some food from the supermarket, cook a romantic dinner, drink a lot of wine and watch the waves. In the morning. There was a sense of privacy and comfort and yet you know that your host is a call or a message away.

My goodie bag with the wine in Dubrovnik

I landed in Prague after a week-long travel and a flight, train and bus later landed in this absolute cozy two bedroom apartment and the first thing I felt was a home away from home feeling. Lucie had stocked the cupboard with food, fruits, sweets and beer and we literally treated ourselves to a sumptuous lunch . A quick snooze, shower and we were all ready to meet Prague.

Our dining cabin in Plitvice

Behind every home is a person and it is their personal touch and the warmth that makes this experience special. You may have the apartment to yourself but the personality of the hostess is stamped in every home. I have stayed in swanky apartments with terraces and courtyards to cozy studio apartments to even a comfortable room and yet each one of them was so special.

My bedroom in Prague

To begin with, it is a home not just a room and every bit of it is has an emotion and it is not impersonal. I am overwhelmed with the sense of space when I come back from a long tiring day and I just put my feet up in the living room.

Loved these cute guys

I loved the way Ivana and Dorotea had designed their gardens with cute accessories. It was so refreshing to see so much of greenery and flowers around you. I just loved the tiny courtyard in my Split apartment and the wide terrace in Dubrovnik. We would just stock up some food from the supermarket, cook a romantic dinner, drink a lot of wine and watch the waves. In the morning. There was a sense of privacy and comfort and yet you know that your host is a call or a message away.

Chilling in the courtyard

3. Local flavour

Every Airbnb in Europe where I stayed was an extension of your local experience – from the interiors and the designs of the home, to the locality and neighbourhood. It is an opportunity to explore areas of the town that is not in the tourist circuit and you get to live like a local. My hosts were kind enough to also give me a lot of recommendations – from places to see, eat and what not to do.

Katrina House in Plitvice

They would give me information on local cabs, bus routes, super markets, hidden places, happenning bars and you will not find these in any guide book. However the most important aspect for me is that every home is an extension of the hosts and you can feel the human touch everywhere. To me, everything about living in an Airbnb was about an emotion and it is this emotion that stayed with me when I left every town.

4. Location

I literally counted the number of steps from my Airbnb apartment in Prague to the metro station. It was right next door to the apartment and it barely took one minute to get there. And although I could see the station from my window I cannot hear the trains as the underground was two levels down. And I was in Old town in just six minute .

View from my airbnb in plitvice

Location for me is one of the most important aspects when am looking for accommodation and the first thing I look for is a metro station. Another important aspect is the availability of supermarkets so that I can stock milk or breads or make a quick breakfast for myself.

My Airbnb in Prague

The Airbnb in Prague was an absolute delight in this aspect. In Plitwice, we stayed in this beautiful village in Katrina’s House . Although this was more of a Bed and Breakfast, the Entrance One of the National Park was just five minutes by car. In Split and Dubrovnik, the old towns were about 20 minutes by walk but we had the beautiful beaches close by.  Standing and watching the sunset in Split by the beach is an experience that I will never forget.

Sunset in Dubrovnik

5. Luxury and comfort

When I first booked an Airbnb in Europe for my holuday, I was not sure what to expect but I was absolutely taken in by some of the swanky and luxurious apartments I had stayed in. Split especially was beautiful. In a leafy environment filled with gardens, the Airbnb came with a cozy courtyard, a large living space with a kitchen and a comfortable bedroom.

My bedroom in Split

The property in Prague had an additional room as well. Every property had all the amenities – we would cook, wash clothes, watch TV, listen to music, dance in the terrace and see the stars. We were literally living in a foreign country rather than staying as a guest.

My pretty kitchen in Prague

6. Value for money

As travelers we are constantly looking for deals that give us value for money and I felt that Airbnbs gave me the best experience for the money that I spent. To me travel is not just about sights and sounds alone – every bit of my journey becomes part of an overall experience.

Waking up to the sun and sea in Dubrovnik

There is something special about staying with people in their homes, getting a bit of local flavor and building a connecting that cannot be valued in currencies alone.

My favourite place to have tea in Split

My perspective of a place changes the moment I meet interesting people. It could be a simple conversation with a stranger in a train , picking strawberries with my travel companion, or watching the stars lit up on a silent night – these are the experiences that turn me on.

Love this desk

And staying in an Airbnb in Europe, I could count the number of priceless moments that I experienced in the destinations as well.

I wish I could come back