×

Last-minute summer travel plans? Try Airbnb

Monuments like Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore were easily accessible from accommodations booked through Airbnb. Reviewer Renee Fox found an out-of-the-way lodge in the Black Hills area of South Dakota.

Before summer winds down, or perhaps for a fall weather getaway, consider finding a place to sleep in a place new to you with Airbnb.

Though I was skeptical at first, after using the app this summer for a trip across the country, I have to recommend the service as one that puts guests in the unique position to experience more of a new city than they would staying at a run-of-the-mill hotel chain, and in my experience, without sacrificing privacy or luxury.

Airbnb connects travelers with rooms, houses, apartments, portions of houses and even campsites offered up for a nightly rate by people who own, live in or take care of the property.

My first experience was renting the top floor of a three-story historical home in Denver, close to the airport, downtown night life, restaurant, parks and residential neighborhoods.

While checking in isn’t as simple as walking into a chain hotel, handing over a credit card and getting a magnetic strip card to get in and out, it wasn’t difficult either. The process for checking in is bound to vary from room to room or house to house.

In my case, after I booked the room, with only a week’s notice of my arrival date, the caretaker sent me a message through the app to say hello and explain how to check in. When my arrival date came, she left me a key and told me to come and go as I pleased.

For the price of an average hotel room in Denver, I found a well-above average room with a view of the city and the mountains surrounding it.

The room had a Keurig coffee machine with everything I needed for a good cup of coffee after several days on the road. The king-sized bed was loaded with freshly washed sheets, a duvet and pillows, placed just before the doors to the walk-out balcony. The bathroom had fresh towels, extra toiletries, a blow dryer and a spacious shower.

And while walking around the neighborhood, instead of walking out into the most congested tourist-oriented parts of town, I met residents walking their dogs, the Montessorri students out for strolls with their teachers, and found myself within walking distance to the restaurants that attract locals for their tried and true recipes.

I didn’t just stumble on this gem. I searched and filtered out results for several hours on the app. Traveling alone, I made sure to select a place rented out by a woman and who had only positive reviews.

Since my experience was positive, I tried the app again for a trip to South Dakota’s Black Hills. This time I found a lodge that wasn’t listed on any of the other sites I looked at for a place to stay.

Tucked away in the small, unincorporated community of Hisega was the historic Hisega Lodge. A river passes right next the lodge where my son and the owners’ son played and tried to catch snakes. Set a short distance away from Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and some of the more magnificent caves in the area, but not crowded with men and women on motorcycle tours, the place maintained the rustic charm of the Black Hills.

With enough rooms only to fill a large breakfast table, the lodge had more of a bed-and-breakfast spot vibe. The owners accommodated vegetarian requests, adapting their creative breakfast menu, provided us with guide books and recommendations on how to spend our time there. They also offered all of the amenities — coffee, tea, pop, water and ice, along with access to extensive library with many books about the area and a beautiful, relaxing view.

Perhaps one drawback of using Airbnb is a drawback of any reservation-based system. If you need to change or cancel, you may, depending on the host, be charged anyway. But before booking, you can ask the host questions about their policies and relay special circumstances.

Overall, my experiences with Airbnb felt safe, accurately priced and offered a more personal look into Denver and the mountains of South Dakota than staying at a chain hotel.

rfox@tribtoday.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today