Muyang’s review: “Sam and Katie are great hosts! And their duet is beautiful (Sam is a very good guitar player)! Lovely beach and close to Northwestern University! I really enjoyed my stay. You are a sweet couple! I really love your music!”
What is Airbnb?
Sam and I signed up to be Airbnb hosts back in 2015, a service that allows hosts to accept guests into their home for a predetermined amount of time, in exchange for a warm place to sleep, and a restroom, as well as optional access to the kitchen and other amenities dependent on the place you stay.
We have met strangers that have become friends from all across the world!
Hosting with Airbnb is a service that welcomes strangers into our home for one night….or for the case of our first guest and newfound friend, a full month’s stay (or longer)!
How would I become a host?
To sign up, the company requires both host and guest to complete a full profile, much like Facebook, with pictures, bio, and general information.
What’s so great about hosting?
I’ve had such a positive experience as an AirBnB host. Not only have we made easy cash, we’ve made new friends and encountered new and interesting cultures through meeting people visiting Chicago from around the world!
Notably, we hosted visiting students to Northwestern University coming from as far as India, China, and France!
One of my favorite stories to share was a guest we hosted who worked with the Mexican government! After swapping stories of international travel, and to celebrate his upcoming adventure, he offered us a toast of Mezcal tequila straight from his hometown in Mexico. Olé!
What if I get an unsavory guest?
AirBnB allows you to turn down a stay request for any reason. This was incredibly important to us, because I didn’t want to invite any unstable or unsafe into our space.
Even more, AirBnB provides $1 million in insurance to protect us in case a guest goes bonkers. We have had no negative experiences hosting, and are on our 10th month of acting as hosts!
If you’ve ever considered the fun of having an international traveler share home and life with you, I highly recommend the safe and vetted company of AirBnB for home hosting. If you’ve never used AirBnB before to book your own stay, you can use our referral link to get $20 off your first travel visit. (Click here!)
Flip the coin: Airbnb as a guest!
Sam and I have had so many wild, crazy adventures as guests around the world with Airbnb. In fact, it’s our preferred way to stay as we travel!
For more stories about staying as a guest with Airbnb, check out these articles: