How to Use Airbnbs for Long Term Housing (North America Edition)

I enjoy traveling all over the world. I live as a little bit of a digital nomad sometimes. I’ve lived in various different Airbnb‘s, and I will include links all throughout this post. I’ve supported myself through apps like Indeed, Uber Eats, DoorDash , Instawork, Upshift and Rover. Once you get settled, apps like Lyft and Instacart work wonderfully as well. I find it’s very important to include methods of continuous income, as the cost of living is rarely free.

The first time I used Airbnb was in Dallas, Texas in 2019. I was eager to take myself on a solo vacation to warmer weather. I am from a petite posh place called Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin can get very cold and gray. I was desperate for an escape. I searched an app called skiplagged to find an affordable flight. They have a very useful tool that allows you to input your departure airport, and select “Anywhere” as your arrival airport. This generates a list of airlines and flight destinations for a specific date, or random date. This was a short weekend trip in which I stayed in a hostel setup. The place was very clean and modern. The host was very kind and insightful. I stayed in a top bunk bed. There were 2 other guests staying in the room with me. I felt like I was at an adult summer camp! Everyone was respectful of each other’s property and very nice. One of the other guests (who was a frequent guest with this host) invited me out on the town and showed me Deep Ellum.

For 3 months in 2020 I lived in Cancun, Mexico with Airbnb. Some friends and I planned a spring break vacation there months in advance . When word was beginning to spread about COVID-19, my friend all backed out of the excursion. They were fearful that the United States President at that time would close the borders. I took a risk and went, as I wasn’t afraid to be stuck in Mexico. I knew that quarantining in paradise would be the best option for me. I had an incredible spring break week there. I told myself, if they cancel my flight back, I’ll take that as a sign to stay longer. My return flight was canceled and I was overwhelmed with joy. I spoke with my hosts and was able to stay there for three months! I was treated like family. Here are a few of my favorite bookings there !

I moved to California upon my return to the United States. My first stay was in a hostel called the Freehand. The Los Angeles location is absolutely stunning.There is a rooftop pool and lounge, and it’s in the heart of Downtown LA. Very walkable with a myriad of restaurants and attractions. The link to their airbnb bookings is here. Other bookings I stayed in were private rooms, with shared bathrooms and kitchens. I prefer private rooms for month-long stays. I had private entrances in some. I always had access to WiFi and covered utilities. The host all did a good job providing us with necessary kitchen utensils as well. Here’s a list of all of my Los Angeles stays.

Pro Tip: Review, review, review. The best way to choose an airbnb is to read the reviews. If you like a place, look to see if that host has other listings. You may find one you like even more!

I enjoyed trying out different airbnbs in varying neighborhoods. This is an excellent way to decide if you would actually like to sign a year-long lease or purchase there.

After Los Angeles, I moved to Denver. These are my stays.

Hostels are much cheaper than private rooms. However they come with lack of privacy, potential fear of the unknown, and a few can be overwhelmingly crowded. Some of them however, are incredible blessings.

I then lived in Milwaukee, WI. For a short time, I enjoyed my home state again.

Milwaukee has some gems. It’s certainly a nice place to visit.

Miami, Florida. The city that has my heart and captured my interest. As a popular tourist destination, there are many airbnbs available at varying prices.

Financial Freedom: When moving to a major city such as Miami, cost of living can be unbearable. Airbnbs provide an incredible way to get your foot in the door to your new life. My favorite thing about airbnb is that there are varying prices. You can choose amenities, and locations with ease. Additionally, you need not worry about the 3X rent requirement or deposits. As long as the card you want to charge has the funds, you have a place to stay. After you have your account setup, approval for these stays can happen as quickly as minutes or within 24-hours.

Remember: Airbnbs operate much like hotels. There’s usually a 3pm check-in and 11am checkout. Keep this in mind when booking your stays. Additionally, if you find yourself needing overnight accommodations make sure you book that stay by 11:58pm local time. After 12am you will have to wait until 3pm to check-in.

Pro Tip: When you have a lot of belongings and you want your moving process to be smooth, you can overlap your bookings. For example if you plan to move out of one Airbnb on the 12th, book your next Airbnb for the 11th. That way you don’t have to wait hours somewhere with all your belongings until your 3pm check-in. Additionally, you’ll have ample time to go back and forth and clean out your airbnb without feeling rushed.

Airbnb Hosts can be like family. They can offer comfort, security and incredible advice. Additionally, the app allows you to share your travel plans with trusted people in your life. This way they know where you are, and who you will be staying with. Some hosts don’t live on the property at all and utilize keypad entry systems. All of this information is available in the description, or just a quick message away.

Happy Bookings !

From Me,

Beeing Bee