Have you hear the term AirBnB thrown around in conversation or on the web or in the news? This somewhat confusing word has generated both positive and negative press over the last few years. In this article we will answer the simple question. What is an AirBnb?
Small Town, Big Boat
The reason why this article is relevant to a site dedicated to traveling to Ark Encounter and The Creation Museum is because Answers In Genesis, the founders of Ark Encounter, chose the small town of Williamstown, KY to build their international, Bible themed, attraction. This immediately created logistical problems for the area to be able to accommodate the millions of guests that would flood the area. (pun intended) There simply weren’t and still aren’t enough hotels or traditional resorts to house the amount of annual guests coming to see both attractions. Enter AirBnB.
Bed and Breakfast?
The name AirBnb is a bit mis-leading as most AirBnbs do not include breakfast, or any food for that matter. The term refers to the type of lodging you can expect, which is more like a home, not a hotel. In simple terms. An AirBnb is a vacation rental home. AirBnb got it’s start from people who would share their home with travelers. They would rent out a spare room or a basement or a couch. This model eventually grew to where people would rent their entire homes out to guests. This is the most common configuration of AirBnb near Ark Encounter. People rent out their entire homes to tourists by listing their home and becoming a host on AirBnb.com. (most of these homes are investment properties that the owners don’t actually live in)
Is it Safe?
Simply stated, Yes! AirBnb is an extremely reputable international company. They provide many safeguards that allow travelers to book with confidence. Their review system allows guests to read first-hand accounts of previous guests that stayed in the home. AirBnb encourages both guests and hosts to give honest feedback regarding a particular stay. They also have an advanced classification of Host called a “Super Host”. These hosts have received consistent excellent reviews over an extended period of time. A guest can filter out and properties that don’t score well on reviews during their property search. *TIP – AirBnb has also reserved the right to override any host cancellation policy if they feel the guest was unfairly treated. This is just another layer of protection that makes AirBnb a safe and reliable way to book your vacation stay.
Is it a Good Value?
AirBnbs provides a very useful service, but that service does come with a cost. AirBnb, just like it’s predecessor VRBO, does charge a fee for using their service. The guests and hosts both pay a service fee to facilitate the vacation home booking. This fee is based upon the overall booking amount. Even with this fee AirBnb provides tremendous value, especially if you consider the many fees that hotels impose. In many cases, especially near Ark Encounter, AirBnb allows for a guest to book an entire home for the price of a single hotel room. That in and of itself is good value, however, if you book a larger property, that savings is increased if the booking is split between multiple friends or family members.
Hotel or AirBnb, which is better? Check out our article: The Best Places to Stay For Your Ark Encounter Vacation
Conclusion
AirBnb is an extremely reliable and useful way to book your vacation accommodations. You can find AirBnbs in almost any city in the world, including the cities surrounding Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum.
Find AirBnbs near Ark Encounter: Ark Encounter AirBnb Listings