What we look for in a travel rental

Whew! Kristie and I are finally home after two weeks of travel in Europe! It was such an amazing trip and I can't wait to share more about what we did and saw and ate...but first I have to get through the 500 photos we took haha. In the meantime, here are a few snaps of the Airbnb apartment we rented in Paris, and details about what we look for in a travel rental...

As someone who loves being home and loves traveling in equal measure, renting an apartment rather than booking a hotel room is almost always the choice I make. It just makes sense! I will always go for a kitchen, comfortable space, and room to relax. Plus, hosts often provide off-the-beaten-path recommendations, tips about public transportation, and even a bottle of wine!

Some of the things Kristie and I look for in an apartment rental are:

1. A private apartment: Rental sites usually let you choose what kind of situation you're looking for (private room, couch, etc.). Kristie and I always choose to rent an entire apartment so we can have all the space to ourselves.
2. Good location: We look for an apartment in a safe neighborhood walking distance from restaurants and shops, or from the metro if we're staying in a city.
3. A full kitchen: Some listings only offer a hotplate. We like to do our own cooking when we travel in order to save money. It may be worth checking with your host ahead of time to make sure the kitchen is stocked with tools like a wine opener.
4. A washing machine and dryer: Especially for trips that last longer than a week, having the ability to do laundry is a life-saver (and a suitcase-space-saver).
5. Free parking: A must if we drive.
6. Not too many stairs -- or an elevator: I try to keep in mind how many flights of stairs we'll want to walk up at the end of a day full of adventures.

Check out two of our recent apartment rentals in Montréal and Portland, Maine. And if you'd like to give an apartment rental service a try, use this link for $25 off your first Airbnb rental. This is not a sponsored post -- I just love Airbnb and I think you'll like it, too.