walkabout

I have never used airbnb,but I would consider it for an entire apartment (but not a shared room in someone's home). One thing I've read on several sites is that people who have left negative reviews say that those reviews were deleted. Since I have read negative reviews on airbnb, I know this isn't always the case, but it does appear some negative reviews are not making onto the site. In my research, I came across a couple of links you may find useful:

The original article is from Sept 2010, but many of the comments are recent:
http://www.letsflycheaper.com/blog/booking-airbnb/
Lonely Planet:http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...readID=2134301

Also, have you looked at flipkey?:http://www.flipkey.com/italy-vacation-rentals/g187768/

kawh

i have recently booked a few places on airbnb for the first time-- because we just had to find less expensive options. however-- all the places we chose are in our own apartment with our own bathroom. will get back to everyone when we return from our trip, in late may. hoping for the best... but not counting on it!

tarquin

For B&Bs with style and no furbelows, look at
www.sawdays.co.uk

nukesafe

Never saw that wore, "furbelow", before. Looked it up, and it is a real word. Learn something every day.

lmont

bookmarking - thank you

zeppole

wow, if I didn't know I was reading fodor's, I'd be amazed at the amount of misinformation on this thread about airbNb.

Afernico,

First of all, try posting your question about airBnB on Frommer's. You'll get far more accurate information from travelers who have done it.

As for Italy (where I live), I've never booked throu airBnB, but I have rented apartments in people's homes when I travel. It can be wonderful to stay with an Italian family. Italian apartments are often HUGE and divided into separate quarters. So you end up with a lot of privacy. Best of all, the family very often invites you to dinner. I've done it in Naples and Ortygia (Sicily) and would do it again anywhere in Italy.

zeppole

Just so my post is clear, when I say I rented apartments in people's homes, these were bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms that either had their own separate entrance or down a hallway from the main family quarters. I was given breakfast, but I didn't have use of the kitchen.

Ackislander

Thanks, Tarquin

britomart

I would love to try AirBNB but my DH won't agree to it. I wouldn't mind staying in someone's house, I think it would be great to talk with locals who know the area.

chartley

We prefer to go self-catering or stay in small hotels rather than B & Bs, so I would not consider AirBnB myself.

Out of curiosity, I looked up the places available in my home city in the U.K.. They were generally rooms in small terraced houses, owned by people who worked in the arts, education or the media. They were not in the parts of the city usually visited by tourists.

Although I am never quite sure what Americans mean by "safe" in relation to a district or suburb, and I would not hesitate to visit those areas myself, they might not suit those who like to be extra sure of their surroundings.

nytraveler

Never. We have stayed in private chateaux a coiple of times - but places that have at leasat 7 or 8 rooms and are run on a professional basis.

basingstoke2

We enjoy the personal touch of B&Bs and have had fine experiences particulary in the UK. One of the reasons we travel is to have contact with people of other countries and a B&B has been a good way to do that both with the hosts and with other guests at the breakfast table.

When the kids were younger I would take them individualy on trips to Europe where we would travel seat of the pants style mostly in Germany. There, on arriving in a town where we would spend the night I would often look for a "Zimmer" sign and those usually worked out well - much better than a hostel.