11/09/2021
Use points as a hedge against slum lord Airbnb hosts ⚠️
When you travel with a large family like we do 👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👦- your options are multiple hotel rooms or an Airbnb. Sometimes multiple hotel rooms can be a strain on the wallet or points bank. We love getting AirBnbs for the convenience that everyone typically gets the privacy of their own room. And sometimes AirrBNBs are the absolute best option.
The problem with AirBnb’s is the crapshoot of a house you might get end up getting. Let’s face it, pictures can be deceiving. We have stayed in far too many questionable airbnb’s in the past and it’s just safe to say, if the price is cheap, the deal is too good to be true.
Fortunately, when we do end up at a crappy airbnb, we’ve never had issues getting refunds. A lot of the time, you just have to talk it out with the host, or report the mess to AirBnB right away. Take pics, document and move on with your life-
Sometimes Airbnb will even offer you a $100 sorry gift.
But then you are left with finding accommodations. Last minute rooms can be costly. This is where having points can CYA.
Many hotels only open up award space many months in advance. But they also put up their last minute, unbooked rooms up for grabs to people who wish to book with points.
PRO TIP 🍆: Having a diversified point balance helps a ton. If you are in an area with Marriott Hotels only, Hyatt points are not going to do you any good. Having Ultimate Rewards, Membership Rewards and a mix of Hotel Currencies is always a good move in our books.