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This winter is passing in Moscow under the sign of Christmas fairs. Well, or, if you like, under the sign of the attempts of the city authorities to introduce the townspeople to the European tradition of organizing such fairs on the eve of the winter holidays. The first such attempt was made last year, when the so-called Strasbourg Christmas Fair was launched on Manezhnaya Square. They say it didn't work out so well. Judging by the reviews on the Internet, the fair was small, the prices were exorbitant, and the range of goods was scarce. We ourselves did not reach it then, but during our New Year's trip to Eastern Europe visited Christmas markets wherever they still worked. And this year we will be able to compare the organization of Moscow fairs with how it is done in Europe. Well, or at least in Warsaw, Budapest and Prague. And they do it like this...

But first, I will give a couple of photos of the first fair that we met on our way. It was on the way to Warsaw, in Belarusian Brest. Similar New Year's flea markets can be seen here, and they look, you see, not quite European. (If you disagree, scroll down a few pictures. :)) However, flea markets differ from fairs not only appearance, but also with an organizational approach: on the first, unlike the second, there are no entertainments - only trade. Such a format, of course, has the right to life, but in terms of attractiveness it loses much to Europe, where fairs during their work become city attractions and centers of attraction for the local residents themselves.

So what is there in Europe? Well, firstly, fairs there, of course, tend to be located in beautiful city "interiors" - primarily in central, but cozy squares. Here, for example, in Prague, probably the main in the city and, perhaps, the largest of the fairs we saw on this trip was located on the Old Town Square under the walls of the town hall of the same name.

And this is a fair on Rynok Square in the Old Town of Warsaw. In the evening, the houses on the square are illuminated and snowflakes float on their facades - the picture is quite fabulous. True, the second Warsaw fair that we visited was located in the modern center of the city, very close to the local "Soviet" skyscraper - the Palace of Science and Culture and not far from railway station. But this seems to be an exception.

On the small Vörösmarty ter square in Budapest, where we met New Year, on the night of January 1, a festive fair also worked.

It seems that after New Year's Eve all the fairs in the Hungarian capital were closed. In any case, on January 2, the fair pavilions on Vörösmarty ter and on the square in front of the St. Stephen's Basilica were already dismantled by workers.

A day later in Vienna, we also could not get to the fairs. But from the pictures it is clear that they were located in very attractive places: imperial palace Shenrunn…

... and in front of the Vienna City Hall. (Announcement on the temporary fence: "Entrance to the construction site is prohibited. Parents, watch your children!")

In the Slovak city of Kosice, the fair was located on Hlavna Street, the central pedestrian artery of the city. Unfortunately, on January 6, she was no longer working either. By the way, in Bratislava two days earlier, we did not find any traces of the fair at all, although I suspect that it should have been located at the Slovak National Theater - a rather picturesque skating rink with a Christmas tree worked in front of it.

We associate the word "fair" primarily with trade, but, as I noted above, a fair is still not just a market. For the fair to become a real point of attraction for city residents and tourists, there must be something else besides stalls with goods. The most common option is food outlets. There was an opportunity to have a bite to eat at all the European Christmas markets we visited.

And, as a rule, there you could try dishes national cuisine. For example, when we arrived in Warsaw, we almost immediately dined at the fair at the Palace of Science and Culture. We tasted the Polish soup zhurek, bigos - a traditional local roast with cabbage and a huge sandwich with something like lard (“pate” of bacon) and pickles. All this was washed down with mulled wine from elegant ceramic cups. For them, however, it was necessary to leave a small deposit, but he, of course, returned. The rest of the dishes, of course, were served in disposable dishes. But a full-fledged dinner in the fresh air cost us less than 50 zł (500 rubles) for two. They say that at last year's Strasbourg fair on Manezhnaya Square, a glass of mulled wine cost 250 rubles. That is, in Moscow we could only drink mulled wine with this money, and in Warsaw we could have dinner, and with the same hot drink. :)

The fair on Vörösmarty ter in Budapest, where we spent the most important part of New Year's Eve, was generally completely culinary. There were about fifty, probably, wooden towers on the square, from which all kinds of goulash, shank, sausages and other freshly prepared dishes spread their aromas around the city.

New Year's dinner with several servings of mulled wine and dessert cost us only a thousand rubles for two.

And these are already mouth-watering pictures from Prague.

Of course, at the fairs there are always places where you can have a bite to eat. Sometimes it's just tables with benches under open sky, sometimes (as in Warsaw or Kosice, where this picture was taken) a whole gazebo.

Separately, I will say about mulled wine and other hot and strong drinks. They were sold at absolutely all the fairs we were at.

And in Budapest new year's eve mulled wine was poured even from such vats, placed right in the middle of the street. :)

It is curious that in Europe they drink not only mulled wine (warmed wine to which sugar and spices are added), but also just hot wine. Moreover, according to my observations, both under the sign "hot wine" you can buy mulled wine, and under the brand of mulled wine you can really get just warmed wine. It seems that there is little difference between these concepts in Eastern Europe does not exist. And, of course, all mulled wine is different - somewhere tasty, somewhere cloying ... However, it is so inexpensive that it is quite possible to try several types at once in different places. :)
And at the fair in the Old Town of Warsaw, we also stumbled upon a point of sale of hot beer. It’s a pity that they didn’t try it then - neither in Hungary nor in the Czech Republic did I see anything like it on sale. :)

What else besides beautiful places and delicious food attract fairs? For example, at the fair near the Palace of Science and Culture in Warsaw, an amusement park with a Ferris wheel was deployed. As I already said, this fair was not located in the most suitable place, but due to the fact that the houses were placed around the attractions, turning the stalls to the center of the fair, a cozy Christmas courtyard with a mini-amusement park turned out inside the perimeter.

At another Warsaw fair, on Rynok Square in the Old Town, of course, there were no attractions, but Father Frost's (St. Nicholas in the local) post office worked ...

... and under the tree sat his living embodiment with an accordion. :)

The fair on the Old Town Square in Prague, judging by the scene, was clearly one of the centers of New Year's festivities in Czech capital. Perhaps some events were held there on other days. By the way, these pictures were taken on January 5, so the Prague Christmas market is obviously one of the longest in Europe.

In addition, on the Old Town Square one could watch the work of a blacksmith and, of course, buy the fruits of his work (see the “shop” sign at his workplace? :)).

What do they generally sell at fairs (well, not only come here for food and entertainment)? Yes, different. Basically, of course, these are smart winter things: sweaters, hats, mittens ...

... standard tourist souvenirs (I think you recognized Prague by the clock from the Old Town Hall) ...

New Year is coming soon. In Russia, the streets and shop windows are already beginning to dress up in winter clothes. But old Europe is the first to celebrate the holidays. Christmas is celebrated on December 25th.

Start preparing for the most important event in advance. They buy gifts for children, souvenirs for relatives and friends, food for the Christmas table - a traditional goose or carp, sweets, decorations for the house and yard. Oh, it's a fun and hectic time when the Christmas markets start in Europe.

We offer you to take a virtual shopping tour and visit the best Christmas markets in Europe in 2019-2020 in order to take a look at their stalls and showcases at least with one eye and spin in a noisy whirlwind around the Christmas tree. These days, for those who believe in miracles, dreams come true. Maybe we will get a glass of mulled wine and a piece of gingerbread?

Those who do not like to shop, let them stay at home, and great events await us. We are going to France, Great Britain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, where the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe are about to open the carved frosty gates.

In Europe, Christmas markets start at the end of November. By tradition, the opening of festive trade in Europe falls on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.

It seems that all the Parisian designers and couturiers have put their sketches aside, descended from the catwalks and set off to decorate the French Christmas markets for the last show of 2018. And this is their best work in the outgoing year. The main event of the Parisian Christmas fashion is fair sales of elegant outfits, expensive jewelry, and elite perfumes. How can you not eat here. Mulled wine and hot waffles. And we are ready to continue the journey.

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Strasbourg (France)

Next stop in Strasbourg. We can't miss the oldest Christmas market. Marché de Noël has been open every season from late November to early January since 1570 (!)

Friends, it's very cool here! At every step of the installation, figurines of Christmas characters, Santa on a reindeer sled. Even the malls are made in the form of a New Year's train with wagons.

300 toys, specially made by the best craftsmen of Alsace, decorate the central city Christmas tree, 300 pavilions are open and sell whatever your heart desires. Is this a coincidence or not?

Crowded at the gastronomic counters. Let's have some foie gras. Well, or at least we'll eat roasted chestnuts. And then to Osterlitz Square for a sweets fair. It is already getting dark, street concerts will soon begin, and there it is not far to wine tasting with a “fire” cake.

London, Great Britain)

What is this noise like the sound of bells, and what is this waterfall of dazzling lights? It is a sixty-meter Ferris wheel that glows and a skating rink shines - Winter Wonderland, a real winter fairy tale, has opened in London's Hyde Park.

The fair is gaining momentum, we will walk through its rows, look into the circus, and have fun at the disco. It even got a little hot. Then let's take a look at the Ice Kingdom. 200 tons of snow and ice go every year to build it. As sad as it is to leave the British fairy tale, it's time for us.

Berlin, Germany)

Pragmatic prudish Berlin is unrecognizable these days. Christmas markets in Germany in 2018, as, indeed, in all previous years, work wonders.

The city has changed, prepared for the masquerade: hung twinkling garlands, dressed up in a fancy dress, dressed up Christmas trees, flooded skating rinks and opened a Christmas market.

There is simply no point in highlighting any of the Christmas markets - there are more than sixty of them in Berlin now.

Cologne (Germany)

Shopaholics will find something to profit from sales. Art connoisseurs will enjoy organ concerts. Christmas Cologne is the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, the birthplace of the Nutcracker. These wooden figurines are kings at the Christmas markets in Cologne. Here you will also find gingerbread houses, chocolate figurines. If you want, hang it on the Christmas tree at home, if you want to eat right there, without leaving the cash register.

But it is necessary, and this is not disputed, to bring home to Russia the legendary German Christmas cake Stollen with raisins and candied fruit. It is stored up to three months, however, it rarely lies so much - it is painfully tasty.

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Munich, Germany)

Visit Germany and not visit Munich? Yes, we just do not understand at home. We turn off to the capital of Bavaria to drink beer. But Munich does not live by beer alone in anticipation of Christmas. On the main square The city of Marienplatz has already installed a 26-meter Christmas tree and decorated it with handmade toys and 3,000 lights.

In the medieval market, the most original in Munich, authentic drinks are brewed in huge cauldrons right under the open sky, dishes dating back to the 14th century are cooked on braziers, souvenirs are forged, leather and clay products are sold.

The Christmas Manger Fair will tell about the history of the holiday and will appeal to children and adults.

Rome, Italy)

Christmas holidays in Italy, in Rome - the capital of the Catholic Christmas. We will definitely get acquainted with the sights that we have heard about since school years.

Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, Colosseum. Enough strength to walk around the Eternal City all night. From the Christmas illumination it is as bright as day. Do not feel sorry for yourself, because the fatigue will pass, but the impressions will remain.

Thick fragrant coffee at a table in a cozy cafe, hot chocolate and a scoop of the most delicious ice cream in Rome, and someone, perhaps, will allow you to kiss yourself on the cheek. This is hot Italy...

Barcelona, ​​Spain)

Fira de Santa Llúcia (Santa Lucia) is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe, opened every season since 1786. There is everything for the installation of a Christmas manger. We buy Christmas figurines to decorate our home with a piece of Spain.

Slightly smaller, but not impressive, is the fair in front of the Sagrada Familia, the world-famous Sagrada Familia. Thus, we kill two birds with one stone: we saw the attraction and bought honey and other sweets in the market.

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Vienna, Austria)

Austria is not only the Viennese waltz. But also the three most famous best Christmas markets in Europe. Christkindlmärkte are must-see Christmas markets in Vienna. Here, as at the fork of three roads, our paths diverge.

Someone will go to the city hall for Christmas decorations, play curling or just ride on the ice rink, drink the whole thing with marzipan punch and snack on Kaiser pancakes or apple strudel with cinnamon.

Even more Christmas decorations and culinary delights at the fair near the Belvedere palace complex. Connoisseurs of applied arts will find unique examples of handicrafts in the Spittelberg area. It is worth taking a closer look, and suddenly someone is lucky enough to buy an antique little thing.

Prague, Czech Republic)

Finally, you can take a break from the hubbub and fuss. The streets of Prague are elegant, the squares are full of Christmas charm. It is so cozy and atmospheric here, as if in old Czech fairy tales about Belyanochka and Rosochka, Goldilocks, the enchanted prince.
- Children, children! Run here quickly! Here is a donkey, a goat, lambs.

The petting zoo, which is very reminiscent of the nativity scene where the Baby Jesus was born, will appeal to your children. Let adults forget about diets. Prague fairs treat you with such delicacies that you will have to say goodbye to your waist for a while: ham, fried cheese, hot pancakes, sweets. Bohemian glass is worth bringing from Prague.

Budapest, Hungary)

“And every evening at the appointed hour, or I only dream about it ...” St. Stephen's Basilica becomes the screen of a 3D Christmas light show. This is perhaps business card Christmas fair days in Budapest.

And you don’t even know what to look at more - at the stalls with souvenirs or at the gastronomic rows. Appetite overpowers, curiosity can wait.

Hungarian fried sausages rule the feast. And in the festive fair menu, fried ribs, the famous Hungarian bograch (goulash), grilled vegetables, Hungarian duck, potato pancakes, hot soup with hot pepper came in handy. And… Oh my God, a whole roast pig!

Who said you can't eat the symbol of the year? We are in Hungary, gentlemen, not in China.

Brussels, Belgium)

Winter Wonders (Winter Wonderland) - one of the largest Christmas markets in Europe takes place in Brussels and welcomes guests until January 5, 2020, which does not often happen in Europe. More than 200 tents offer a choice of Christmas decorations, handicrafts made of glass, ceramics, wood and natural wool.

Be sure to try the most famous Belgian waffles. 2 euros for a large portion of a unique and unrepeatable delicacy. Locals claim that Belgium is the birthplace of the "delicacy" - french fries. We try local wines, and we will eat fries at home in a fast food restaurant.

The Christmas market at the Grand Palace Square attracted us with a nightly light and music show, the screen for which are the adjoining central square building. Even the locals are going to look at the amazing beauty of the show, what can we say about the delight of tourists.

Brussels surprised with truly fabulous discounts on goods - up to 80%!

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Riga, Latvia)

We come to Riga mainly to buy amber jewelry at the fair, wood products are also good. But we can't resist walking along the old streets of Riga, which are especially charming on Christmas days.

An elegant spruce flaunts on the Town Hall Square, just like its predecessor and progenitor, established for the first time by local merchants, 500 years ago.

If there is time, we will go to the Dome Cathedral for organ concert by paying 10 euros per person.

Tallinn (Estonia)

The Christmas market in Tallinn is open when most European fairs are already closed - until January 5th. But in December, before the Christmas holidays, prices are an order of magnitude lower.

On the Town Hall Square of Tallinn, we find the main Christmas tree of the city, and the fair, and all the main entertainment - concerts and performances.

Every day Santa Claus visits here - he has his own house on the square. Yiuluvana - the main character of Christmas is easily called by the locals, but we broke our tongue.

This cold Estonian guy also drives around the city on a Santa mobile - he gives concerts.

Helsinki (Finland)

The main fair takes place on the Senate Square. Here we catch the very expectation of a Christmas miracle, familiar to everyone from childhood. And we will meet Joulupukki - Finnish Santa Claus.

He has a very beautiful name, memorable, but not immediately. Few people know that it literally translates as "Christmas goat." Previously, he was depicted dressed in a goat skin. Now he looks like an ordinary European Santa Claus, apparently following the current trends in Christmas fashion.

We are pretty cold, so at the fair we are primarily interested in warm winter clothes. It is presented here in a large assortment and very good quality.

Warm up with a scalding soup with salmon and cream, hot mulled wine. We will remember the atmosphere of winter Finland for a long time.

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Schedule of Christmas markets in Europe for 2019-2020

City	opening date	Date of completion
	01.12.2019	06.01.2020
	09.11.2019	01.01.2020
	26.11.2019	31.12.2019
	27.11.2019	24.12.2019
	26.11.2019	23.12.2020
	24.11.2019	05.01.2020
	24.11.2019	05.01.2020
	01.12.2019	22.12.2019
	01.12.2019	22.12.2019
	30.11.2019	06.01.2020

So our imaginary tour ended, we watched the best Christmas markets in Europe 2019-2020. It is in your hands to make a fairy tale come true, and a dream a reality. Christmas is the best time for this.

Today's tourists are breaking stereotypes perfect holiday that have existed for decades. They prefer rented inexpensive apartments or even rooms to luxury hotels. What caused such a shift in priorities?

• The availability of communication between people, which appeared thanks to the Internet.
• Understanding that it is better to travel around the world often and economically than luxuriously but rarely.
• The fact that hotel prices are often difficult to reconcile with the concept.
• And, finally, the emergence of a unique service that made the dreams of many fans of traveling abroad come true.

, or, as it is often misnamed due to its difficult-to-pronounce abbreviation, RNB is a rental property around the world on one site. It all started with three friends in San Francisco who decided to rent out part of their apartment for the duration of the conference in 2008, when all the hotels were full. Of the furniture, only inflatable mattresses were available, and they prepared breakfast for the guests themselves. Hence the name AirBed&Breakfast(air mattress and breakfast), shortened later to Airbnb.

It didn't take long for the buddies to turn a temporary job into a business. Today the company is valued at $26 billion, it provides real estate booking services around the world (about 200 countries) and is a serious competitor hotel business. Tourists have appreciated the opportunity to rent an apartment abroad, which is why hotel owners are forced to constantly reduce prices so as not to lose customers.

Benefits of renting private housing

saving money. In most countries, self-rental accommodation is cheaper than a hotel. The difference in price is especially noticeable if you are traveling around the world with a large company or family. In addition, the ability to cook your own food will also save a lot.

Huge selection. In addition to booking apartments, on the site you can find many other options, both budget and luxury. It can be a room in a house with the owners or a luxurious mansion by the sea. There is a suitable accommodation for every budget.

Comfort and coziness. Parents traveling with children know how difficult it can be to keep fidgets within the four walls of a hotel room. In the apartment, children (and adults) even abroad will feel at home. After all, you will be surrounded by such familiar and necessary things as furniture, a kitchen, a washing machine ... No hotel in the world will convey the local flavor the way private housing does. Having breakfast on the balcony, with a cup of coffee and a croissant, you will feel like not a tourist, but a true Parisian, for example.

Communication. By choosing the option of living with the owners, you do not just save on the cost of housing. You get free language practice and an excellent guide. After all, who can tell about the city better than its inhabitants? As a rule, people who rent rooms are quite sociable and hospitable, so they will be happy to tell you a lot of interesting things.

How to rent an apartment abroad with Airbnb?

By going to the company's website, you can view rental options around the world, however, registration is required to fully use all the features. Those who mastered so many letters are now waiting for a small bonus from and Airbnb— discount for the first booking. By registering through the following link, you will receive $14, which you can spend on renting an apartment.

Get a $25 bonus on rental housing

The company takes the security of all parties very seriously, and is trying at this stage to weed out random and not quite adequate people. Therefore, the first thing to do after registration is to fill out your profile on the site. Add a photo, links to your social media profiles, upload a scanned document. Tell us a little about yourself: where do you work, what are your hobbies. Landlords are the same simple people, but they have the right to refuse you if something seems suspicious or unreliable to them.

Accommodation search

Renting a house or a room in almost any country in the world is no more difficult than finding a hotel in a booking system. The search form is simple and clear: enter desired city, dates, number of guests and click on the red button. As an example, we will have a week for two in Rome.

Further still easier. We put a tick in front of the required type of accommodation (whole house / apartment, separate or shared room) and see what they offer us. You can choose options on the map or use a variety of filters by clicking on the appropriate button.

It is possible to choose the area, the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, Internet access, washing machine, parking and other amenities. You can choose whatever you want, but remember: the more checkboxes you put, the less choice there will be of housing for rent. Therefore, mark only the things that are really necessary, and look at the rest for specific options.

How to make a choice?

By clicking on any of the housing offers, you will see detailed information about it: photo, description, amenities, maximum number of guests and more. What should you pay attention to?

Price. It may vary, depending on the number of guests and the rental period. Please note that the cost at this stage is not final. Commission will be added later. Airbnb(on average, 8-10%) and a cleaning fee after your departure (if the owner indicated it as an additional service).

Cancellation conditions. There are five types, from flexible to super-strict. Carefully read each of them, and make an informed decision, what is best for you: save money, risk losing money if you cancel your trip, or overpay, but get a money-back guarantee.

Pledge. Some owners require an additional deposit to book their apartments. The required amount is blocked on your card and released 48 hours after your departure, unless the host submits evidence of material damage caused by you.

Calendar. It will help you find out which dates the accommodation is already occupied and which are free. Be sure to compare prices, they can vary significantly from day to day.

Reviews. By clicking on the landlord's profile picture, you will see reviews from guests from all over the world who have already used his services. For the first time, it is better to choose accommodation with the maximum number of positive recommendations, so as not to spoil the impression of the service with misunderstandings.

Photo of the apartment. If the picture has an Airbnb watermark, then the photo was taken by an employee of the company or has passed verification. If there is no icon, then the landlord himself photographed, which means that the original may differ slightly from the image.

Feedback. If you have any questions, you can ask the host through the site. Pay attention to the " Response rate". It talks about how quickly a person responds. If you are in a hurry, it is better to choose those who have this indicator above 90%.

Booking and paying for an apartment through the Airbnb website

After making sure that the accommodation suits you, you should send a booking request to the owner by clicking on the appropriate button. Only after he agrees, it will be possible to proceed to payment. You can avoid waiting by choosing one of the options with instant booking, where confirmation is not required.

There are two payment options available: PayPal or credit card MasterCard/Visa. Everything is as usual: fill in the data, check the box "I agree with the conditions", press the "Book" button.

An important nuance. You transfer money not to the landlord, but to the service Airbnb who acts as the guarantor of the transaction. Once you arrive, you will have 24 hours to make sure the accommodation is in order and as described. Only after that the owner receives the amount due to him.

After making the payment, you will receive an email with all the necessary information: the owner's address and mobile phone, receipt, booking confirmation and travel plan.

In case of any misunderstandings, from any part of the world, you can call the round-the-clock Russian-speaking support service. Upon arrival, be sure to go to the site and leave a review about the accommodation you rented. This will help other people planning to rent an apartment abroad. In addition, the owner may leave feedback about you as a tenant, adding a "plus" to the reputation.

How do I list a place on Airbnb?

Why not? The rules of the service do not prohibit being both a landlord and a tenant at the same time. While you are traveling the world, your house does not stand idle, continuing to “eat up” utility bills, but, on the contrary, brings in money. If you happen to own a property in a tourist or resort town, a sin not to use such a chance. Earned can be spent on new ones.

How to rent a house

A little secret for those who are looking for accommodation for two. Find an apartment / room for one person through the search, and then add a second guest in the selected option. Please note that rooms for two or three guests may be more profitable even than those listed in the category for singles.

Search filters make it much easier to choose accommodation: Internet, parking, the possibility of events, smoking - this is far from complete list criteria to select suitable options. In addition, the ability to search by keywords has been implemented, which allows you to find apartments with an office / workplace / next to key locations. It is convenient when you need housing exclusively for work or business negotiations; the choice of housing on the map of the area will allow you to stay exactly next to the office of the desired company.

The issuance of housing in the search depends on many factors, including profile data and the specifics of the trip.

Verified photos

The photo in the ad can tell a lot about the place of rent. The Airbnb sign in the upper right corner of a photo means that the photos were uploaded to the site by the host. And the Verified Photo sign says that there was an Airbnb photographer in this place and did a photo shoot. That is, the photo is exactly true.

Don't be afraid to live in a room

If you're not a sociophobe, try renting a room rather than an apartment. First, the room will cost you less. Secondly, communication with the owners of the apartment will solve many everyday issues: there will be someone to ask about the nearest pharmacy / ATM, or maybe have a drink together in a nearby bar. Read apartment descriptions and user profiles carefully - it usually indicates whether the owner wants to spend time with guests or not. To maintain your privacy, check if the room is locked.

Response rate

Want hosts to respond quickly to any of your questions? Pay attention to the number that stands under the owner's photo in the ad. "Response Rate" is a metric that indicates how often the landlord responds to inquiries. Hosts who have this indicator above 90% respond as quickly as possible.

If you need an apartment right now, look for options with the "Instant Booking" button, which allows you to make a reservation without waiting for confirmation from the owner.

Reviews

Read reviews! Travelers who have lived in this place write honestly about how they spent their time there. However, the lack of any feedback is not a cause for concern. Just ask all the most important questions for you on the site so that you understand exactly where you will live. In addition, an apartment that has few reviews yet can cost less. Travelers also publish reviews about hosts - you can find out in advance their character and manner of communicating with guests.

We monitor the behavior of users on the site and do not allow cheating positive reviews. For example, when a tenant and a landlord are constantly booking a room with each other, the system may consider this as an attempt to create a positive rating on the site.

Safety

Booking, payment, communication between the tenant and the landlord, reviews - the information that we carefully monitor. Airbnb's analytics collection system takes into account many factors, based on patterns of potentially harmful actions (in many ways, this is similar to what eBay successfully implemented). Each property hosted on the Airbnb platform is assigned "trust points". Listings that score low are automatically tagged for closer scrutiny, helping to track money laundering and other forms of fraud. The system works perfectly - out of 6 million residents in 2013, conflict situations that required compensation from the company were noted only 700 times. And don't forget that we always have a customer service hotline, feel free to complain.

Do not forget to study the profile, this will avoid cases of communication with "random" people.

Communication with the owner

We tend to communicate with the owners kindly. Discuss in advance the standard set of questions: how will the keys be handed over, is there Wi-Fi in the apartment, adapters for sockets, a hair dryer, pets, is it possible to use the kitchen, where is the nearest store / pharmacy, how quickly and by what transport can you get there to the city center and so on.

It is possible and necessary to bargain with the owners for housing. You can convince the owner to change the rental price. When booking at the last moment, it may be more profitable for the host to accept you than to leave the apartment empty. Is it possible to significantly reduce the cost of an air mattress, folding bed or sofa? No. But when settling in with a family for normal money, you can rent really good apartments.

Some owners are worried about their property and usually ask for a small security deposit. After you leave the place of residence, the deposit is returned to the card (provided that you left the apartment safe and sound). The return period to the card is determined by your bank. In order to avoid controversial issues (in case the owner tries to accuse you of damaging property), it will not hurt to offer the owner to make a detour or take a picture of the room on his own when evicting from the apartment.

Of course, you can perfectly do without all of the above. But you can get much more good impressions (or even get them at all), and in some cases save money, with the help of our tips. If you have any observations or questions that are not mentioned here, please leave them in the comments.

Gathered in one place links to all sites for booking travel accommodation that I know. Here you will find out how easy it is to spend the night in almost any city in the world at an adequate price or even for free! Or really find unusual place where you will remember your stay for a long time.

In the post, the largest base of hostels in the world, the largest hostel rental service, websites for booking unusual designer hotels, accommodation in exchange for help around the house or looking after a pet - in general, options for every taste. Choose!

Classic: hotel aggregator sites

Personally, I open these sites first of all when I am going somewhere on a trip. As the name implies, they combine information from various booking systems, such as: booking, hotels, ostrovok (one of best prices in Russia), agoda (good for traveling around Asia), trivago, expedia and many others.

Aggregators compare prices, look for discounts and special offers, where you can find not only hotels, but also hostels, guest houses It's very convenient to have everything in one place.

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Free accommodation

The best way to understand a country and its people is to get to know local residents Or better yet, stay with them for a while. Such opportunities are given by international hospitality sites, when people invite guests to their homes. Just don’t see them as just a free overnight stay, rather it’s a cultural exchange, interesting communication, an opportunity to improve your languages ​​and find new friends around the world.

Source: instagram: @myinterior

Accommodation in exchange for housework

These sites should not be considered only as a way for a free overnight stay, but as a new unusual experience and an opportunity to help people and the ecology of the planet for a week, a month, or maybe more. The bottom line is that you work several hours a day, and in return you get room and board.

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Cool and unusual hotel rental services

If you want to live in a lighthouse, in a treehouse, visit eco-friendly or vegetarian-only hotels, try out glamping (glamorous camping) or just show off, then there are special sites for this.

✔ and - here you can buy someone else's reservation at a discount. Someone could not go and sells their reservation on the site. You are getting good discount, and the person - money for a non-refundable number.