10 Things I Always Check Before Booking an Airbnb
The things I actually look at before hitting “Book”—especially when we’re traveling with kids or multiple families.
Before You Book...
JUMP TO SECTION
🛏️ The Bedroom Setup
“Sleeps 12” does NOT necessarily mean 12 actual beds.
Family #1
Family #2
Couple
Kids
🚿 Count the Bathrooms
4 bedrooms + 1 bathroom = NOPE.
- Spacious Shower
- Soaking Tub
- Separate Toilet Rooms
- Getting Ready Space
IDEAL
1 Bath per Family.
More bathrooms, less chaos.
STILL COMFORTABLE
1 Bath for 2 Families.
A little planning, but totally doable.
COUPLES TRIP
1 Bath for 3 Couples.
Morning chaos and bathroom lines.
⭐ Read the Reviews Like a Mom
The pictures are trying to sell me the house. The reviews tell me what it’s actually like.
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IN EVERY REVIEW
Cleanliness
Beds & Linens
Noise & Sleep
Neighborhood
Pool & Yard
Kitchen Setup
Host Response
Wi-Fi & Speed
Photo Accuracy
THE MOM-REVIEWNRULE
One weird review? Probably fine. Five recent reviews complaining about the SAME thing? I’m listening.
Search the Reviews Like a Pro: Use Ctrl + F (or Command + F on a Mac) to search reviews for the things you actually care about—like “noise,” “mattress,” “stairs,” “crib,” or “kids.” It’s SO much faster than reading through months of reviews.
📍 Location Matters More Than the Pretty Kitchen
🗺️ WHAT'S NEARBY?
Grocery Store
Local Coffee
Restaurants
The Beach
OUR AIRBNB
Pharmacy
Gas Station
Attractions
Downtown
How far is this house from what we’re ACTUALLY going there to do?
🏊 The Backyard Can Make the Trip
🎯 POOL CHECK
- Heated option (cost extra?)
- Pool towels & water floats fully stocked
- Lounging chairs for the entire party
🛡️ KID SAFETY CHECK
- No direct access to pool without alarm
- Self-closing & self-latching security gates
- Pool visible from the kitchen window
🌴 Give Me the FUN Backyard
Playset
Putting Green
Basketball
Cornhole
Fire Pit
Outdoor Kitchen
Spacious Yard
Patio Lounge
🎮 YES, I Care About the Fun Stuff
Arcade
Pool Table
Ping-Pong
Foosball
Gaming
Movie Room
Board Games
Toys
Indoor Play
The house isn't just where we're sleeping. It's part of the vacation. Especially when you're traveling with kids.
The Boring Amenities That Become AMAZING
The Boring Amenities That Become AMAZINGWhen traveling with kids, the things you look for in an Airbnb change. Sometimes the simplest features can make the biggest difference.
WASHER + DRYER
LESS TO PACK = WIN
Bonus Family Amenities
- Pack 'n Play & fitted sheet
- High Chair
- Bathtub
- Extra Blankets
- Beach Towels
- Baby Gates
☕ The Kitchen Situation
- Refrigerator & Freezer
- Microwave
- Stove top & Oven
- Dishwasher (pods provided)
- Pots, Pans, & Baking Sheets
- Kid-friendly Plates & bowls
- Spacious prep table
- COFFEE MAKER (The essential survival tool, fully stocked)
BUT CAN EVERYONE ACTUALLY SIT DOWN?
A house might sleep 12… but can 12 people actually sit somewhere?
- Family breakfast
- Pizza night
- Game night
- Adults hanging out after bedtime
📋 Read the Boring Stuff BEFORE You Book
THINGS I CHECK
- Quiet Hours (Are they strict or reasonable)
- Parking limits (Do they only allow 1)
- Pool Rules (Is heating included or extra)
- Guest limit (Can visitors come over)
🚩 RED FLAGS ON THE LIST
- Strip beds & wash towels
- Sweep, mop, or vacuum
- Run a load of laundry & fold dry linens
- Take trash to offsite dumpsters yourself
- Strict 9:00 AM checkout times
If I’m paying a huge cleaning fee AND doing half the cleaning myself… I’m probably looking at another house.
💰 The REAL Price
WHAT YOU SEE
WHAT YOU ACTUALLY PAY
- Base Rate (4 Nights): $1,000
- Cleaning Fee: $150
- Service Fee & Taxes: $230
- Pool Heat: $200
- Pet Fee: $75
Traveling With Other Families? Here's How I Split the Airbnb.
SPLIT BY ROOM — NOT PERSON.
Why? Because you’re paying for the space you use. If each family or couple gets one bedroom, split the cost by room—not by how many people are in it.
3-Bedroom House
$1,000
Family #1
Gets Bedroom 1
$1,000
Family #2
Gets Bedroom 2
$1,000
Family #3
Gets Bedroom 3
My Family Airbnb Checklist
YOU FOUND THE HOUSE ✓
Now... What Are We Eating?
The Only Airbnb Grocery List You Need
Take the guesswork out of meal planning for large groups, families, and high-energy kids.
- 🍳 Breakfast & Brunch
- 🥪 Easy Lunches
- 🍝 Dinners & Side Dishes
- 🥨 Kid-Approved Snacks
- ☕ Coffee & Drinks
- 🧻 Pantry Essentials & Treats
💡 PRO TIP:
Want to See How We Actually Plan an Airbnb Family Trip?
Planning a family trip used to mean spending HOURS looking for the prettiest Airbnb. Now I know better. A beautiful house means nothing if there aren’t enough bathrooms, the kids have nothing to do, or we’re all on top of each other. For our latest Arizona getaway, I focused way less on the perfect pictures and way more on finding a house where everyone could slow down, spread out, and actually enjoy being together.
