#1801 - On AirBnB

Hello!  And, welcome to my little corner of cyberspace.

I am happy to be doing the From A to Z Challenge again this year.

Last year, it gave me a chance to read a LOT of interesting new blogs,

and also brought a lot of new readers to my site as well...

thank you to those that have stuck with me through the last year..

Hope I can continue to keep it entertaining and interesting for you all!!

My number in the title is where I am on the list of participants. 

(2231 signed up as of today!)

During the month, it gets smaller as people fall out.

You have to post daily...!

As such, my first entry will be on AirBnB.

For new readers, let me give you a little background.

I live in Northern California.  About 90 miles from the Oregon border.

I work as an ED doc in a rural hospital.

Last year, I started picking up shifts in the "big city"...  Sacramento.

During the time I worked as an ambassador for my physician's group

room and board was paid for.

Then I was asked to stay on to help fill in spots from time to time,

so for the last 5 months, I have been traveling down on my own dime

and having to pay for hotels, etc.

As you can imagine, I would need to work more to justify the expense of traveling

the 5 1/2 hours to work.  Then I heard about AirBnB on another blog site.

Basically, it's people renting out their homes, or a room in their

home to people traveling.  The site coordinates the logistics, 

collects a small fee and pays the owner.

It's part of a new trend of "share" sites that are popping up.

People can "borrow" cars, bicycles, homes.

They can go over to someone's house and have a meal cooked

for them while out of town.  Wow, huh?

Anyway, I tried it out, and here's a few things I've learned:

1.)  You get what you pay for.  

Some places are inexpensive but offer you a small bed, or even a couch!  

And you sometimes have to share a bathroom with other guests.  

Read the fine print and decide how comfortable you are with these arrangements.  

For the most part, when I get home from a shift at the hospital, 

I just want a quiet place to lay down and decompress... but I am fussy about

bathroom sharing arrangements.  Which brings me to...

2.) Make it more like home.  

I have a container with all my toiletries that I carry with me.  Once I get to the room,

I set up my supplies for the number of days I am going to be there.  I prefer my

own shower "puff" and body washes to those sometimes provided. 

And, sometimes you might want your own pillow as opposed to the one

provided which isn't as flat/fluffy/formed/not smelly as your own.

3.) Have snacks.

Along with toiletries, you notice that I also have snacks in my travel box.

Even though you often have use of the home's kitchen and dining room,

there are times when I don't want to go out of my room and interrupt

the host's goings-on.  Like if they're having dinner.  Or if they have

family over, etc.  I make sure everything is sealed (I even have a supply

of plastic containers on hand), and I throw my trash away immediately.

Also, I've been told that I can "put my things anywhere" in terms of the

cupboards or refrigerator.  But, often there just isn't enough space.

So, it's just easier to have dry goods I can keep in the room and snack on

or take to work.

4.) Be prepared for anything.

Parking arrangement changes, "extra guests" that were unexpected, chatty hosts, etc.

Sometimes, though, the unexpected can be a pleasure...

A new friend...

2013 A to Z post:

A is for Appetizer