Airbnb is quickly becoming one of the best ways for travellers to feel like they’re ‘living’ in a country – rather than just passing through.
A couple who would agree with that sentiment is Debbie, 62, and Michael Campbell, 72, who sold all of their worldly possessions in 2013 and set off from Seattle on ‘one last trip’ around the world together.
They’ve visited an incredible 70 countries and stayed in 178 Airbnb listings – even being asked by the company to head to HQ and complete a 10-week internship – and they’ve shared some of their best accommodation tips with FEMAIL.
They’ve visited an incredible 68 countries and stayed in 148 Airbnb listings (pictured)
‘We use the PEARL method to decipher whether an Airbnb is right for us and fits into the budget,’ Debbie said.
‘So first of all you need to obviously look at the price. We always recommend sticking to your limits and saving even more money by purchasing groceries and cooking in the home you select,’ she continued.
The ‘Senior Nomads’ – who will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this year – usually choose the ‘entire apartment or home’ selection on the website, rather than just a private room, but it depends on how much time you’re spending there.
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A couple who would agree with that sentiment is Debbie, 62, and Michael Campbell, 72, who sold all of their worldly possessions in 2013 and set off on ‘one last trip’ (pictured)
‘If it’s a short stay occasionally we’ll just book a one room place,’ Michael said
‘If it’s a short stay occasionally we’ll just book a one room place,’ Michael said.
‘E stands for expectation. What do you expect from your place? Make sure you really look at the pictures the home owner is supplying you with and decide if it’s going to give you the best experience,’ Debbie said.
As part of the PEARL system A stands for amenities.
The couple – who will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this year – usually choose the ‘entire apartment or home’ selection on the website
‘We encourage people to decide what’s important to them. So for us it’s wifi, a decent sized kitchen, a big table (for our laptops and to do jigsaw puzzles on) and sometimes a little outdoor space,’ Debbie continued
‘We encourage people to decide what’s important to them. So for us it’s wifi, a decent sized kitchen, a big table (for our laptops and to do jigsaw puzzles on) and sometimes a little outdoor space,’ Debbie continued.
If you’re after a pool or a pool table, decide early on what you can and can’t live without in a space and then double check each listing has it.
‘R is for Reviews as part of that method. Often some of the best pieces of advice come from the reviews – we write one every time we leave a place,’ Michael said.
Whether it’s how close or far away the listing is from the city centre or how big the space really is, a lot of those extra details are revealed through the review system.
If you’re after a pool or a pool table, decide early on what you can and can’t live without in a space and then double check each listing has it (Debbie and Michael pictured)
Whether it’s how close or far away the listing is from the city centre or how big the space really is, a lot of those extra details are revealed through the review system
Which leads us to the last point – location.
‘If you want a quiet little place by the beach then you’re not going to want to read about lots of noise surrounding a listing!’ Michael said.
‘We don’t have a car so things need to be accessible by either walking or public transport – so that’s an important factor to consider.
‘If you want a quiet little place by the beach then you’re not going to want to read about lots of noise surrounding a listing!’ Michael said
‘I love finding local groceries and markets in each country and I’m a keen cook,’ Debbie said
The couple usually book their place three or four weeks in advance – although sometimes closer to the departure time out of ‘laziness’ – but insist they save money by cooking at home.
‘I love finding local groceries and markets in each country and I’m a keen cook,’ Debbie said.
They also complete a free walking tour, which tends to last upwards of three hours, in every city.
They also complete a free walking tour, which tends to last upwards of three hours, in every city
‘So for instance we’re in Sydney right now and there are two we found online. The guides work off tips so they’re usually really enthusiastic,’ Debbie said.
As for how much longer they will live life on the roads, that’s the only thing they don’t have a steadfast plan for.
‘We decided early on we’d keep doing it as long as we’re healthy, having fun and staying close to budget, and we’re still in love,’ Michael said.
You can follow the Senior Nomads journey on their website.