I live in Barcelona, a city that’s grappling with its tourism sector. There are a handful of illegal Airbnbs on my street, and even one in my building. I’m one of the first people to criticize the rental platform.
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That being said, I don’t dislike Airbnb as a whole. I wish the company required hosts to prove that their rental is legal before hosting it—but, ultimately, the onus is on hosts to respect local ordinances.
In other words, the platform can be a bit of a Wild West, and, because of that, it’s easy to book the wrong Airbnb. And that decision has real-world ramifications on your destination.
On the other hand, I remember the early days of Airbnb—it revolutionized travel, especially for budget-conscious adventurers. It introduced the concept of a homestay, more affordable rates, and more immersive lodgings.
And while Airbnb has lost its shimmer, I doubt the platform is going anywhere. If anything, Airbnb might enact tighter rules around how hosts can list their properties. But that won’t change the fact that thousands of travelers rely on Airbnb to book rentals.
So, in honor of changing times and the hard-to-beat allure of a private rental, here’s your guide to using Airbnb in 2206 to nail your booking, stay safe, and make sure you’re compliant with local laws.
2026 Airbnb Guide: 7 easy tips to do it right
Check for licensing & regulation information
Before you book an Airbnb, I recommend double-checking that the host is abiding by local ordinance. In the United States, there’s no federal law or even state law prohibiting private rentals. They’re usually registered on the local level.
If you don’t see a license and registration number, take a minute to Google the area and inquire about private rental legalities. If you don’t see a registration number and don’t care to check—that’s fine. But know that many areas are tightening their Airbnb restrictions, meaning unregistered and illegal Airbnbs could be de-listed at any point in time.
Read the rest of the description carefully
Read through the entire description carefully, all the way to the end. The more thorough the host, the better. They should also list any rules in the description. For example, the rental might be party-friendly for your group, but the neighborhood could have noise restrictions that start as early as 9 pm.
I also use the description to get a feel for the host. Some are stricter than others, and make no bones about that. In other words, you can pick up on a host’s tone in the description. If it’s a turn-off, avoid the rental.
Speak with the host—and expect a personal touch
Speaking of hosts, I recommend reaching out to the host if you have any questions or doubts when looking at the listing. (Unless you’re going to stay long-term, don’t haggle on price—you won’t likely get any bites.) They should have the information you’re looking for.
I also recommend looking for a personal touch. For example, if your host asks about your group size and plans for the trip, don’t get spooked—they’re probably preparing a little something extra for you at check-in. It might be as small as personalized recommendations on things to do, but it can add a lot to the experience.
In other words, if you think the host is being a little chatty, it’s probably a good thing. They’re shifting into hospitality mode to prepare for your visit.
Read through low-star reviews first
I always read through one and two-star reviews on potential Airbnb bookings. I look to see what guests critiqued, and then how the host responded. It’s normal for guests to point out issues that the host will then fix. So long as the host gives a thoughtful response and mentions fixing the problem, I disregard the review.
However, if you see multiple low-star reviews ragging on the same issue over a long period of time, you’re likely to experience a similar problem during your stay.
More pictures > artsy pictures
Disregard the artsy close-ups of Airbnbs if they don’t come with plenty of other images. You want quantity over quality when it comes to Airbnb profiles. Don’t worry about the quality of the shots as much as the space that they’re conveying. You’d rather see five photos of a living room than one magical shot of half the room.
I also recommend looking for exterior shots. You can get a great feel for a property and how it’s cared for based on its exterior.
Super hosts, guest favorites, and beyond
Don’t worry about super hosts as much as guest favorites. Super hosts are hosts with multiple listings with high ratings. They’re a good sign, but they’re sometimes reserved for management companies. Instead, focus on guest favorites.
Guest favorites are listings with high average reviews. They’ll give you a few great ideas about where to stay and what to expect from rentals in a given area. However, Airbnb listings are organized by an algorithm—and it prioritizes listings that offer instant bookings.
The Airbnbs you see are the most available to you based on your booking needs, but they might not be the best. I always recommend digging a few pages deeper to check out properties that have fewer ratings because they’re new and don’t have instant book enabled. I promise, in most places, you’ll find a gem or two.
Management companies
I personally avoid Airbnbs that are run by management companies because they’re hard to get a hold of, inflexible, and are rigid about rental rules, like cleaning fees. Plus, properties owned and run by companies tend to contribute to localized rental issues, such as spiked housing prices, while contributing little to the local community.
In some cases, there isn’t even a ‘host’ in the area to help you out if things go wrong. They feel like hotels that don’t have any staff nearby. However, that’s my own personal take, so do with it what you will. I’m sure there are management companies that serve the community and offer excellent stays.
