The travel world was thrown into chaos during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only was travel halted, but the idea of home-sharing was also considered a potentially deadly health hazard. But fast forward to late-Summer 2021, travel has bounced back in a big way as those previously stuck at home are now free to explore the world. What this boom in travel has highlighted is the huge need for more Airbnb’s throughout the country and here is why.
Lifestyle Over Vacation Experience
Many people want to travel now, but on the same note, not everyone wants to worry about spending time in a hotel around others during a time when the pandemic is still continually active, especially with the emergence of the Delta variant (and inevitably future variants). Airbnb has always touted that their guests can enjoy privacy and control over their stay and the accommodations they stay in. This includes having a fully functioning kitchen, instead of having to go out to crowded restaurants, which is particularly important to travelers looking to minimize their risk of exposure to COVID.
The biggest benefit of Airbnb is that home-sharing provides more of a lifestyle experience than your traditional vacation. Travelers can control more aspects surrounding their trips. Clothes can be laundered in most places in the Airbnbs they are staying at, meals can be made in the kitchen, and travelers can enjoy their own entertainment experience right in the comfort of their home away from home.
An Ever-Changing and Adapting Lifestyle
Before the pandemic began, most people lived in one location for most of the year, and if they were fortunate enough, they would take a week-long vacation once a year. Now with the pandemic, the way people live is changing. More people are working from home, children can now attend school remotely, and even some colleges have embraced online learning. They now have more freedom in their lifestyle and can work and attend school from anywhere.
Some Airbnb’s offer extended rental accommodations such as for a month or more. This convenience grants those who were stuck at home the freedom to get away from home to travel more freely but still have a place to call home.
Safety, Comfort, and Control
While hotels also took additional precautions in cleaning and social distancing during this time, travelers were still wary about potentially being around people outside their family and “bubble” of friends. This, among other things, lead to this Summer’s boom in the Airbnb market.
Airbnb even announced they were expanding their extensive cleaning measures for hosts during the pandemic to help reassure travelers who may have been cautious about staying somewhere other than home. Social distancing is more controlled in Airbnb homes and locations. Travelers can restrict their rentals to family members only, and when renting an entire unit or home, can help to evenly space others in their own bedrooms.
Additionally, with most Airbnbs, there is no need to “check-in” with a human upon arrival as the paperwork and payment logistics are all handled by the app. This eliminates another risk of contamination inherent in hotel stays — checking in and out with the front desk.
The COVID-19 pandemic will still weigh heavily on the hospitality industry throughout 2021, but one thing that seems to be on the rise is the idea of avoiding unnecessary contact with fellow travelers by staying in an Airbnb. With options such as home food delivery, grocery delivery, and online retailers eliminating the need to travel to traditional stores, minimizing exposure to potential COVID vectors has never been easier for those genuinely wanting to social distance.
A freelancer writer and published author with over 15 years of writing experience, healthcare worker, wife and mother of 5.