Top 5 Airbnb Locations from Nomad Life Phase 1
Today let’s look back on our favorite Airbnb units from Nomad Life Phase 1!
Airbnb Reflection Time!
The end of the year is approaching which always results in a period of reflection. Looking back on 2022, the thing I am most grateful for is, of course, our Nomad Life Phase 1 adventures.
If this is your first time on the blog, here’s a Nomad Life Q&A Blog Post describing what our experience is.
Airbnb Became Our Lifestyle
To sum things up – My partner, Steven, and I decided to take our remote lifestyle abroad and rent an Airbnb for each month in all different countries so we could incorporate more travel into our everyday lives.
We treated Airbnb like our apartment rent for the year, switching from one unit to the next as the months went by. This gave us the opportunity to have a home base for the day-to-day, and then travel the surrounding areas in our free time.
Our Top Airbnb Tip!
One of the best tips we learned while doing this is that Airbnb actually has a “monthly rate” which makes a lot of the units comparably priced to what we would’ve paid for rent + utilities + etc. in the US. In the end, the experience was worth everything and we actually really ended up falling in love with some of our Airbnbs– they really became our little homes!
Which Were Our Favorite Airbnb’s?
In today’s post, I am going to share with you what our Top 5 Airbnb‘s from our time during Nomad Life Phase 1. I’ll share photos of what they looked like, the biggest pros and cons, and why we loved them so much.
So let’s get into it!
Starting with…
#5 – Boutique Loft in Rome, Italy
Pros:
- This Airbnb had a very open interior with a small loft and upstairs area, so for two people, it was a really nice size!
- It had a lovely kitchen for cooking our nightly pasta
- There were two bathrooms!
- It was located closeby to grocery stores, our favorite gelato place Gelato San Lorenzo 100 % Naturale, and our favorite restaurant, Ciacco
- Our host was so lovely!
- It was affordably priced
Cons:
- Everything we wanted to see was about a 30-40 minute walk. However, this could also be a pro because it was in a local area vs. a touristy destination. And we got a ton of exercise which balanced out all of the pasta eating.
Why we loved it so much… Our Rome Airbnb was the unit that kicked off our Nomad Life Adventures. I remember seeing it on Airbnb and feeling in my bones that this was the place we should stay. The pure giddiness we felt when we booked it and when we arrived in Rome was just so memorable. It will always hold a really special place in my heart.
#4 – Apt in Titanic Quarter with balcony in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Pros:
- The location of this Airbnb was phenomenal. It was located right near Titanic Courtyard (yes, where the Titanic was built) and only about a 10-minute walk from Belfast’s city center. All of this was located along the water which was gorgeous, even in winter.
- There was also the Belfast Giants’ Hockey Arena, movie theater, and The Dock Cafe on our same street.
- There was a SPAR Grocery store located steps away from the apartment building and it had everything we needed.
- We could order Uber Eats very easily!
- It was such a cozy little apartment to snuggle up and watch Game of Thrones for hours on end – especially since it was windy and freezing during the winter
- There was a bathtub in the unit!
- Our hosts were so kind and accommodating
- This was the most affordable of all of the Airbnb’s in Dublin/the United Kingdom
Cons:
- The bed was a little bit small!
- There wasn’t a ton of storage for staying a whole month, but we made it work!
Why we loved it so much… We checked into Belfast after our worst Airbnb experience the month prior, and coming here was like a breath of fresh air. (literally, the place we had before in Dublin had mold. π« A nightmare)
This unit had everything we needed. It felt comfortable and cozy and the location was so phenomenal and functional. We really felt like we got to live here. And since it was wintertime, so we spent a ton of time in the apartment watching Game of Thrones, cooking dinner, and staying warm.
#3 – Spacious Old Town Square Apartment in Prague, Czech Republic
Pros:
- So spacious – this apartment had an entryway that connected the spacious bedroom, living room, and bathroom with a bathtub!
- The apartment was in a building that had a ton of small businesses right downstairs like a famous meat deli, ramen shop, flatbread spot, wine-tasting room, etc.
- We were steps away from the restaurant Lokal, which we saw in the vlog that convinced us to go to Prague. (what a synchronicity!)
- We had enough space to bring in a little Christmas tree for the holidays π₯°
- The TV was really big!
- This was one of the comfiest beds of our entire year
- Great host! Would most definitely stay here again if we ever came back to Prague
Cons:
- The previous guests left behind some damages that needed to be taken care of – but the positive of this was that we were shown how hospitable our host and housekeeper were!
Why we loved it so much… We had one morning back in Buffalo before we even left on our journey where we were trying to decide on our third country to go to. Steven’s Mom recommended Prague so we started watching vlogs about this beautiful city. (this was the Mark Wiens Prague vlog in particular that inspired us to go for it!)
Within 24 hours, we found this unit within our budget, with stellar reviews for the host, and gorgeous photos. I remember when we walked inside for the first time and the apartment was just so big and beautiful. It felt so luxurious. It ended up being our home for Christmas this year, which made it extra special!
#2 – Theatre Square Apartment with Lovely Natural Light in London, England
Pros:
- The way this flat was set up was so cool. It was one open space, but then there was a wall that folded in and a garage door that came down so the bedroom could be blocked off into a separate room when desired.
- When the garage door was down, you could use the movie projector and watch movies right on it!
- My favorite part of the flat was the little booth that was built into the bedroom which was so perfect for working.
- It was decorated so beautifully – from the blue kitchen cabinets to thoughtful artwork, to even having a bamboo “tree” in the living room. There was so much style infused into this space!
- The couch opened up into a full-size bed.
- The lighting was absolutely fabulous, the whole apartment was flooded with gorgeous natural light.
- The location was great – we were about a 5-7 minute walk from Westfield Stratford Malls and a Tube Station, so we could get around London quite easily!
- There was also a giant Morrison’s grocery store across the street, and two Nando’s within walking distance.
- Our host, Saj, was the absolute best. We still talk about how much we love and miss him! He truly became a friend during our time in London. He was exceptionally creative and had so many unique touches built into this Airbnb. It was such a joy to stay here and get to know him.
- We had everything we needed. Saj kept this place stocked for any situation you could possibly think of!
Cons:
- London Prices
Why we loved it so much… Our Airbnb’s for the few months leading up to this were a bit hit or miss. But when we arrived in London and our host, Saj, left after our welcome tour, we started jumping up and down and doing a happy dance. This Airbnb was STUNNING and so unique!
London was definitely one of our top favorite cities and this Airbnb absolutely sealed the deal on making this one of our most memorable months of Nomad Life. We were very nervous about going to London because the prices were so high, but we invested our money in the perfect place. This Airbnb was well worth it and then some! We loved it so much and would go back any time!
#1 – Jubav Apartment in Podstrana, Croatia
(I am very much regretting not taking photos of this unit during the day, as we arrived at nighttime. It looks even more beautiful when the natural light is shining through!)
Pros:
- This unit had two floors and was spotlessly clean. There was a waterfall shower, an L-shaped couch, a functional kitchen, a huge table to work at, and two patios!
- The views were next level – you look out the front and you can see the sea, and if you look out the back you can see the mountains!
- There was a grocery store, drug store, and bakery within walking distance.
- There was a pool and grill!
- The whole building was hosted by a family who lived right next door, and we got to know all of them. Our hosts would come by weekly and change out sheets and do a little housekeeping – which is usually not something hosts do with monthly rentals! They were truly such kind and thoughtful people.
- Another INCREDIBLY comfortable and spacious bed!
Cons:
- This isn’t really a con, but we were technically located in Podstrana instead of Split. So the only thing is was that we would need to Uber into town since it was not within walking distance. (absolutely beyond worth it for this place though!) And ubers are quite affordable in Croatia so it was not a problem at all!
- We also could not order any food delivery services here because it was out of range
Why we loved it so much… This Airbnb was heaven on earth. We got to live in the little Croatian beach town of our dreams. The apartment was always filled with bright natural light and fresh air. We stayed in May, which was such an ideal time to go because it wasn’t scorching hot or crazy crowded yet. I couldn’t believe we scored an apartment with water out the front and mountains out the back.
When Steven’s Mom made a last-minute visit out to Croatia, the unit next to ours happened to be open for the exact same week she was looking at coming here. So we all got to spend a week together and have this as our beautiful home base. I cannot recommend it enough, we would absolutely come back here again if we ever revisit Split.
Final Airbnb Thoughts
Airbnb truly is what made Nomad Life possible for us this past year, and I cannot express enough how much we loved the units I mentioned in this post.
Looking back on photos makes me so nostalgic for the time we got to spend at each place. It took a ton of research and a few hit or miss situations, but overall I am just so grateful for every little Airbnb unit we got to call “home.”
As we move on to the new year and into Phase 2, we will see what our Nomad Life housing situations will look like in the future! I’m so grateful for where we have been, but also really excited to see what’s in store.
Let me know if you have any questions about the units or which one looks loveliest to you! I hope you enjoyed this little Airbnb recap, and until next time… we’ll talk soon π
WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT JESS’ CREATIONS:
Like a cup of coffee, I pour my heart into The Road Jess Traveled so we can all go on these adventures together! βοΈβ€οΈ If you have been loving the posts, photos, or any of my online creations – you now have the
Click the button below to donate and support the blog!
Thank you times a million. β€οΈ
If you’re loving this trip report and want notifications of new posts,
SIGN UP FOR EMAILS:
