Airbnb New York: How to Find a Rental You’ll Actually Like

There's not much to say about Airbnb today that you don't already know. The platform took the idea of sharing an apartment and made it official, and these days it's much more than that.

On Airbnb you'll find entire apartments, private rooms, garden-level units and more. There's a lot to choose from.

If you search carefully and book early, you can find prices below what hotels charge, and for peace of mind, the platform is completely legitimate in New York: it's regulated and it pays taxes.

How does it work?

It's always worth a refresher in case you haven't used the platform yet.

Airbnb connects private individuals who have rooms, apartments or houses available to rent with travelers looking for a more homey kind of lodging, away from the usual tourist circuit.

Originally it was people offering up their homes while they were away on vacation or business trips. But these days it's become a real business for many, with hosts outfitting spaces specifically to list them on Airbnb.

This option for sleeping in New York is perfect if you enjoy breathing in the local air and if you fantasize about living like an actual New Yorker instead of a tourist.

Is Airbnb safe?

The company was founded in San Francisco, California in 2008, and it's now the most widely used platform for renting vacation apartments in New York and in hundreds of other cities around the world.

It promises more authentic experiences to fit any budget, from luxury lofts in Manhattan to extremely hipster rooms in Brooklyn.

A big part of Airbnb's job is keeping strict control over the identity of both hosts and travelers, so we can honestly tell you to book with confidence. You're never going to end up at Ted Bundy's place 🙂

Which neighborhood should you look in?

If you want more detail and guidance on which neighborhood works best for you, check out our guide: where to stay in New York.