UPDATED!!!

CHECK OUT THE RESULTS ON THE FOLLOWING POST HERE: Testing Out AirBnB. . . the Results!

Seoul, Korea. . . Here I come!

Yes, I am returning to this country of my heart in June, where I get the opportunity to stay for almost 3 weeks.  I will be studying in Kyoto and Tianjin, but I get a little time in between.  After scouring the airline prices, it is definitely cheaper to fly to Korea and hang out there in cheap housing rather than fly back and forth to the US.  Plus, I’m dying to go back!

However, since I am a very cheap student (did I mention I was cheap, as in uber, uber cheap?) I am looking for someplace to stay in Korea for the duration.  Last semester I stayed in Chungmuro, but that hotel is way too expensive to stay in without school loans helping to cover the cost.  On the other hand, I liked being in that area of Seoul, so I think I’ll try finding something in the nearby vicinity of that dip in the Han River.  Anyway, off I go to test Airbnb.  I figured I’d keep an up-to-date notation on how the process works in case anyone else wants to try them out.  So, I’ll keep posting to this page as I learn more 🙂  And Off We Go!

WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY?

Who?

• Name = Airbnb

What?

Airbnb is kind of a unique hotel/couch-surfing/cheap hostel search engine.  It was based on the idea of linking people to unique or different options for housing when traveling around the world.  Here you can find everything from the most expensive penthouses to the cheapest attic rooms inside a family’s home.  Right now, it covers places in more than “33,000” cities and “192” countries (according to their website).  Supposedly it is pretty easy to use, but we’ll see how it goes.

When?

• Now: I’m going to be researching prices and locations that might fit my requirements (not too far from the Itaewon/Insa-dong/Gang-nam area; less than $30 a night; internet available)
• This Week:  Set up the account and figure out how to book/details of payment.
• Within the Next Month: Book a place
• June: Arrive and stick up a review here of what I find!

Where?

• Airbnb Website = www.airbnb.com
• Housing Location = I’ll post it after I’ve been there.

Why?

I’ve kind of already covered this with the “I’m broke” explanation (does the word “cheap” ring a bell?).  Hotels are extremely expensive (in my point of view) in Korea, at around $100 a night.  I don’t have $2000+ to spend on housing when I’d much rather go shopping or touring the area.  Plus, I”ll need to save up for China!

HOW

Well, that’s the question, isn’t it? 🙂 I’ll post this information as I go!

1. Signing Up

• Go to www.airbnb.com.
• Click “Signup” in the corner.
• You can register via Facebook (it gets all your information from them) or by entering your name/email address/password.
• You need to then check your email for the confirmation letter. Confirm your email.

2. Your Airbnb Profile

1. Go to your name on the top right corner of the home page to see your new profile.  
2. Here you can post where you live, information about yourself, upload a photo, etc.
3. You can also add to your “trustworthiness” by linking to your facebook, twitter, linkedin, and other accounts.  You can add recommendations about yourself or places you have stayed as well.  All of this supposedly makes you more likely to be accepted as a tenant.

3. Finding A Place

• You can start your search on the front page by entering where you’re going, when your check in and out dates are, and the number of guests.  
• Then you just filter through the results, read reviews, etc. until you pick a couple places!  I’ve actually found a place near to the tourist area of Seoul for less than $30 a night.   It has great reviews, so we’ll see how it goes!

4.  Booking Process

1. If you have the money available, you can supposedly click “Book It” on the house’s post.  You enter your information, and the host decides if they will accept your payment/reservation.  If so, then you’re good to go.
2. 3/28  — However, I cannot really afford to pay the whole cost of the room all at once, so I decided to contact the hotel’s owner and see if I can reserve a place by putting down a deposit.  You can contact the host directly by clicking on the “Contact . . . ” button.  I basically introduced myself, laid out why I’m looking at their place, and asked whether they had a room and how much it would cost to lay down a deposit.  You cannot input your email or phone number in that message.  They don’t allow any of that to pass hands.  So, we’ll see how they contact me and what they say!
3. 3/28 — So, I got a message about 5 minutes later!  Quick response!  However, the answer was to ask them more information via Kakao Talk (A Korea version of messenger). . . I’ve never used Kakao (although I have an account), so I’m not sure how this goes.
4. 4/29 — So I’ve emailed the host via Kakao’s chat, kind of repeated what I said before, and sent it.  We’ll see what he says when he responds. 🙂
5. 5/18 — I have been writing back and forth the past month with the owner setting up the reservation, making sure rooms are available, etc. and I have to say he has been INCREDIBLY accommodating. Since I was unable to pay the whole amount up front, he has let me pay a deposit via PayPal to reserve the room. Then I’ll pay the rest when I get there.  However, I may have to modify the reservation. I just learned that my school program’s classes ends the 11th, meaning I have a final that day. I thought the calendar was saying that my housing/the whole program was over that day. So we may have to shorten my reservation by 1 day. I’d feel awful if so, but I’m hoping he will help me a little more!?! (Fingers Crossed!) Anyway, I emailed him and got the address of my location, so as of now I have a reservation in Seoul!

Tags: abroad, airbnb, apartment, flying, hotel, Korea, Travel, travel tips