If you have summer travel on the brain, you’re in luck—the latest Airbnb news will make planning your next road trip, beach getaway, or woodland retreat a whole lot easier. In a statement released on Wednesday, May 11, Brian Chesky, CEO and cofounder of Airbnb, announced several major changes coming to the homestay platform that will better reflect how people like to travel in 2022.
“First, people are more flexible about where they live and work, so we’ve designed a new way to search with Airbnb Categories,” Chesky stated. “Second, people are taking longer trips, so we created Split Stays to give you more options by splitting your trip between two homes. And third, we’re introducing AirCover for guests, giving you the confidence to book knowing that Airbnb’s got your back.”
With Airbnb Categories you no longer have to search solely by dates and a location to find your next vacation. You can filter by homes with amazing views, historical homes, beachfront stays, and 53 other categories to find the exact experience you’re craving. And if you’re looking for a longer-term stay, you don’t have to confine yourself to one home thanks to Split Stays. This new feature allows users to book two homes for the same trip, so they can get the most out of the area they’re visiting. The Split Stay booking process is simple—once you choose your stays, you can book the homes one at a time.
AirCover, the third change announced as part of Airbnb’s news, upgrades and broadens the company’s approach to customer service. This protection plan includes four updates, all of which are intended to help you feel more confident about booking through Airbnb.
The Booking Protection Guarantee ensures that Airbnb will provide you with a similar stay or refund you if your host cancels within 30 days of your check-in date. The Check-In Guarantee promises that Airbnb will provide you with a similar stay or refund you if you can’t check into your stay and your host can’t fix the problem on their own. The Get-What-You-Booked Guarantee allows you to report inconsistencies between your stay’s listing and the actual home, and receive an alternative booking or refund (provided you send your report within three days). The fourth and final upgrade is Airbnb’s 24-hour safety line, available in 16 languages, which you can call if you ever feel unsafe during a stay.
The rollout for these changes started Wednesday for stays in the United States, and they’ll go live on international stays this week. So if you’re looking forward to getting away in the coming months, you can expect an even smoother booking process followed by an enjoyable, reliable, and safe stay when you book through Airbnb. Below, check out a handful of stays available in the U.S., all of which are protected with AirCover and adhere to the brand’s COVID-19 safety practices. Then you can pack your bags, grab your favorite travel companion, and get ready to hit the road.
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Source: SELF
