The pandemic is a tricky time to travel. But there are certain things you can do to stay safe — and save money, too.
An important note: I’ve been vaccinated. And an increasing number of people around the world have been, too. But no vaccine is 100 percent effective. So hygiene protocols are still important — as is protecting yourself from losing money in the event of trip cancellations (airlines and other travel companies still might make changes to your trip, even if you don’t).
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Here are three travel tips for staying safe at Airbnb during the pandemic.
Pay Close Attention to the Cancellation Policies. The uncertainty of the pandemic means that travelers are more concerned than ever about flexibility. I’ve had to cancel and reschedule multiple trips during the past 12 months, and would have lost lots of money if I hadn’t been able to get credits from the airlines and refundable rates from hotels. With Airbnb, there is no set policy about cancellation; it’s determined by each individual renter. So you may find that some properties offer lenient cancellation policies, with nearly full refunds for cancellations made up to a week or so before the arrival date. Others may only let you cancel with 48 hours of reserving, and they keep all your money if you cancel after that.
I paid close attention to the details and policies of every listing before making my decision about what to rent this time around. That meant eliminating several of the top choices from my wish list simply based on their unfavorable cancellation policy. You should do the same, if you think you may need to cancel or reschedule.
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Bring What You Need to Sanitize the Property. Some properties on Airbnb list extensive details about the pandemic-era cleaning and hygiene protocols and amenities that they feature. Many do not. I’ve stayed at some that provide antibacterial spray, cleaning wipes and hand sanitizer to guests. Others have not. That means it’s safer to bring everything you might need.
Develop Your Own Arrival Routine. I follow a standard routine upon arrival, using antibacterial wipes to clean all of the “high-touch” surfaces in the property — things like doorknobs, light switches, furniture handles and remote controls. Then I wash my hands.
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My Latest Airbnb Rental in Mexico City
Now that we have all that out of the way, let’s get to my latest Airbnb review, this one focusing on what you can get for $65 in Mexico City. I try to visit Mexico City as often as I can, and unfortunately I usually have no luck reserving Airbnb apartments that I’ve previously rented and liked. So every visit is a new opportunity to experience a different apartment. This latest Mexico trip was no exception, and this is my Airbnb review of what $65 can get you in Mexico City. You can watch the full video tour here (or scroll down if you’re on the site).
One note: The price I’m showing is the approximate nightly price that I paid, including taxes, service fees and cleaning fee. This is something that’s very important to keep in mind whenever you rent through Airbnb: the accommodations with the cheapest listed price may not always be the cheapest, once you factor in those additional charges. So be sure to look at the total cost after you’ve entered your exact rental dates.
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THE STYLE: My latest Mexico City Airbnb apartment rental was located on a quiet street in Condesa, one of the hippest and most popular neighborhoods. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located on the fourth floor of a 20th-century apartment building with an elevator. The decor throughout the apartment was consistently modern and attractive without being distracting.
THE CHECK-IN: I shared my flight arrival information when I made the reservation and then sent the owners a message when I was on my way from the airport. Someone met me at the door to let me in, show me the apartment features and hand over the keys. I found that the apartment owners were quite fast at responding to messages.
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APARTMENT FEATURES: The features I liked most in this apartment included the small balcony off of one bedroom, the comfortable beds and the large dining room table that was great for working. I wished that they had furnished the bedrooms with fans, however, as it was a bit stuffy for sleeping (we were there in March). We actually went to a nearby Woolworth to buy fans.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD: We loved the area where the apartment was located, close to good restaurants with outdoor dining as well as shops and both Parque Mexico and Parque España, two lovely parks. Overall, I found this to be a comfortable apartment in one of my favorite neighborhoods in Mexico City.