Our Los Angeles AirBnB: Apartment Tour

April 27, 2017 in Journal

I have long been a fan of AirBnB. Since my partner and I last visited Europe I have become pretty savvy at finding great deals in lovely spaces (if I do say so myself). Our trip to LA in March was no exception, so I thought I would show you around the space! Read my post on how to decide if AirBnB is for you if you are having doubts of your own.

Welcome to Mar Vista! Adam and I were originally looking for a place in Venice (near the beach) but booked so late in the game that all the good (and affordable) places were gone. Nevertheless and fortunately, we were able to find a shared apartment with it's own private bath (and an amazingly hospitable host) in a neighboring area called Mar Vista. We ended up loving it here! The neighborhood was quiet enough that we were able to avoid the tourist congestion and find parking everyday. Not to mention the space itself is so California cool. The aesthetic is pretty different from our minimal apartment in NYC, but it made me rethink what home can feel like...

This AirBnB had a very easy vibe, from the enormous couch you sink right into, to all of the plants that absorbed all the incoming sunshine. I really loved how "lived in", yet neat the place was. Everywhere you turn there is something that catches your eye and tells a story about the person who lives there. No two items look alike, yet everything is cohesive.

As minimalists, I struggle with having things that are sentimental lying around (or even stored away). Adam and I keep these types of items limited, but we both were very inspired by the simple and natural way that all of the items (most very functional) were exposed. Each item was special and in a way felt celebrated. And after all that is the point of my minimalist lifestyle, to only have things that are of values to me, so why not celebrate them a little!

How to Spend a Weekend in San Francisco

January 18, 2017 in Journal

Weekend trips are so hard for me to plan, there just ins't enough time to see all I want to see (story of my life)! So I put this little guide together of my hit list of places to stay, eat and see from my recent trip to the Bay Area.

Stay

My first two nights I stayed at the Kimpton Buchanan Hotel, a super cute boutique hotel at the nexus of Japantown, Fillmore and Pacific Heights. Stylish and super hospitable, this hotel was offered a wine happy hour in the lobby each evening which is a added bonus! On my last night I stayed at the recently renovated Tilden Hotel. The Tilden is simple, budget friendly and located within walking distance of downtown and shopping districts.

EAT

San Francisco has many great restaurants, all of which I was dying to try! But between all of the running around and the conference I attended there were three stand out meals from my visit. One brunch spot I really enjoyed was Sweet Maple. Sweet Maple is in between the Pacific Heights and Fillmore neighborhoods and truly feels like an institution there. The all american menu gave me diner vibes with a Californian-freshness. One morning I popped over to Oakland (another place I am dying to get back to!) for brunch at Flora with friends. Flora is a stylish, art deco spot with an elegant and delicious menu. Finally, Akiko's Sushi Restaurant. Althoughquite the splurge this is some of the best sushi I have ever had (this coming from someone with a Japanese Grandmother!). I suggest sitting at the sushi bar and asking for omakase (chef's choice) and just letting them know about how much you'd like to eat/spend (scope out the menu ahead of time to get a feel for the prices.) Then sit back and be spoiled!

Do

If you've been following me here you know how much I lovemuseums and my first recommendations won't surprise you. The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) is a contemporary arts space that aims to show socially impactful exhibitions while making sure it is affordable for all to see. On my visit I had the fortune of experiencing Tom Sachs' Space Program: Europa in all of it's toolshed fusion glory (read more here!). Just across from YBCA and the Yerba Buena Gardens it is nestled in is the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). Unfortunately I didn't get to pop in on this trip but I definitely will next time, I noticed they have several Richard Serra works (which I fell in love with since my visit to Dia: Beacon!). And finally, the de Young Museum of Fine Arts. From the architecture to the art within, the de Young is a must see destination. Read (and see) more about it in my last post.

As far as the traditional sights, I made my way to the Painted Ladies, drove down the crooked Lombard Street, and admired Crissy Field and the Golden Gate Bridge. Honestly, the painted ladies and Lombard street are tourist traps. If I had it to do over again I would spend more time hiking the trails on either end of the bridge.

And thats about it! Tell me, what have or would you do in in the Bay Area for 48 hours?

Tulum House Tour

August 08, 2016 in Journal

My partner and I have had many excellent airbnb experiences and a few so-so ones over the past few years. Our most recent place in Tulum shot right to the top of the excellent list, and since it was so great I just have to share!

Front entrance located on a no-outlet drive

The entire property is perfectly landscaped

Without being very familiar with Tulum we booked the Greenhouse, one of six condo style apartments in a residential area of the pueblo. It was the modern aesthetic, great reviews and infinity pool that really won us over.

We arrived late at night via shuttle from the Cancun airport. After a long immigration line and a one and a half hour drive we arrived to no running water! Uh oh! But actually our host was super responsive and quick to fix the issue and by the time we had unpacked and connected to wifi.

Private back terrace & a peak of the shower

The next morning we were able to see the Greenhouse in all its glory. The airbnb included 2 bikes per unit, an awesome "indoor-outdoor" shower, and a private patio area where I wish I could take coffee every morning! But the best part of the whole experience was the pool [insert emoji heart eyes]which I wish I could have spent even more time in!

Logistically the Greenhouse was a about a 5 minute (or 40 peso) taxi ride to the town center and 10+ minutes to the beaches (100-120 peso taxi ride). The overall experience the airbnb was overwhelmingly positive. Despite minor bumps such as the water and electricity briefly going out here and there, and more bugs than we are used to (it is the jungle after all!) the hospitality and value were excellent. There was a day time maid service who stayed at the house during the day and we felt safe staying there. All in all such a great stay and so happy we took the chance and booked!

To Airbnb or Not to Airbnb?

November 23, 2015 in Tips

Short answer, yes, to Airbnb. Hotels and other accommodations can get expensive, especially when traveling for an extended period of time. Thankfully the sharing economy has welcomed solutions to this problem in the form of platforms like Airbnb. But once you start to do your research on it, you will certainly come across some of the horror story that will deter you so here are my tips for booking and staying in an Airbnb. Here are some of my tips for successfully booking an Airbnb stay to ensure a great experience.

Know thyself

In order to decide whether Airbnb is for you or not you must know thyself, and be completely honest here. It is tempting to convince yourself that you will be comfortable with Airbnb-ing to save a pretty penny on accommodations but that savings is not a worth it if its going to spoil your adventure. So first ask yourself the hard questions, “Am I okay staying in someone’s home with them? Am I comfortable enough to potentially spend some of my time socializing with strangers? And will I still be happy without all of the amenities of a hotel on my vacation?” If you are the type who isn’t as comfortable around strangers Airbnb may not be for you. There are some options for studios or apartment rentals but depending on location these will be more expensive then your average private room. Some Airbnb hosts like to entertain their guests and it’s hard to say “no, thank you” when you’re in the room next door. I haven’t encountered this myself but know people who have and if you aren’t interested in socializing then you should have an escape plan ready. And finally, if you are used to the amenities and pristine presentation of hotels you may not like bed and breakfast vibes most Airbnb homes give off.

Amenities I look for in an Airbnb rental:

A private bedroom
Air conditioning (if traveling in warm months)
Private bathroom
Detailed pictures of the room and common spaces
Close to public transportation
In a safe neighborhood
On a lower level or access to an elevator
More than one electrical outlet in the bedroom
If towels are provided

Do your due diligence

It can be super overwhelming researching and booking an Airbnb home. Depending on where you are traveling to you probably have loads of options in your price range and they all have a mix of good, bad and mediocre reviews. Start by narrowing down based on price, availability for your dates and amenities, then the number of reviews. The more reviews the better because you know the host is experienced. After that I then start looking at ratings, the higher the better of course, but I also look at the recent reviews, if those are high then you're pretty much golden. Finally read the rules thoroughly and for good measure read any recent average or less than average reviews to catch red flags. Once you rule out the incompatible spaces you should have a decent selection to reach out to.

Be transparent

Some Airbnb homes can be booked immediately and others you have to make a request and be approved by your host. When writing to your host, be completely clear and honest with your plans. Are you looking for somewhere you can cook, double check that is okay. Do you need to be walking distance to the city center, confirm that is possible. Will you be meeting a friends who may need to crash, mention that too. Only you know what you need while travelling, maybe you just need a place to lay your head but it doesn't hurt to give more information than too little and have a poor experience.