INTRODUCING Airbnb Experiences – Honest Review for 2024

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Yeah, so what exactly are Airbnb Experiences?

Essentially, Airbnb Experiences are curated activities offered, organised and delivered by local hosts in various destinations around the globe. Maybe think of it as a way to “go beyond the guidebook” and properly immerse yourself in a place’s culture through some unique adventures.

From croissant-cooking classes in Paris to graffiti tours in New York City, Airbnb experiences range from the educational to the outright quirky. For example, you could spend an afternoon learning to make authentic pasta in a Roman home or take a spooky ghost walk through the haunted corners of Edinburgh.

The Airbnb Experiences platform offers a range of activities to fit most interests and budgets whether you’re a foodie, an adventurer, or a history buff.

Airbnb Experiences are hosted by either everyday people or professionals who have a skill set or passion project that they want to share. Hosts create their experiences on the Airbnb platform, set prices, and manage the bookings.

You may already have noticed that the Airbnb website now has the option of “Stays” or “Experiences” right at the top of the page. The process for finding experiences is really very simple: as a guest, you just search for experiences based on location and dates, find one that intrigues you and hit “book” – just like you would if you were booking an Airbnb apartment.

It’s literally just like booking an Airbnb stay, but for activities. And don’t worry if you’re a last-minute planner (aren’t we all sometimes?) – many experiences allow bookings with short notice, so your spontaneous nature is catered for.

OK so at first glance, Airbnb Experiences might seem like just another option alongside Viator, GetYourGuide (GYG) or Klook, but there are a few things that do set it apart.

For starters, the experiences tend to be somewhat more niche and personal. You won’t always find professional tour guides here; instead, you might be spending the day with a local artist, a hobbyist beekeeper, a bona fide Samurai even or someone who just really really loves cheese (and who can blame them eh?).

A lot of the options available on Airbnb Experiences are simply not available on other platforms. For example, while you can easily find a London walking tour on Klook, a London Hidden Pub tour organised by an East End landlord, is a rarer and much more intriguing concept, and one that is only available on AirbnbEXP in London.

The hosts themselves are often regular Janets and Joes who have turned their passion into a side hustle. Others may be specialists in their field, offering in-depth experiences you won’t find elsewhere.

And the best part?

Airbnb’s backing gives you peace of mind with their host screening process and refund/complaint policy. Sure, while there are some dodgy Airbnb hosts out there, the company is working hard to filter them out.

So, if your kayaking tour turns into more of a sinking experience, at least you’ve got some recourse once you dry off.

Pros and Cons of Airbnb Experiences

It hopefully goes without saying that the vast majority of Airbnb Experiences end safely and happily. Still, just in case you eat an undercooked Prawn on that Tapas food tour or topple over sideways while biking over the Golden Gate Bridge and need to pay an unscheduled visit to a Doctor, you’ll need good travel insurance. (at the time of writing I can’t find any Airbnb A & E Experiences)…real shame.

Foreign hospitals and overseas medical bills can be bloody pricey and can blow a serious dent in your vacation fund. For that reason, it is always wise to think about sorting your travel insurance before you leave home.

These days I usually use SafetyWing for my travel insurance needs. They offer a simple monthly subscription payment model and can cover emergency medical costs up to $250,000.

There is a lot more I could say about SafetyWing and if you wanna know more, check out our full review. Alternatively, hop on over to the site for yourself to grab a quote!

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

You may know that many Airbnb Experiences are curated by lay-people rather than ‘professionals’. You may therefore wonder whether Airbnb Experiences are worthy of your time, trust and money.

Well, let us put your mind at ease here;

Vetting Hosts

Airbnb takes the safety and quality of all Experiences seriously and operates a thorough vetting process for all hosts. Hosts must meet specific criteria, including showcasing expertise in their respective fields and offering a unique experience that aligns with Airbnb’s values of authentic, local-driven activities.

Cancellation Policy

Airbnb offers a decent level of flexibility with its cancellation policies for experiences, although the specific terms depend on the host. Typically, experiences offer a full refund if the cancellation is made in advance—usually 48 hours. Some experiences do have stricter policies, so it’s always a good idea to check the specific terms listed on the booking page before you make a reservation. 

If the host cancels an experience, you will receive a full refund automatically.

Liability

Airbnb has built-in protection for both hosts and guests when it comes to liability. While each host is expected to maintain their own level of responsibility for the safety and delivery of the experience, Airbnb covers certain incidents through its Experience Protection Insurance.

This provides coverage for personal injury or property damage that may occur during an experience. However, guests are encouraged to review the specific terms of the coverage and take their own precautions, especially for physically demanding or potentially risky activities. We also recommended thinking about Travel Insurance which leads me to my next point;

There are absolutely thousands and thousands of different Airbnb Experiences available in countless different cities and regions around the world. Attempting to list them all here would therefore be a folly of Babelian proportions especially as you can easily browse for yourself on Airbnb quickly and easily!

Still, for those of you who are not quite ready to leave this page here are just a few of the top Airbnb Experiences available on the platform right now.

Golden Gate Bridge and Secret Photography Tour

This riff on a quintessential Frisco thing to do takes you beyond the typical tourist snapshots. Instead, a local photographer guides you through their fave hidden spots to capture the best views of the bridge. Your guide will also share some of their choice tips and tricks to capture stunning shots—even if your only camera is your phone.

Underground Art Tour of the NYC Subway

You may well have been on the New York subway before (it is after all the best way to get around New York on a budget), but did you know it has a thriving underground art scene? This exciting tour will show you the coolest murals and installations hidden in plain sight, all while learning about the great city’s culture through its vibrant street art.

Hollywood Sign Hike with a Local

Yes, you can see the Hollywood sign from the highway, but why not get up close and personal? This guided hike up into the Hollywood Hills takes you up to some of the best vantage points for snapping a selfie with this highly iconic landmark.

Plus, you’ll get a workout in—so it’s a win/win!

London Harry Potter Walking Tour

Whether you’re a proper Pothead or just a curious muggle, this London walking tour will whisk you through the streets of the British Capital to visit the real-life locations that inspired J.K. Rowling’s magical world. Expect to visit Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron (sorry but no butterbeer included).

Parisian Baking Class in a Local Home

Channel your inner (obnoxious, moustached and hopefully fat) French baker by learning how to make baguettes, croissants, and other pastries with a Parisian host. Not only do you get to learn, but you also leave with a belly full of buttery baked goods. So it’s a win for both you and your taste buds but a net loss for your ass!

Roman Pizza-Making Class with a Master Pizzaiolo

When in Rome… eat pizza?! Join a local master pizzaiolo to learn the art of pizza-making, from kneading the dough to choosing the perfect toppings. And the best part? You obviously get to devour your creation at the end of the class. Plus, it’s a great way to be a good tourist who embraces local life and traditions.

So there we are. As you have now seen, Airbnb Experiences can provide a fresh and unique way to explore any destination, often giving you a peek into the local life that traditional tours just can’t match. While they can be a little pricey at times, the personal touch and variety of options make them well worth considering for your next trip.

So, if you’re looking to step beyond the standard tourist fare and dive into something more authentic, then give Airbnb Experiences a try. You might even discover a new passion — or at least eat some pretty tasty food along the way.

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You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee. If you like and use our content to plan your trips, it’s a much appreciated way to show appreciation 🙂