We've rented dozens of homes, villas, condos and flats around the world in the past 12 years, and we've never had a bad experience. Sure, one place didn't quite live up to the pictures. (But when you're on a Caribbean island, it's easy to get over.) One place wasn't as clean as we would have liked. (So they sent their cleaner back.)
We've never met any of our hosts, though, so this is where things are different. In most of these cases, you rent the room, and for that period of time, have your hosts as roommates.
We came upon this after two different friends listed their London places on airbnb.com. Both are super cool women, so we wouldn't hesitate recommending them as temporary roommates.
One has two rooms for rent (£96 per night and £196 per night), or you can rent her entire, awesome place for £524 per night (four bedrooms and 4500 square feet). It's located just over Vauxhall Bridge in a gated community with a shared swimming pool and copious amounts of style.
The other one is as small as the first one is grand, but no less lovely. She, too, would be a great temporary roommate. Their room in Islington starts at 76 per night, you're welcome to use their roof terrace and grill, and there's a bus stop right outside the door of the building.
This is clearly not your great-auntie's B&B.
Sarah Western Balzer
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Sarah Western Balzer is the editor of HITC Life. She grew up in Tampa, Florida, and lived in Washington, DC and New York before moving to London, where she lived for seven years. She now lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons. Her background is in the music industry, lifestyle relocation, and journalism. If you'd like to contribute to HITC Life, and work in banking or a field related to finance, please drop her a line (sarah.balzer@hereisthecity.com).
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