When it comes to finding that perfect Airbnb, it's all about location. Whether your ideal vacation is being in the middle of nowhere or among the bustling city and near landmarks, there's bound to be an Airbnb that's right for you. To help fine tune your decision, you should use Google Maps.
With Google Maps you can see what shops are nearby, how far away you are from tourist highlights, explore imagery of the surrounding area, plan routes, and so much more. We're going to show you how to use Google Maps to plan your Airbnb rental.
1. Plan Your Travel Route
It's vital that you plan your travel route from home to the Airbnb, along with wherever you wish to visit. To let Google Maps help you with this, click the blue directional arrow and input your starting point and end point.
Google recommends the best route, but you can use the icons at the top to switch between different modes of transport like car, train, and bus. Google Maps is linked with public transport networks, so it will show you exactly what to ride on and at what time.
Although your Airbnb might seem to be in the perfect position, perhaps it's not served by good public transport links, or maybe the route has tolls (which Google Maps warns you of). Google Maps also shows you nearby gas stations, if you need to refuel.
2. Scout Nearby Stores and Restaurants
While your Airbnb might come with a welcome hamper, you're probably going to need to grab groceries, snacks, forgotten personal care items, and so on. That's why it's handy to choose an Airbnb with sufficient stores nearby.
On Google Maps, navigate to the area the Airbnb is in and search for Groceries. On the left pane, you'll see all the stores in the area, and they'll be highlighted on the map with a red marker.
Select a store to find out more information like its opening hours, popular times, and reviews.
Similarly, you can search for Restaurants, Takeaway, Coffee, and Chemists.
3. Browse Street View Images
It's all very well looking at the images that your Airbnb host provides, but they'll understandably want to show the property and its surrounding area in the best light. What if you want to get a closer look at the streets to get a better sense for where you'll be staying?
That's where Google Street View comes in. Since Airbnb doesn't give you the exact property location before booking, navigate to the general area on Google Maps. Then, left click and hold the yellow person icon from the bottom-right, and drop it on a highlighted street.
This will change your view to Google Street View. It's easy to use Google Street View—use your arrow keys to change your viewing angle and move along the street, or click to where you want to move to. From here, you can get acquainted with the area before you arrive. Does it look safe? Is there enough parking?
Contact Square House Property Management
To learn more about our Airbnb Property Management services, contact us today by calling (972) 523-1389 or click here to connect with us online.