Airbnb is becoming more popular as a way to locate a place to stay on Koh Tao. You are more likely to interact directly with the landlord or the person who owns or maintains the property on the platform than on other booking platforms. Since its inception in 2008, Airbnb has witnessed a surge in popularity. Owners of vacation rental properties may join Airbnb and make their properties available for rent. Those looking to rent a home for their vacation will go through the options and choose their favourite from the list.
Why Koh Tao?
Koh Tao is a subdistrict of Koh Phangan in Surat Thani province, and its name, in English, translates to "Turtle Island" due to the island's association with sea turtles. Green and hawksbill turtles may still be found in certain places, such as Thian Og Bay, but they are not as common as they once were. When seen from Koh Phangan, the island's form is said to resemble a turtle.
The island's natural beauty, above and below the sea, with its beautiful coral reefs and rich marine life in clear, warm water, attracts thousands of tourists each year, making it a memorable destination for divers, explorers, and travellers alike. This, coupled with the laid-back attitude and way of life, has drawn visitors to the area for more than 40 years, and it is now a welcoming second home for many. Koh Tao has grown in many ways, and its booming diving sector has made it one of the world's top dive teaching centres.
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Benefits of using Airbnb
Instead of a conventional hotel or resort, homes and properties reflect the area in which they are located, giving you a more authentic local experience and flavour. But, if you want, you may discover regular locations in addition to the one-of-a-kind amazing encounters.
Instead of resort employees, the hosts may be very friendly and helpful, providing you with exceptional customer service. They usually have extensive knowledge of the area, including the best places to eat, sports, and so on. Consider them to be your own personal concierge.
Many hosts are willing to communicate with you through text message about any issues you may have. If you're arriving late or staying for a long period of time. Communication is the key to success in this situation.
Airbnb was founded on the idea of saving people money, and unlike most hotel rooms, the majority of Airbnb rentals will have a kitchen. By preparing a few meals in the kitchen instead of dining out the whole holiday, you can get groceries from a local market and save money on food while travelling.
Reviews
With so many locations to select from, it may be difficult to make a choice about where to stay. Reviews may be a very helpful tool for determining whether or not a certain lodging is suitable. You get to see how actual visitors feel about their stay, not just the Airbnb host's description of the amenities. It's also worth noting that guests may leave reviews on Airbnb.
Consider the location's rating. A higher score indicates that past visitors generally appreciated the property and had a pleasant stay with few, if any, issues. If you stick to high-rated Airbnbs, you'll have a higher chance of having a good time.
It will display the overall amount of ratings for the lodging, which is a huge number. You'll receive a significantly more comprehensive description of the property if there are a lot of reviews. This isn't to say that a location with a small number of reviews is bad; rather, if a large number of individuals gave it a high score rather than just three or four, a high score has greater weight. It also doesn't mean that you should read all 300 reviews. The first two pages or so should suffice.
Read everything people say, both positive and bad, and search for things that irritate you. If you're easily distracted by noise, a home with a lot of complaints about excessive street noise may not be appropriate for you. If you respond well to firm beds, but they have a few flaws, go on. However, if the TV was too small, and you're not going to watch TV on vacation anyhow, don't let it factor into your choice.
Ignore the naysayers. If 30 people raved about the place and one person thought it was terrible for whatever reason, it was most likely a fluke. Don't allow a single bad review to detract from a sea of positive comments. There are certain expectations that certain visitors have, and they are not always fulfilled, but this does not imply that the host is to blame.
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Safety
Airbnb has put in place certain safeguards to guarantee the safety and pleasure of its guests. Guests are advised to book exclusively with highly recommended providers since the quality of the hosts is determined by their ratings. Once the accommodation has been booked, Airbnb provides a 24/7 customer support line to resolve any conflicts and will provide refunds if one of the following three conditions is met: (1) the host cancels the reservation shortly before check-in or fails to provide access to the booked listing, (2) the booked listing is misrepresented or lacks promised facilities or products, or (3) the listing is typical.
Contact
One of the most appealing aspects of Airbnb is that you interact directly with the home and its owner. You can always send them a note with any questions, and they are generally quite responsive. You may also call them before making a reservation to negotiate a better price or confirm that the property is appropriate for your needs.
Filters
You may easily compare other homes in the same area or on a budget by utilizing Airbnb's filtering and search tools. Instead of searching for a vast and time-consuming location, you will be provided a list of specific lodgings that meet your requirements or are in the region where you wish to stay. You may also look for flights based on your trip dates.
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Prices
The prices stated on Airbnb are per night; the listing's details will typically specify how many people the home can accommodate and whether there are additional costs for more guests than are allowed. You may also look for longer periods of time to see if the host has put in a discount, or, as previously stated, you can contact them to inquire about various prices for different lengths of stay. Because Airbnb charges a lower fee than most other booking services, you're more likely to discover a fantastic deal when compared to other sites.
Disadvantages
Although the service promotes flexibility and cost, certain fees and minimum stays are sometimes encountered.
If you are staying at the property with the host, your privacy may be limited. Of course, this is accompanied by monetary savings. Staying in a secluded location can help you prevent this.
There are no loyalty programs with Airbnb, so you won't receive nicer accommodations, free upgrades, or status benefits like you would with a hotel chain.
It's possible that you won't receive exactly what you see in the photos or as stated in the description. Because these listings are produced by the hosts themselves, some hosts may not be as honest as they should be. You may discover more about the home by reading the comments and opinions of past guests who have shared their experiences.
One of the drawbacks of staying at an Airbnb home is that you may not be able to find a location to keep your baggage after you check out until you can move on.
The hosts have the right to cancel at any moment. This is a rare event that has a negative impact on ratings and feedback; most presenters do not do this. You should be cautious when choosing a new host with few or no reviews.
Summary
Airbnb is ideal for people seeking a one-of-a-kind experience or saving money. However, the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing a service like this, as well as the experience you're accustomed to while staying at a resort or hotel, must be considered. Have you ever stayed at an Airbnb on Koh Tao? What was the nature of your encounter?