How to Find the Perfect Tiny House Airbnb

We got to thinking the other day here at BestTinyCabins.com about how great it would be to stay in a tiny house Airbnb, tucked into some byway in a far-flung corner of the world. We wanted to know what factors go into choosing a tiny house, where the best ones are located and what other key facts that might guide us in our search.

Whether you are on vacation or a business trip, you are probably looking for a place to stay while you are on your travels. For many travelers, Airbnb has quickly become the preferred option for lodging when they are on the go. There are several reasons for this, it seems.

Whereas the traditional hotel experience remains exceptionally popular, some would say that the extra amenities and ‘home’ experience of Airbnb make for the far superior travel experience.

Airbnb, for those who aren’t aware, is a lodging company that allows homeowners and apartment owners to rent out their homes for travelers to stay there for a fee. Since launching in 2008, Airbnb has exploded into one of the largest tech-startups and hospitality companies in the world. The company now hosts over 7,000,000 listings worldwide, in 100,000 cities, and 191 countries. Anywhere you go, you can find an apartment or home on Airbnb to stay at.

A new trend that is on the rise in Airbnb, is tiny house lodging. Increasingly Airbnb hosts are seeking to provide more unique experiences for their guests, and guests are seeking something truly different from the norm. There are over 14,000 tiny houses Airbnb listings worldwide. Interestingly enough, over 2,400 of those listings are tree houses. Yes, you read correctly, treehouses. Tiny house bookings on Airbnb have risen 125% annually over the last several years.

If you are interested in tiny house living but aren’t ready to commit to the lifestyle, staying in a tiny house Airbnb can be an amazing educational experience. Even if you have no desire to own your own tiny house, but want to experience staying in a cozy and efficient small home for a few nights, you can! Regardless of why you wish to stay in a tiny house through Airbnb, you probably want to know what you should be looking for if you are new to the whole scene.

Let’s take a brief moment to go over what makes a tiny house Airbnb a great one, and what you should be looking for.

What Characteristics Should You Look for in a Tiny House Airbnb?

Tiny houses come in a seemingly endless variety of ‘flavors’ and styles for you to choose from. Each tiny house is as unique as the individual who designed it. On Airbnb, you will be able to find a wide range of options from waterfront tiny houses on the lakes of Sweden to South Carolina treehouses in the forest. So when it comes to what you should be looking for in a tiny house Airbnb booking, the majority of this will depend on your personal preferences and experiences desired.

However, there are a few characteristics of a tiny house that will universally make it a winner; some small concepts and amenities that you should be looking for when making your booking.

The Efficiency of Available Space

While owning a tiny house will require you to be creative, and offer up more than a few small sacrifices, staying in a tiny house Airbnb should be a cozy experience as opposed to a stressful one. You should always look for a tiny house that offers efficiency in space and properly utilizes the available space within the tiny house for comfort. You don’t want to stay in a tiny house for a week and have the sofa take up 90% of the whole room. Many tiny houses have utilized loft spaces, fold-up sofas, outdoor showers, and other creative ways to make use of the space to maximize comfort. You should always take care to view the photos of the booking to see how well utilized the available space is.

Location, Location, Location!

The location of the booking will make or break the quality of your stay at the tiny house almost as much as the tiny house itself. The majority of tiny house listings on Airbnb are offering unique experiences, rather than the standard lodging you may expect in a city. Due to the nature of these exotic tiny houses, you may find yourself in some out of the way locations. This may be exactly what you are looking for. However, you should take some time to research the location prior to booking. There are several reasons for looking into the location.

Distance to basic needs and points of interest

Tiny houses by their very nature come with a lack of available space to store basic needs such as food, or washing machines, etc. You will want to know how far away the nearest stores or laundromats are in case you need to wash your clothes while on your trip, or in case you need to buy some basic food items for your morning breakfast and evening snacks. Many Airbnb hosts will not stock refrigerators or cabinets for their guests, you will want to have a full understanding of how far you will need to go out of your way to get these things yourself. In addition, you may want to know how far civilization or points of interest are. Just in case you want to get out and explore.

Privacy and safety

Whether you are in the middle of the wilderness, or in the heart of a city, you should always research how private and safe the area is before booking. You never want to be left feeling unsafe, or like you can’t relax and enjoy your stay within the tiny house. You should research local crime statistics, or even local wildlife if you are in the wilderness. You should examine the surrounding area on google and make sure you know how close the nearest neighbors are and if you are going to have enough privacy. In addition, you should make sure that the tiny house itself is secure, with proper safety features for while you are away or sleeping. Unlike a traditional hotel stay, these are things you will have to consider when booking a tiny house Airbnb. Staying in a tiny house Airbnb for your getaway can be a very fun and relaxing experience, however, it is not without some advantages and disadvantages.

Pros and Cons of staying in a Tiny House Airbnb

There are a few things you should think about, and factor into your decision making when you are choosing to stay in a tiny house Airbnb. Of course, the experience will be very different from a traditional hotel experience, so it’s best to understand that and take into consideration whether the differences are good or bad for you.

Less room to move around

The average tiny house Airbnb will have less room for free movement than a standard hotel room. While a tiny house may be larger per square foot, hotel rooms will not come with as many pieces of furniture and appliances that a tiny house will have. This can lead to a significant decrease in ‘open space’ within the tiny house. Tiny houses are built to be cozy, and compact. That will be a pro for some, and a con for others. If it is a con for you, it is probably best to avoid tiny houses altogether.

Exotic location options

The majority of tiny house bookings on Airbnb are really exotic lodging experiences. As stated above, you can even find treehouses to stay in. This means you will have the chance to spend the night in an environment that you may not ever get to experience again. This can be a really cool experience that you will remember for the rest of your life fondly. There are tiny house bookings in some of the most exotic locations in the world, from the islands of Greece to the lush grasslands of Indonesia. There are endless options for exotic lodging when choosing a tiny house Airbnb.

Lack of amenities

Due to their very nature, many tiny houses have a distinct lack of amenities offered to guests. You may find that the tiny house does not have air conditioning or a place to wash your clothes. You may even find yourself without a standard shower. This can be a downside for many people who are looking for total comfort during their stay. However, those who really love the minimalist lifestyle will often not be bothered by this. You should try to keep an open mind when staying in a tiny house Airbnb and understand that some basic comforts that westerners are used to may not be offered.

Final Thoughts

There is a reason why the tiny house movement has bled into Airbnb. Tiny house Airbnbs offer very unique, and exciting opportunities for travelers who wish to have a bit of a different experience on their trip. For most, a tiny house is a polar opposite of what they are used to in their own homes, and the tiny house Airbnb will give them an experience they will never forget.

Tiny house Airbnbs, just like tiny house living, will come with their own advantages and drawbacks. It’s best to fully understand what you are getting yourself into with your tiny house booking. You should understand that in these amazingly cozy and efficient houses, you may have to make some small sacrifices while on your trip. As long as you understand that, you can have the experience of a lifetime in a tiny house Airbnb.

Want a tiny house that you can transform into an Airbnb destination?

Check out these 5 fantastic tiny cabins available on Amazon.

• Allwood Halmstad -106 SQF Studio Kit Cabin

This truly petite cabin, designed as a deer lease bungalow or back yard retreat for one or maybe two.

It’s just about the same size as a common tiny cabin and can serve many purposes. If you build a big deck around it, you could even sleep outside in a hammock during fine weather and be overwhelmed by the stars in a pitch-black country night sky.

• Lillevilla Escape – 113 SQF Allwood Kit Cabin

Small enough to qualify as a very tiny house, this 113 sq ft Lilliputian structure is really all one person needs — especially when situated on a large wooden deck like the one shown.

You can also use this design as a hunting cabin for one or two, a guest cottage, or a tiny house Airbnb. Just exercise your imagination.

• Allwood Estelle 5 – 157 SQF Garden House Kit

Its design is specifically made as a unique, divided space where you can feel free to do whatever you want. It is a multipurpose solid wood tiny cabin kit with the highest quality.

The magnificent interior of this cabin consists of two sections separated by a wall. You would not get this feature in a small-scale cabin. The smaller room in the cabin is mainly for storage function, but it can easily be changed into a bathroom or a sleeping alcove as per your preferences. You can easily add a door to the separation wall.

For more info.

• Allwood Summerlight – 150 SQF Tiny Cabin Kit

This tiny cabin is full of sunshine and sunlight, as it has incredible windows that connect you with nature itself.

Allwood Summerlight cabin kit features traditional timeless lines that would be in any garden at home. Combined with double doors and adjacent windows, the significant Polycarbonate Glazed Roof region makes this one of the lightest and most airy cabins accessible.

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• Allwood Mayflower – 117 SQF Tiny Cabin Kit

This cabin has a unique style in which you can drag to nearby places. A wagon cabin that is spacious and stands out among the other cabins. It is the best tiny cabin that you can get.

Allwood Mayflower is a traditional wagon concept that stands out amongst the best tiny cabins available. This cozy cabin is going to be the highlight of any garden or yard. Build it yourself with the kit comes with step-by-step instructions, and you need only minimal resources.