When my dryer appeared to be malfunctioning, I decided not to bother with having it fixed and embraced the dry rack. Four years later, I’m still air drying.
Greek person here. If you think about booking an airbnb in Greece and it doesn't have a/c or bug screens, try booking something different. A/C is essential during the summer months and bug screens are a standard in all our houses! If you find an airbnb lacking in these departments it's probably outdated and not worth your time.
A note about those windows: One thing you should definitely not do with those is turn the handle when the window is open. Usually it will just block, but when it's in the wrong position you may end up with only one corner of the window still being attached and then it can snap off and break.
I have tip: make sure your Airbnb is actually legal! Many cities in Europe have regulations for how many days an apartment is allowed be rented out for vacation (e.g. on sites such as Airbnb). The limit is often 60 days. I know that here in Amsterdam the authorities can throw you out of the apartment if the law is violated! And they don't care that you're a clueless tourist!
Man I've been subscribed tot his channel for years and I gotta say, even after all this time, your way of speaking and the topics you choose are still super entertaining. You're always respectful and open, and I just really appreciate that. Thanks for giving us great content for so long, cheers!
In an Airbnb says it sleeps a certain number of people, that's often for tax purposes, so you're not allowed to have more guests than that (although it's not like budget hotels where they set a limit because they want you to pay for another room). In my municipality, for instance, anything sleeping 3 or more guests at the same time is classified as a hotel for business tax purposes.
Places where you might need them, you will normally get them (i.e Mediterranean countries like Spain and Greece) You won't see them much in the rest of Europe.
@@Joshua-fi4ji all of Europe has spiders, birds, and general bugs. I lived in Switzerland and had a sparrow flew into my apartment through a tilted window (I still don't understand how this happened). We also had some good size bugs. We also lived in Basel which is the 2nd or 3rd largest city in Switzerland (depends on who you ask 🤣🤣. Baslers will say they are the 2nd largest city. Genf will say they are the 2nd largest city. Genf is the Swiss term for Geneva).
@@jessicaely2521 well yeah that's true, but spiders don't generally come through the window. The screens are more for harmful bugs like mosquitoes. Flies are about to the worst thing we get in the UK. Midges, mosquitoes, flying ants, etc. aren't around for long enough to justify a screen in most places in the UK. I don't think they're designed to keep birds out anyway. I think the only time I've had a bird come in was when the cat brought it in. I haven't spent enough time in Switzerland to comment on that particular country though. All I can say is I've used screens many times in med countries, but never felt I needed one in the UK. I can see it being a problem if you live by a wasp nest or next to standing water or something though.
Every place I stayed in Europe -- in several Balkan countries, Spanish cities, Amsterdam, and a few English locations -- had an IKEA Poäng chair with ottoman. That chair is so good (and unbelievably priced) that I actually sourced one for my house in Mexico, where we only just got an IKEA... that doesn't deliver outside Mexico City. Found a local European expat selling one who knew she was going to regret not finding space for it. Her loss is my gain. :) Pro tip for digital nomads: That chair is SUPER comfortable for working on your lap. I transcribed my way across Europe, often spending long days in a Poäng chair, and it was more comfortable than any more formal desk setup!
Electricity in Europe is extremely expensive ..so try and help out by turning everything off when you are not in the property..its much appreciated. ..& what's with jumping on beds..please stop...jump around at the beach...on a long walk. Enjoy your holiday .
Me and my wife have broken two hotel beds, and before anybody judges us i would like to say that bring you mind out of the gutter because both broke by us sitting down on the corner of the bed :D
Agree about the Ikea furnature. I find begcause of the smaller living spaces, air bnb places in Europe can be homely but cluttered. AC by the way doesn't exist at all in UK homes unless whoever lives there is rich, so you will likely never see anything other than a floor-standing fan and otherwise open a window. I loved the Air bnb I stayed at in Nashville Tn a couple of years ago. It was a shared apartment but each bedroom had its own bathroom. Both my bedroom and bathroom were huge!
The way you looked at the camera when you said AMOROUS COUPLES 😂 Another thing about the size of places, a lot of older buildings had no indoor bathrooms when they were built! So the bathrooms are sometimes tiny and in a weird location because they were an added much later. 🤗 I’m from Ireland and in my apartment in Dublin I rented in college the bathroom was the size of a broom cupboard and off the kitchen 😂 and my bedroom was the same size as my closet in the US is now! I miss smaller places I think they’re cosier. Out in the countryside where I grew up the houses are generally more spacious but nowhere near the size of modern US homes!
My first appartment in Amsterdam was build for the Olympics and they assumed the athletes would wash at the stadium. So the bathroom was basically a roomy toiletroom with a shower crammed in.
The most interesting set of AirBnB Keys I had for a room in an ex-Military base that is now a museum. One for my room, one for the building, one for the pedestrian side entrance, and a big one for the gates in case I had to get my car in or out after closing time. 😆
Honestly took me a while to realise what you meant when you said drying rack. To me a drying rack is what you used for drying dishes (after washing up). What you call a drying rack, we call an airer here in the UK.
And what (at least in northen UK) you guys call dinner, is actually lunch XD. Was pretty caught off guard when I heard someone having their dinner at noon haha
@@anonimato1987 southerner here. Lunch for me is a meal between 12:00-15:00 and dinner/tea between 17:00-23:00 (yes I eat at Spanish times, no that's not the norm) I'd get caught off guard by that too.
Bravo! As an Italian I found your video absolutely spot on: not judgmental , well articulated and respectful of other people's way of living but absolutely useful for non Europeans. BTW about the # 1 thing ( Ikea furnitures ) you are soooo right: they are NOT made for hotel use and that can be a problem in the long run.
well the thing with Ikea chairs, plates or shelves could be that, if you go to peoples homes in Denmark, Poland, Germany or Italy, they have it there, too.
The difference in dryer culture is interesting. If you check the tags on European (or Asian) bought clothes, most of them can’t handle dryers. American brands often can. As a European travelling to the US, you will end up looking for places to air dry your clothes nevertheless…
The EU does not permit chemicals to be used in clothing manufacturing to the same extent as the US does. US clothes are chemically treated to not wrinkle in the dryer.
THIS! I’ve shrunk so many European clothes by throwing them in the dryer (I live in Italy and have a dryer but I try not to use it as electricity is extremely expensive
@@LadyNikitaShark As a northern European, there is no temperature that is too cold for line-drying clothes. They do turn into sheets of ice at first, but after some time they are dry and soft. It's just like the pieces of food that goes dry in your freezer. Humid weather is way worse for drying, imo.
A lot of these features are due to being rental rather than hotels or lived-in. e.g. Despite living in England, this is the first I've heard that drying racks are common. Dryers are common, unless it's in a small flat as you say here. The windows you describe as in America, we have those here in Europe too. We call them 'sash' windows and I haven't noticed them being common on buildings built after about 1910. When they are there, it is usually a sought-after original feature of a 19th century house (or even earlier!).
Window styles were regional in the US, with sash windows common in the Northern and Eastern parts of the US where “Colonial” style architecture continued to be favored into the 1960’s. In warmer areas, glass louvered or swing-out steel casement windows were popular from the 1920’s - 1950’s, after that aluminum sliders. Unfortunately now, double paned plastic frames are ubiquitous- stripping out the appeal of regional differences.
Lol as soon as you said IKEA I creased up. That is exactly the atheistic in European Airbnb's. A very important point is that Europe is made up of over 40 countries. All of which have very different climates & cultures. To group Europe as 1 destination just doesnt make sense. Countries in the med (the south, Spain, Greece, Italy etc) have warm and humid climates so dryers aren't needed. However in the North (UK, Germany, Sweden etc) dryers are normal as its harder to dry clothes in colder weather. It's also a myth that all accommodation in Europe is small. If you are going to capital cities of course accommodation is small... just like if you go to NY or Hong Kong... Its a city... space is tight. But anywhere outside cities you get plenty of space
I noticed a huge difference in space between Rome and Positano. I was surprised by how small my (otherwise quite nice) Roman hotel room was. In Positano I had two main rooms, a bedroom, a wide terrace, and an upstairs sleeping area.
A fun 'feature' I've noticed when abroad: the hot water going out after a 7-minute shower on lukewarm settings, and having to wait 2 hr for it to come on again for your partner...I still think Rome is one of the most magical cities, though!
That is a common thing in most of Europe and also most of south and central America also. I lived in the US so I understand how you would miss unlimited hot water haha.
@@MoonOvIce nah only if that apartment has a water boiler. Pretty much only places with those are apartments in historic buildings in historic centers, houses in rural areas or cabins in mountains :D
it depends, i live in Italy if you have an elettric boiler for water you have limited hot water(due to volumel, if you have an gas(methan) that also heat your hause during winter you will have infinite hot water
@@Lorre982 Yeah that's the thing, I've been to Italy and it's true it varies, also in other European countries. Northern Europe seems to have unlimited for the most part, over here in South America (I'm in Uruguay, been to quite a few SA countries but not caribbean or central america) electric tanks are the most common, with some other system (not sure which) that works in many buildings which is unlimited, but those are the minority. Usually, the tanks we use vary by litter and price, and the copper ones can last upwards of 15 years (15 year warranty is common), but yeah, hot water isn't unlimited and if it's empty, you have to wait about an hour before it recharges again. In Brazil they have another system, some kine of electric shower head that doesn't need a tank and heats the water on the spot, thus making it unlimited.
@@Lorre982 But in the US, where I've also been and lived, I've never been anywhere where hot water wasn't unlimited, though I hadn't been to too many rural areas.
Ikea - :) I don't see the furniture as much as I see the dishes and towels. And yes, it makes me feel at home. I also know that some folks are surprised when a host collects city tax. It's always noted in the listing but often missed.
A nice video again. And thank you that you mentioned the problems AirBnB can cause in some cities. In Europe the most problematic destinations are Florence, Venice, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Berlin (but not the only). In some places the locals start hating tourists because of rising rents and taking away living spaces (had sometime ago an interesting discussion with a guy from Barcelona). Ant tourism and traveling should be for understanding between people, countries and cultures. So, AirBnB is not totally on that line. I can so understand that people use it when traveling with family or friends. But there are also officially recognised companies that rent holiday flats as an alternative to AirBnB. Thank you for your nice videos!
Great video as always Mark, You are so right about Ikea, I see their furniture in the Air BNBs in Germany. I love using Air BNBs. One time the owner of the BNB (who lived in the apartment below) invited me to come downstairs to eat with their family. I will never forget that and now I can see us being lifetime friends. With that being said, nothing like that has happened again lol, Oh yes, the pile of keys is always fun lol. Thanks, Mark :).
If prices are comperable I kinda prefer staying at hotels because you don't have to clean afterwards and just leave a mess. Really helpful the day of your check out
That is definitely a positive for hotels. One thing that's nice about most Air BnBs I stay in is that they are typically in a building where the person responsible for keeping up with them doesn't bother with the room until they're available, so if I need to spend 30 extra minutes post-checkout tidying up the place, I can do that and the host has no idea I stayed until 12:30 instead of noon.
My go-to are extended stay hotels, aka apartment hotels or aparthotels. As the names imply, they’re hotels (professionally staffed, licensed, insured, etc.) but the rooms are furnished to be living spaces, as opposed to just somewhere to sleep. The price is usually competitive with AirBnB apartments, and if you’re planning to cook a few meals for yourself or take a “do nothing” day it’s more comfortable than a normal hotel room. Downside is that depending on the city (especially in the US) they might be closer to convention centers and corporate headquarters than to tourist sights.
If an airbnb says they have a max occupancy there is a reason, don't try to sneak people in. Often they are limited by city of county regulations or- if they are on a septic system- by the number of people the system can reasonably service+health department.
It's also a fire hazard.I was listening to a podcast of a former hotel manager. She said that one time, she had a family book a suite for six people, but when she went in to address a noise complaint, there were 20 sleeping bags with kids lining the floor. She had to tell the parents they need to either book more rooms or send everyone home because if something happens, it's on the hotel.
@@jcarrett7 As someone who just spent an incredibly long time researching airbnb regulations and looking at properties to buy for the purposes of airbnb, and currently being under contract, yes, this is absolutely correct. Not every country and county will have the same regulations and not every waste/water/energy system will have the same requirements.
hey Mark! thanks for this topic. I am maybe, one of the few that does not like Air B&B for my travels, Do you recomend them to a solo traveler? I know it is very generic question, but maybe there is something I am not seeing, and I find no advantege so renting a house for a solo traveler. Thanks!
Had to chuckle, the windows that Jocelyn was playing with, I had those in a hotel in Frankfurt. I was running late and was on the twenty-something floor. So I cracked the windows to let some fresh air in, left a light on, and went off to see Rush at the Festhalle. When I returned, it was like I'd started my own insectarium! Fortunately, the staff at the hotel quickly found another room for me. I couldn't believe there were no screens...AND I couldn't believe my own stupidity. But thankfully the staff bailed my dumbarse out!
Thanks for including the windows. I’m taking a group of five friends to Switzerland this fall and I did a little sharing entitled “Things to expect in Switzerland (you’re not in Kansas anymore)”. I was trying to explain to them about the windows. Now I can show them!
@@sarahcashmore6736 from my understanding, in the US most of the population just puts their clothes in the drier and that's it. They don't bother any further.
I am going to Europe solo next year from Australia - hopefully - and am nervous about air bnb's. I have always used hotels and have seen some terrible reviews about air bnb's. I dont care about furniture, decor, space, air con etc, I just want a clean bed, toilet and shower. I will be out and about most of the time. What I care about turning up in a foreign country alone and having nowhere, or nowhere safe, to stay. Do you have any tips to figure out the better options?
As a European, who has traveled a lot throughout the continent, I have almost always used AirBnB with great results. I’d say the most important thing is research. What has other travellers written about the host, and the local area? Is it located near tourist traps, or shady parts of town? If you keep things like that in mind when selecting a place to stay, you will be just fine! I hope you will enjoy your trip!
I wouldn't worry too much. I follow a few guidelines that always seem to serve me well. 1) If it seems cheap for the area, there's probably a reason. 2) Try to go for a place with a good amount of reviews with the rating at least above 4 (preferably 4.3). 3) Don't go for a place that looks like the photos could be screenshots, and also be wary of a place that uses a ton of close up photos of decorations. I've never been disappointed with an AirBnB when following that. Also, sometimes if the AirBnBs aren't worth it and you're not there for long, look at an Ibis in the area.
You could stay in a hostel, there's some great hostels all over Europe - I mean if you are going to be out and about all day anyway, then you might as well not pay for an expensive hotel room or airbnb :)
I’m European and can tell you that there is really nothing to worry about. Generally Europe is really safe! I’ve used Airbnb for almost all my travels in Europe and even Asia and never had a bad experience once. So enjoy your trip!
I had an interesting washing machine experience in Budapest.. The machine was in the bathroom, we put on a wash before going out, they called us a little later to say that the apt was flooded! The pipe from the machine was meant to be put in the toilet! How were we to know 😂😂😂
what never happened to me at AirBnB in Europe: that the host cancelled 2 days prior to the arrival with an intercontinental flight. Such thing happened to me in the US.
Americans are much more keen on tumble dryers. They're really not great for the environment! It's much more normal in the UK and other european countries to use an airer or if you have a house, a rotary dryer or washing line in the garden.
I'm going to Florence for the first time in July. I got an Airbnb. My only concern is that I don't speak Italian. I'm trying to learn some before going
Doors that require a key to lock on the inside are about the oddest and scariest thing to an American. If you are reading this and think it sounds weird it is. In some apartments you literally need the key to get OUT of the unit.
Based on his context clues in the video, I'm guessing some sort of security camera, but that's an invasion of privacy, so I hope not. It's not something I ever noticed, but now I'll watch out for them.
We have used air BB.s Iceland and Ireland and Canada ,USA and lots of hotels , really it comes down to location and price , there is good and bad to both .....eh
I am in Paris, working from home, last week herd a ring on the door, and there where 2 Canadian girls asking with the most polite phrases in French that a tourist parlour ever can muster: Excuse me mister, could you please help us with the door?
I've lived all over the world, and can't understand why screens are not universal? They cost pennies to buy, easy to install, can save lives, saves money, etc.
I can only speak for myself, but I just hate the optics. And I‘m not bothered by my screen-less life. It‘s just a matter of being accustomed to not switching the light on while your window is open during summer nights.
@@AH-iy3gs thank you for sharing. I know the people are friendly, I was just a bit concerned about the impact of current events. Good to know you enjoyed your time over there.
@@n.ff. I am from eastern slovakia, have been to prague last week. If you are asking about safety i dont think there is a reason for bigger concerns. The only visible impact of current events you are going to see is maybe a lot of ukrainian flags, volunteers, protests etc... and quite a lot of refugees. Which is not a safety concern at all in my opinion but can be a problem while looking for accommodation, the supply would be probably more limited than usual, because those people are staying where they can, so better check the places you want to stay. But on the other hand, because of the covid and some limited traveling from other countries, there is les tourist than usual so maybe it is not as bad.
@@xlukas93 thank you for the information! I’ve already booked with no issues in regards to the abundance of accommodations, hopefully it’ll go well. Thanks again 🙏🏻
My airbnb in Europe : I choose to not to get anything in Ikea so my place is more unique and I believe that in for Europe older furniture is always more durable and adds a lot of flair to it. Everybody complains about my dry rack which is hanging on the shower... It is better then having it in the hallway... Some guests broke my windows... It happened twice😳🤣😅
No to the Ikea items as its a 3hrs drive away & not worth the hassle of the journey. Yes to the horse rack to dry clothes as the tumble dryer is to expenses to run. Windows total true.
Funny how you think of Ikea as "cool" and "hip", because here it is known as cheap and dull. Kind of like the Walmart of furniture. It's not just AirBnB by the way. If you go to people's homes, you'll see many people have the exact same furniture, especially people who don't have a lot of money. Sure, the designs aren't bad, but we've all seen them dozens of times. This applies to the keys as well. I don't think I know a single person who has just one key for their house. We all carry a bunch of keys around.
We didn't do it all the time, but when we did jump on the hotel beds, we typically weren't told no as often or as forcefully as we would if it was our own bed at home because they aren't our beds. Somersaults or jumping from one bed to another were the more common choice because we would pretend we were in the Olympics. It was great fun.
I’ve never been in an Airbnb but judging by hotels, pensions, B&Bs and the like when I was in Europe do not expect to find a top sheet and a blanket. Most places I’ve been in Europe have a down comforter with a duvet cover on it. Not the most convenient bedding when it’s very hot. Especially since there’s generally not air conditioning and when you open the window the bugs will attack you. While I get not having air conditioning why not have screens to keep bugs out?
That's like central Europe (Germany and on). In western Europe we have 'normal' bedsheets. I (a Spaniard) was also shocked the first time I saw this. I thought they had fogotten the sheets.
Screens are more common in the warmest European countries. In my country, we don't have screens, but there are really only 2 months where something might get in, and even then it's rare because the number of bugs/insects is so low.
I have relatives in Europe so I’m familiar with drying racks in bathrooms, kitchens, etc. Heavier clothing takes a long time to dry on a rack, and large loads can take several days during the colder months in Northern Europe. I wear mostly cotton fabrics which often dry to a stiff and rough texture on a rack.
@@killianmmmoore Here in Italy very few people have driers. However, most people have some kind of outdoor arrangement on the balcony or roof for drying large items. Usually only the small stuff goes on the racks. The problem is in winter when it's too cold or too damp outside. We have a pulley device over the bath with six lines where we can dry bedding, towels, all kinds of clothing. Stuff dries quite well there because the bathroom is centrally heated.
I hang dry all my clothes on drying racks at home too. Saves a bunch of money on energy and your clothes last longer.
And it's safer too. In my country one in three house fires is caused by a dryer.
Better for the planet, too.
Me too ! Agree- save planet, save money, save clothes- cheers guys 👏🏼
When my dryer appeared to be malfunctioning, I decided not to bother with having it fixed and embraced the dry rack. Four years later, I’m still air drying.
@@gottasay4766 How do you dry sheets, especially for large beds?
Greek person here. If you think about booking an airbnb in Greece and it doesn't have a/c or bug screens, try booking something different. A/C is essential during the summer months and bug screens are a standard in all our houses! If you find an airbnb lacking in these departments it's probably outdated and not worth your time.
Thanks for the tip.
@@addie-eileenpaige6460 glad to be of help
I always go over the pictures in the air bnb listing with a fine tooth comb, got to count those beds to make sure you'll fit
Hi, I am from Romania and in most hotels, as well as in our apartments, we have bug screens. Europe is diverse, it is not the same all over.
Yeah in Italy they just pull down. I’ve noticed they’re often up to get the clearest view of the city.
A note about those windows: One thing you should definitely not do with those is turn the handle when the window is open. Usually it will just block, but when it's in the wrong position you may end up with only one corner of the window still being attached and then it can snap off and break.
Yeah lesson learned
I have tip: make sure your Airbnb is actually legal!
Many cities in Europe have regulations for how many days an apartment is allowed be rented out for vacation (e.g. on sites such as Airbnb). The limit is often 60 days.
I know that here in Amsterdam the authorities can throw you out of the apartment if the law is violated! And they don't care that you're a clueless tourist!
And very right they are (authorities). Americans need to stop thinking that they can take their disgusting regulations abroad with them.
Yes, Amsterdam has become very hostile to tourists, not only Americans and their disgusting regulations.
Man I've been subscribed tot his channel for years and I gotta say, even after all this time, your way of speaking and the topics you choose are still super entertaining. You're always respectful and open, and I just really appreciate that. Thanks for giving us great content for so long, cheers!
In an Airbnb says it sleeps a certain number of people, that's often for tax purposes, so you're not allowed to have more guests than that (although it's not like budget hotels where they set a limit because they want you to pay for another room).
In my municipality, for instance, anything sleeping 3 or more guests at the same time is classified as a hotel for business tax purposes.
We’ve run into a few
Moka coffee pots. We didn’t know how to use them at first but once we learned we loved them so much that’s what we use here.
I love the windows that tilt open like that.. but it would be nice to have some screens!
In most places in Europe, you don't really need a screen. Unless you're near a river/lake/swamp it should be fine.
Places where you might need them, you will normally get them (i.e Mediterranean countries like Spain and Greece)
You won't see them much in the rest of Europe.
@@Joshua-fi4ji all of Europe has spiders, birds, and general bugs. I lived in Switzerland and had a sparrow flew into my apartment through a tilted window (I still don't understand how this happened). We also had some good size bugs. We also lived in Basel which is the 2nd or 3rd largest city in Switzerland (depends on who you ask 🤣🤣. Baslers will say they are the 2nd largest city. Genf will say they are the 2nd largest city. Genf is the Swiss term for Geneva).
@@jessicaely2521 well yeah that's true, but spiders don't generally come through the window. The screens are more for harmful bugs like mosquitoes.
Flies are about to the worst thing we get in the UK. Midges, mosquitoes, flying ants, etc. aren't around for long enough to justify a screen in most places in the UK.
I don't think they're designed to keep birds out anyway. I think the only time I've had a bird come in was when the cat brought it in.
I haven't spent enough time in Switzerland to comment on that particular country though. All I can say is I've used screens many times in med countries, but never felt I needed one in the UK.
I can see it being a problem if you live by a wasp nest or next to standing water or something though.
modern windows have 4 settings - opened, closed, ventilation and micro-ventilation. Bugs will not get in if you have it on micro-ventilation.
Wolter: "This is for american travellers, for australien travellers ..."
Me, a german: "Interesting! Let's see how we do it here in europe!" :D
Every place I stayed in Europe -- in several Balkan countries, Spanish cities, Amsterdam, and a few English locations -- had an IKEA Poäng chair with ottoman. That chair is so good (and unbelievably priced) that I actually sourced one for my house in Mexico, where we only just got an IKEA... that doesn't deliver outside Mexico City. Found a local European expat selling one who knew she was going to regret not finding space for it. Her loss is my gain. :) Pro tip for digital nomads: That chair is SUPER comfortable for working on your lap. I transcribed my way across Europe, often spending long days in a Poäng chair, and it was more comfortable than any more formal desk setup!
Electricity in Europe is extremely expensive ..so try and help out by turning everything off when you are not in the property..its much appreciated. ..& what's with jumping on beds..please stop...jump around at the beach...on a long walk. Enjoy your holiday .
Me and my wife have broken two hotel beds, and before anybody judges us i would like to say that bring you mind out of the gutter because both broke by us sitting down on the corner of the bed :D
Agree about the Ikea furnature. I find begcause of the smaller living spaces, air bnb places in Europe can be homely but cluttered. AC by the way doesn't exist at all in UK homes unless whoever lives there is rich, so you will likely never see anything other than a floor-standing fan and otherwise open a window. I loved the Air bnb I stayed at in Nashville Tn a couple of years ago. It was a shared apartment but each bedroom had its own bathroom. Both my bedroom and bathroom were huge!
Lying down carefully in every bed that you're not familiar with, yeah, I know that situation 😅
The way you looked at the camera when you said AMOROUS COUPLES 😂 Another thing about the size of places, a lot of older buildings had no indoor bathrooms when they were built! So the bathrooms are sometimes tiny and in a weird location because they were an added much later. 🤗 I’m from Ireland and in my apartment in Dublin I rented in college the bathroom was the size of a broom cupboard and off the kitchen 😂 and my bedroom was the same size as my closet in the US is now! I miss smaller places I think they’re cosier. Out in the countryside where I grew up the houses are generally more spacious but nowhere near the size of modern US homes!
My first appartment in Amsterdam was build for the Olympics and they assumed the athletes would wash at the stadium. So the bathroom was basically a roomy toiletroom with a shower crammed in.
The most interesting set of AirBnB Keys I had for a room in an ex-Military base that is now a museum. One for my room, one for the building, one for the pedestrian side entrance, and a big one for the gates in case I had to get my car in or out after closing time. 😆
Honestly took me a while to realise what you meant when you said drying rack.
To me a drying rack is what you used for drying dishes (after washing up).
What you call a drying rack, we call an airer here in the UK.
And what (at least in northen UK) you guys call dinner, is actually lunch XD. Was pretty caught off guard when I heard someone having their dinner at noon haha
@@anonimato1987 southerner here. Lunch for me is a meal between 12:00-15:00 and dinner/tea between 17:00-23:00 (yes I eat at Spanish times, no that's not the norm)
I'd get caught off guard by that too.
Or a clothes horse!
I’m Irish and we say clothes horse here. I got slagged off for saying airer.
Bravo! As an Italian I found your video absolutely spot on: not judgmental , well articulated and respectful of other people's way of living but absolutely useful for non Europeans. BTW about the # 1 thing ( Ikea furnitures ) you are soooo right: they are NOT made for hotel use and that can be a problem in the long run.
0:50 My first apartment was furnished with Ikea furniture! It is affordable if you don't have so much money!
As someone who rents an Air BnB in Germany this was a fun watch. We don't really have IKEA furniture or plates, but I can see why people use them.
well the thing with Ikea chairs, plates or shelves could be that, if you go to peoples homes in Denmark, Poland, Germany or Italy, they have it there, too.
The difference in dryer culture is interesting. If you check the tags on European (or Asian) bought clothes, most of them can’t handle dryers. American brands often can. As a European travelling to the US, you will end up looking for places to air dry your clothes nevertheless…
The EU does not permit chemicals to be used in clothing manufacturing to the same extent as the US does. US clothes are chemically treated to not wrinkle in the dryer.
THIS! I’ve shrunk so many European clothes by throwing them in the dryer (I live in Italy and have a dryer but I try not to use it as electricity is extremely expensive
As a South European, dryers aren't really a necessity. With exception of the peak of winter, clothes dry quite fast on a clothing line.
@@LadyNikitaShark As a northern European, there is no temperature that is too cold for line-drying clothes. They do turn into sheets of ice at first, but after some time they are dry and soft. It's just like the pieces of food that goes dry in your freezer. Humid weather is way worse for drying, imo.
Plus the sun is free, electricity isn’t!
I stayed at all apart hotel in Milan. I had only heard of this in passing in a UA-cam video. Very nice!
Big boss Walter giving the Big knowledge. Godspeed and safe travels, friend
Good to see you in your element again! I’m on my way!
You're absolutely right.
A lot of these features are due to being rental rather than hotels or lived-in. e.g. Despite living in England, this is the first I've heard that drying racks are common. Dryers are common, unless it's in a small flat as you say here. The windows you describe as in America, we have those here in Europe too. We call them 'sash' windows and I haven't noticed them being common on buildings built after about 1910. When they are there, it is usually a sought-after original feature of a 19th century house (or even earlier!).
Window styles were regional in the US, with sash windows common in the Northern and Eastern parts of the US where “Colonial” style architecture continued to be favored into the 1960’s. In warmer areas, glass louvered or swing-out steel casement windows were popular from the 1920’s - 1950’s, after that aluminum sliders. Unfortunately now, double paned plastic frames are ubiquitous- stripping out the appeal of regional differences.
I like the all in one washrooms- drain in the floor, shower and toilet in the room. No shower door.
Lol as soon as you said IKEA I creased up. That is exactly the atheistic in European Airbnb's. A very important point is that Europe is made up of over 40 countries. All of which have very different climates & cultures. To group Europe as 1 destination just doesnt make sense. Countries in the med (the south, Spain, Greece, Italy etc) have warm and humid climates so dryers aren't needed. However in the North (UK, Germany, Sweden etc) dryers are normal as its harder to dry clothes in colder weather. It's also a myth that all accommodation in Europe is small. If you are going to capital cities of course accommodation is small... just like if you go to NY or Hong Kong... Its a city... space is tight. But anywhere outside cities you get plenty of space
I noticed a huge difference in space between Rome and Positano. I was surprised by how small my (otherwise quite nice) Roman hotel room was. In Positano I had two main rooms, a bedroom, a wide terrace, and an upstairs sleeping area.
The space thing is very true.. it's entirely possible to rent a house if you are visiting a smaller town.
You can have as much space as you want in any big city in Europe, its just a matter of €€€€ 🤑
Great tips!
I absolutely love your videos! they are helping me plan my senior trip to Europe this summer! Thank you so much!
Mark Wolters does a fabulous job on his videos for sure. Check out his very loaded playlists of different countries in Europe:).
Happy travels & congrads on your graduation. Watch his videos on pickpockets & scams, please.
This one was particularly interesting to me for some reason. Thanks guys. ✌
Great tips Mark!!
A fun 'feature' I've noticed when abroad: the hot water going out after a 7-minute shower on lukewarm settings, and having to wait 2 hr for it to come on again for your partner...I still think Rome is one of the most magical cities, though!
That is a common thing in most of Europe and also most of south and central America also. I lived in the US so I understand how you would miss unlimited hot water haha.
@@MoonOvIce nah only if that apartment has a water boiler. Pretty much only places with those are apartments in historic buildings in historic centers, houses in rural areas or cabins in mountains :D
it depends, i live in Italy if you have an elettric boiler for water you have limited hot water(due to volumel, if you have an gas(methan) that also heat your hause during winter you will have infinite hot water
@@Lorre982 Yeah that's the thing, I've been to Italy and it's true it varies, also in other European countries. Northern Europe seems to have unlimited for the most part, over here in South America (I'm in Uruguay, been to quite a few SA countries but not caribbean or central america) electric tanks are the most common, with some other system (not sure which) that works in many buildings which is unlimited, but those are the minority. Usually, the tanks we use vary by litter and price, and the copper ones can last upwards of 15 years (15 year warranty is common), but yeah, hot water isn't unlimited and if it's empty, you have to wait about an hour before it recharges again.
In Brazil they have another system, some kine of electric shower head that doesn't need a tank and heats the water on the spot, thus making it unlimited.
@@Lorre982 But in the US, where I've also been and lived, I've never been anywhere where hot water wasn't unlimited, though I hadn't been to too many rural areas.
Sound advice :) cannot wait to get back!!
First time here and sure glad I came. Thanks for the information Mark.
Ikea - :) I don't see the furniture as much as I see the dishes and towels. And yes, it makes me feel at home. I also know that some folks are surprised when a host collects city tax. It's always noted in the listing but often missed.
This is funny, here I was, watching a random video, hanging clothes on my dry rack when a segment about dry racks comes up 😂 Oh, I'm in Europe too
You forget the bit of the combo washer/dryer
A nice video again. And thank you that you mentioned the problems AirBnB can cause in some cities. In Europe the most problematic destinations are Florence, Venice, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Berlin (but not the only). In some places the locals start hating tourists because of rising rents and taking away living spaces (had sometime ago an interesting discussion with a guy from Barcelona).
Ant tourism and traveling should be for understanding between people, countries and cultures. So, AirBnB is not totally on that line.
I can so understand that people use it when traveling with family or friends. But there are also officially recognised companies that rent holiday flats as an alternative to AirBnB.
Thank you for your nice videos!
I always wondered to go there it's so beautiful😉
Excellent video
Great video as always Mark, You are so right about Ikea, I see their furniture in the Air BNBs in Germany. I love using Air BNBs. One time the owner of the BNB (who lived in the apartment below) invited me to come downstairs to eat with their family. I will never forget that and now I can see us being lifetime friends. With that being said, nothing like that has happened again lol, Oh yes, the pile of keys is always fun lol. Thanks, Mark :).
Excellent video, thanks !
If prices are comperable I kinda prefer staying at hotels because you don't have to clean afterwards and just leave a mess. Really helpful the day of your check out
That is definitely a positive for hotels. One thing that's nice about most Air BnBs I stay in is that they are typically in a building where the person responsible for keeping up with them doesn't bother with the room until they're available, so if I need to spend 30 extra minutes post-checkout tidying up the place, I can do that and the host has no idea I stayed until 12:30 instead of noon.
My go-to are extended stay hotels, aka apartment hotels or aparthotels. As the names imply, they’re hotels (professionally staffed, licensed, insured, etc.) but the rooms are furnished to be living spaces, as opposed to just somewhere to sleep.
The price is usually competitive with AirBnB apartments, and if you’re planning to cook a few meals for yourself or take a “do nothing” day it’s more comfortable than a normal hotel room. Downside is that depending on the city (especially in the US) they might be closer to convention centers and corporate headquarters than to tourist sights.
Love Wolters family!
aww you’re so charismatic i love hearing you talk haha
If an airbnb says they have a max occupancy there is a reason, don't try to sneak people in. Often they are limited by city of county regulations or- if they are on a septic system- by the number of people the system can reasonably service+health department.
As a European, this is not correct.
@@jcarrett7 Person limit is for a reason.
It's also a fire hazard.I was listening to a podcast of a former hotel manager. She said that one time, she had a family book a suite for six people, but when she went in to address a noise complaint, there were 20 sleeping bags with kids lining the floor. She had to tell the parents they need to either book more rooms or send everyone home because if something happens, it's on the hotel.
@@jcarrett7 As someone who just spent an incredibly long time researching airbnb regulations and looking at properties to buy for the purposes of airbnb, and currently being under contract, yes, this is absolutely correct. Not every country and county will have the same regulations and not every waste/water/energy system will have the same requirements.
Telling people "the regulations are there for x reasons" is not enough to stop people from trying to sneak people in.
IKEA everything for sure!
hey Mark! thanks for this topic. I am maybe, one of the few that does not like Air B&B for my travels, Do you recomend them to a solo traveler? I know it is very generic question, but maybe there is something I am not seeing, and I find no advantege so renting a house for a solo traveler. Thanks!
All of these are so true! But the point about keys especially rings true for me 😆😆
Thanks Carson
Spot on. It's how we live in Europe!
Had to chuckle, the windows that Jocelyn was playing with, I had those in a hotel in Frankfurt. I was running late and was on the twenty-something floor. So I cracked the windows to let some fresh air in, left a light on, and went off to see Rush at the Festhalle. When I returned, it was like I'd started my own insectarium! Fortunately, the staff at the hotel quickly found another room for me. I couldn't believe there were no screens...AND I couldn't believe my own stupidity. But thankfully the staff bailed my dumbarse out!
Thanks for including the windows. I’m taking a group of five friends to Switzerland this fall and I did a little sharing entitled “Things to expect in Switzerland (you’re not in Kansas anymore)”. I was trying to explain to them about the windows. Now I can show them!
Always ask what floor and ask if walk up or elevator! Lobby floor is usually L or 0 and next floor up is first floor!
Is ironing a thing in Europe?
Yes
Totally!!!
For sure, unless you're a hippy XD
Yes... why would it not be?
@@sarahcashmore6736 from my understanding, in the US most of the population just puts their clothes in the drier and that's it. They don't bother any further.
Not sure about now but when I was living in Germany yrs ago they didn’t have ACs in homes, only furnices for heat
Insert me with the drying racks and a hairdryer when it's raining outside.
I am going to Europe solo next year from Australia - hopefully - and am nervous about air bnb's. I have always used hotels and have seen some terrible reviews about air bnb's. I dont care about furniture, decor, space, air con etc, I just want a clean bed, toilet and shower. I will be out and about most of the time.
What I care about turning up in a foreign country alone and having nowhere, or nowhere safe, to stay.
Do you have any tips to figure out the better options?
It depends on where you're headed to. What countries in Europe?
As a European, who has traveled a lot throughout the continent, I have almost always used AirBnB with great results. I’d say the most important thing is research. What has other travellers written about the host, and the local area? Is it located near tourist traps, or shady parts of town? If you keep things like that in mind when selecting a place to stay, you will be just fine! I hope you will enjoy your trip!
I wouldn't worry too much. I follow a few guidelines that always seem to serve me well. 1) If it seems cheap for the area, there's probably a reason. 2) Try to go for a place with a good amount of reviews with the rating at least above 4 (preferably 4.3). 3) Don't go for a place that looks like the photos could be screenshots, and also be wary of a place that uses a ton of close up photos of decorations. I've never been disappointed with an AirBnB when following that. Also, sometimes if the AirBnBs aren't worth it and you're not there for long, look at an Ibis in the area.
You could stay in a hostel, there's some great hostels all over Europe - I mean if you are going to be out and about all day anyway, then you might as well not pay for an expensive hotel room or airbnb :)
I’m European and can tell you that there is really nothing to worry about. Generally Europe is really safe! I’ve used Airbnb for almost all my travels in Europe and even Asia and never had a bad experience once. So enjoy your trip!
I had an interesting washing machine experience in Budapest.. The machine was in the bathroom, we put on a wash before going out, they called us a little later to say that the apt was flooded! The pipe from the machine was meant to be put in the toilet! How were we to know 😂😂😂
The washing machine in the bathroom is pretty common, but the hose in the toilet not su much. Not your fault
I have no words.
pipe from machine meant to be put in the toilet? never heard such constellation before and I used to live there lol
Not your fault, very weird construction!
what never happened to me at AirBnB in Europe: that the host cancelled 2 days prior to the arrival with an intercontinental flight. Such thing happened to me in the US.
Who goes to Europe and doesn't feel amorous! That's funny Mark!
Haven’t watched the video yet. A nespresso machine has to be on the list
Americans are much more keen on tumble dryers. They're really not great for the environment! It's much more normal in the UK and other european countries to use an airer or if you have a house, a rotary dryer or washing line in the garden.
I live in an apartment in Denmark and our laundry room has several dryers, but okay 🤷♀️
I'm curious, what do people do in hotel beds that they wouldn't do in any other bed?? 🤔
I'm going to Florence for the first time in July. I got an Airbnb. My only concern is that I don't speak Italian. I'm trying to learn some before going
Doors that require a key to lock on the inside are about the oddest and scariest thing to an American. If you are reading this and think it sounds weird it is. In some apartments you literally need the key to get OUT of the unit.
What would the extra red lights go to?
Based on his context clues in the video, I'm guessing some sort of security camera, but that's an invasion of privacy, so I hope not. It's not something I ever noticed, but now I'll watch out for them.
we have several dryers, everyone in my town has one of those, I think that is more southern europe right?
At least central & souther Europe. In DE it's quite common to have a cellar for drying. In ES many places have drying lines in the rooftop.
Europe is so vague... of course colder countries have dryers
Air drying clothes makes it crispy
And stinky!
Is this old footage or are you traveling internationally again?
It baffles me how most airbnbs cannot offer a tumble dryer. I mean, it's as important as a washer 😅 No matter what the climate is outside.
We have used air BB.s Iceland and Ireland and Canada ,USA and lots of hotels , really it comes down to location and price , there is good and bad to both .....eh
I don't agree with no bug screens in Europe. most private homes have them but they are rare in air bnbs
I am in Paris, working from home, last week herd a ring on the door, and there where 2 Canadian girls asking with the most polite phrases in French that a tourist parlour ever can muster: Excuse me mister, could you please help us with the door?
I've lived all over the world, and can't understand why screens are not universal? They cost pennies to buy, easy to install, can save lives, saves money, etc.
I can only speak for myself, but I just hate the optics. And I‘m not bothered by my screen-less life. It‘s just a matter of being accustomed to not switching the light on while your window is open during summer nights.
I saw the video title, and my first thought was Ikea 🤣🤣
Hello there, given the current events, is it safe to visit Prague, Bratislava, and Budapest in May?
Just got home from Bratislava and it was really peaceful and nice. People in slovakia some of the most friendly you’ll ever meet. Hope that helps
@@AH-iy3gs thank you for sharing. I know the people are friendly, I was just a bit concerned about the impact of current events. Good to know you enjoyed your time over there.
@@n.ff. I am from eastern slovakia, have been to prague last week. If you are asking about safety i dont think there is a reason for bigger concerns. The only visible impact of current events you are going to see is maybe a lot of ukrainian flags, volunteers, protests etc... and quite a lot of refugees. Which is not a safety concern at all in my opinion but can be a problem while looking for accommodation, the supply would be probably more limited than usual, because those people are staying where they can, so better check the places you want to stay. But on the other hand, because of the covid and some limited traveling from other countries, there is les tourist than usual so maybe it is not as bad.
@@xlukas93 thank you for the information! I’ve already booked with no issues in regards to the abundance of accommodations, hopefully it’ll go well. Thanks again 🙏🏻
@@n.ff. No problem
No wash clothes….Lol!!!!! 🧼😱
The drying rack wasn't ikea^^
My airbnb in Europe : I choose to not to get anything in Ikea so my place is more unique and I believe that in for Europe older furniture is always more durable and adds a lot of flair to it. Everybody complains about my dry rack which is hanging on the shower... It is better then having it in the hallway... Some guests broke my windows... It happened twice😳🤣😅
It’s John Candy’s brother
Wait, what? People don’t “jump up and down and things” on beds in their own homes?
Yea Elaine.. beds are made to sleep on them, not jump on them.
No to the Ikea items as its a 3hrs drive away & not worth the hassle of the journey.
Yes to the horse rack to dry clothes as the tumble dryer is to expenses to run.
Windows total true.
That was a very big shower in the video! I've become accustomed to much smaller, and far less nice.
I was just going to comment that showers in Europe tend to be much smaller. Lol
Funny how you think of Ikea as "cool" and "hip", because here it is known as cheap and dull. Kind of like the Walmart of furniture. It's not just AirBnB by the way. If you go to people's homes, you'll see many people have the exact same furniture, especially people who don't have a lot of money. Sure, the designs aren't bad, but we've all seen them dozens of times. This applies to the keys as well. I don't think I know a single person who has just one key for their house. We all carry a bunch of keys around.
Huh? Jumping up and down on hotelbeds is normal behaviour? What did i miss?
We didn't do it all the time, but when we did jump on the hotel beds, we typically weren't told no as often or as forcefully as we would if it was our own bed at home because they aren't our beds. Somersaults or jumping from one bed to another were the more common choice because we would pretend we were in the Olympics. It was great fun.
🙏
Great tips/reminders Mark. The windows is a big one 👍
Cheers from Canada 👊
I’ve never been in an Airbnb but judging by hotels, pensions, B&Bs and the like when I was in Europe do not expect to find a top sheet and a blanket. Most places I’ve been in Europe have a down comforter with a duvet cover on it. Not the most convenient bedding when it’s very hot. Especially since there’s generally not air conditioning and when you open the window the bugs will attack you. While I get not having air conditioning why not have screens to keep bugs out?
That's like central Europe (Germany and on). In western Europe we have 'normal' bedsheets. I (a Spaniard) was also shocked the first time I saw this. I thought they had fogotten the sheets.
Screens are more common in the warmest European countries. In my country, we don't have screens, but there are really only 2 months where something might get in, and even then it's rare because the number of bugs/insects is so low.
I would never ruin my clothes with dryer
😀
The drying racks are a nuisance to fit large items like bedding on
You are not likely to be washing the bedding in your Air B&B....
I have relatives in Europe so I’m familiar with drying racks in bathrooms, kitchens, etc. Heavier clothing takes a long time to dry on a rack, and large loads can take several days during the colder months in Northern Europe. I wear mostly cotton fabrics which often dry to a stiff and rough texture on a rack.
@@mirandolina46 yes but in Europe space is small so not everyone has dryers
Hence the mention of drying bedding etc
@@killianmmmoore Here in Italy very few people have driers. However, most people have some kind of outdoor arrangement on the balcony or roof for drying large items. Usually only the small stuff goes on the racks. The problem is in winter when it's too cold or too damp outside. We have a pulley device over the bath with six lines where we can dry bedding, towels, all kinds of clothing. Stuff dries quite well there because the bathroom is centrally heated.
@@mirandolina46 in Ireland too we mostly air dry
But a good number of live in apartments making drying interesting :)
Hmm... let me see. The last three AirBnBs I stayed at in London, Lisbon and Riga - no Ikea furniture at all.
"When you're an amorous couple" as if IKEA beds couldn't handle people having sex lol 😭
Conclusion: American window cleaning can never be as simple as in "Europe"