YOUR FIRST STAY
Where should your roaming journey begin?
Booking your first stay can be daunting. Sometimes there are too many options and sometimes there aren't enough. We can help you know what's important to look for in a stay and when you should make that first booking.
WHERE TO STAY
This is up to you! But we also recommend joining our forum to get reviews on cities and stays from other roamies. For your first stay, however, we recommend staying within 6 hour drive of your storage unit. Odds are you're going to forget something or realize you have too much within the first few months of roaming. Being driving distance away from your storage unit will allow you to swap out items if necessary.
We also recommend staying 4 weeks in your first stay. This is enough time to settle in but not too much time in case you're uncomfortable in your first stay. Eventually you'll learn what you really need from a home and will gain confidence in your bookings. This is when it becomes possible to book a 3 month stay. But to start, 4 weeks is ideal.
When it comes to finding a stay, Airbnb is probably the best option. Airbnb allows you to book long term stays. This feature is what makes roaming possible. Long term usually have fully stocked kitchens, have cheaper nightly rates, and are bookable for at least 4 weeks. Since you'll be staying in this Airbnb for an extended period of time, it's ok to be picker than if you were just choosing a weekend stay. Try to find a place in your budget, isn't too small, and most importantly - gets you excited. Feel free to message the host and ask questions! Since you're considering staying for an extended period of time, they are usually very eager to answer your questions.
The size of the Airbnb is a really important consideration. A lot of Airbnbs are smaller in size since they target weekend visits. However, unless a tiny home is what you're looking for, we recommend steering clear of small Airbnbs. You'll be working and living in this home so make sure there is enough room for you to feel conformable.
WHEN TO BOOK
Due to the nature of long term stays being, well, long term, they can be harder to find. We recommend booking at least 2 months in advance depending on the location where you're trying to book. For larger cities, booking 4-6 months ahead of time is advised. This rule applies to your future bookings too so make sure you stay on top of your plans for the next stop of your journey.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Depending on the location, there can be too many Airbnb options sometimes. So what should you look for? Here's a list of the filters we always apply in Airbnb:
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Type of place: Entire place
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1+ Bedrooms
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WiFi
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Washer
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Dryer
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Free parking
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Dedicated workplace (optional)
We would advise against a studio for your first stay. We've tried it and they are great for a couple weeks but quickly begin to feel like a cave as time goes on since you are working and living in the space. We love that Airbnb allows you to filter for a "Dedicated workplace"! We always filter Airbnbs with this option because we want to have at least one desk in our stay. If you plan to book an Airbnb without a dedicated workplace, consider your alternatives - perhaps a lap desk or working from the kitchen table.
Be sure to check out your potential stay's surrounding area. Google Maps is super helpful for this. While Airbnb will not give you the address of the stay before booking, they will provide a map with a circle identifying the area where the Airbnb is at. Search for one of the street names within the circle in Google Maps and activate street view. This view can provide some additional information in regards to what the neighborhood is like. Google Maps can also help you figure out if there are train tracks or an interstate nearby that you mind want to avoid.
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