Airbnb for iOS

The five-star Airbnb for iPhone app enables you to book vacation home rentals, restaurant reservations, and a number of experiences -- from cooking classes to live music shows to health and wellness workshops -- all within the app.

Pros

Thousands of vacation home rentals: Corporate hotels start to look generic, sterile, and overpriced in comparison to the wide variety of unique, homey, and affordable accommodations that Airbnb offers. Rent your own storybook home in Italy, a seashell house in Mexico, or a treehouse in Atlanta, Georgia -- for less than the cost of a hotel room in most metropolitan cities.

Detailed property descriptions: Tap on any property, and you'll see a moving carousel of photos (no tapping required), a detailed description, a list of amenities, a map, check-in and check-out info, tons of reviews, house rules, the cancellation policy, and an availability calendar. You can also message the host here with any questions or concerns.

Variety of affordable travel experiences: There are thousands of culturally-immersive experiences to check out and book on the Airbnb app -- from food tastings in Rome and dance classes in Havana to surf school in Maui. Many of them are spotlighted on the home page, or you can search by categories, such as Food & Drinks, Classes & Workshops, and Sports. What's more, the experiences seem reasonably priced.

Easy saves: Save intriguing rentals, experiences, and places to explore later or to share with family or friends if you're planning a group trip -- just by tapping the heart button.

Cons

Six-step booking process: If you see a property you like, tap Check Availability on the bottom of its profile page and select your check-in and check-out dates. If they're open, then tap Book, and after reviewing your trip details, Next. You'll then be asked for your "Trip Purpose," which you can answer or skip, and then to scan your ID for verification. Then you still have three more steps to go before securing your booking. While we understand that safety comes first, this grueling booking process takes a lot of the fun out of booking travel.

Bottom Line

Airbnb for iPhone is a great alternative to a traditional hotel booking app. If you're looking for a homier, more culturally immersive experience abroad, you should definitely give Airbnb a try.