Airbnb

CNET Editors' review

by: Jaymar Cabebe on July 05, 2012

With Airbnb for Android, you can easily search for unique accommodations while on the go. If you have an account already set up, you can edit your profile, add favorite properties, and, of course, book a room. If you don't have an Airbnb account, you can still search through listings.

If you're not familiar with Airbnb, it's a marketplace where people can list and book unique accommodations around the world. Think vacant Manhattan apartment while its owner is away, or quirky London flat while it's not in use. In short, Airbnb is all about offering and finding alternatives to the typical hotel and resort accommodations that we're all used to.

To get started with Airbnb for Android, hit the Search button at the bottom of the screen and type in a city name. What you get is a list of all the properties in or nearby your desired location. There's also a map view, which is perfect if you're familiar with your destination city. Every listing shows you a headline (written by the property owner), location, number of reviews, and price. If you tap on a listing, you get more information, including property details, full description, list of amenities, pictures, and information about the host. On this screen, you can even book the room or contact the host with any questions you might have.

If you've booked a trip or put your own room up for rent, the Upcoming tab can help you stay organized. For upcoming trips, you can easily access your itinerary, which includes host details and one-click directions to the property. For your own listings, you can keep track of guest check-in and check-out dates.

One thing worth noting is that Airbnb for Android does not offer nearly the number of search options that its bigger, browser-based brother does, which is a shame. You can't sort by price, neighborhood, or any other factors. Regardless, the app is quite useful and still worth a download.

If you're an experienced Airbnb user, then there's no reason you shouldn't have this app installed. And if you've never tried the service, then I can't recommend it highly enough.