I love to travel – and one of my favorite ways to explore a new place is to stay through Airbnb. It lets you emerge yourself in your new hot spot and gives you a glimpse into how it would actually be if you lived there. Now, Airbnbs can be hit or miss (we once stayed in a place we refer to as the “moth-pocolypse Airbnb” and rented a stay at a room in San Francisco that was so baffling that we would never wish that experience on anyone else. In my travels, I’ve learned a thing or two about Airbnb rentals. First note: ALWAYS READ THE REVIEWS. We would have saved ourselves days of terror if we had only read the reviews on one spot that clearly said the walls were paper thin and that you could hear EVERYTHING.

Well, how else do you know…? I’ve tried a few out for you, and below I’m listing a few places that I stayed at and would recommend again. As always, do your due diligence and read the most up-to-date reviews. But I would return to these spots again. And it’s a great place to start if you want a referral from a friend! *Use my link here to get a discount on your first Airbnb trip when you checkout – $40 off a home booking of $75 or more and $15 off an experience of $50 or more.

Boulder, Colorado: When traveling to Boulder, my recommendation is to get a place as close to the Pearl Street Mall as possible. I always take a flight into Denver, and then hop the bus to Boulder. It’s only about a 45-minute ride, costs around $10 one way, and the scenery is amazing. Once you’re in Boulder you can walk Pearl Street, which is a long strip of cool shops and places to eat, or take an Uber anywhere. The hiking is fantastic. And I miss it every day.

There’s only one place I’ve stayed in Boulder that is still active, and that is the Cozy Bohemian Studio w/ Kitchenette hosted by Gretchen (a.k.a. “Gg”). This space doesn’t have a private entrance, but the door is keypad entry (my favorite) and you only have a few steps in before you go down the stairs to your separate space, with a door that locks behind you. Gg was a wonderful hostess and all her reviews will back up my claim. I’d say it was about a 20-minute walk to the tip of pearl street, and then another 20-minute walk to the heart of downtown, which wasn’t bad for my brother and I who really enjoy walking everywhere.

The other places I’ve been eyeballing, but haven’t yet stayed, that look super close to downtown are this Charming Apt. in Downtown Boulder and this Industrial Chic Carriage House Close to Pearl Street. If you don’t mind a bit of a walk, this Stylish 3-Bedroom, walking distance to everything is only a mile from Pearl Street, looks absolutely adorable, and you can travel with a small group!

Portland, ME: Portland, Maine is one of my favorite getaways. It’s only a 4-hour ride or so away, and the charm of it’s “Old Port” is beyond compare. Cobblestone streets, lots of great little shops, beautiful water views, and plenty of great spots to eat. If you go, you have to stop at Hot Suppa for breakfast at least once. Plan to get there 45 minutes or so ahead of time. There is always a wait – but it’s worth it! If you are a fan of eggs Benedict, Hot Suppa has a great “fried green tomato” version, but if you want a spot that has around seven different varieties – Bayside American Cafe is your choice! This restaurant includes the classic Maine-seafood lobster and crab cake choices (if that’s your thing!) and also normally has around a 45-minute wait. If you want to know my secret spot for breakfast/brunch – you have to go off the beaten path a little. The Front Room has killer dishes and seems to be slightly less bombarded than the ones directly downtown. The choice is yours and you can’t go wrong!

I’m sure it comes as no surprise that our favorite Airbnb spots are the ones that are a short walking distance to our favorite places to eat.

This one is a short walk to both Hot Suppa (which signifies the very beginning of the downtown area) and a Holy Donut, where they make their donuts from fresh Maine potatoes. (*The cake ones are best a day old, and the lighter ones are best the day-of.) It was cozy and had everything we needed, including a parking space – which is a huge plus in Portland.

This one was cute and industrial, and only a short walk to OTTO pizza’s late-night location – which is perfect if you get into town late and want a bite to eat. This one also came with a free parking space, and sets you more in the center of downtown and not just on the edge.

Another spot within walking distance of Hot Suppa (sense a theme here…?) is this one. They give you a parking space in the driveway and it’s cute and beachy-feeling. Don’t forget to head around the corner and pick up your Holy Donuts!