AIRBNB Living with a Toddler
By the end of this month, our 23 month old will have clocked 7 AIRBNB stays in her lifetime between the US, Italy, France, and Portugal. Just writing that brings a smile to my face because I have always wanted to share my love of travel with her and I am so grateful we are actually doing it! I have definitely learned a few things about AIRBNB’ing with a toddler, so I thought I would put together some helpful tips and learnings from our last two years of adventuring.
Why AIRBNB?
Obviously having the space is amazing (more often than not, a multi-bedroom AIRBNB is the same price as a hotel room) but the MVP is having a kitchen. Not sure about your babe, but my daughter is constantly eating. Being able to cook for her and having a decent refrigerator to store food in is a must. It takes the stress out of figuring out the next meal especially in a foreign country when restaurants might not be open (looking at you, Italian Siesta!). At this age I feel like EVERYTHING revolves around food and alleviating that stress is really game changing for our overall travel experience.
And back to the space: there’s nothing better than having a living room and a backyard to enjoy while your babe naps, amiright? With AIRBNB you feel way less tied to your “room” during nap time and bedtime than you would at a hotel.
HOW TO FIND A Toddler approved AIRBNB:
Sort of a loaded Q because there are a lot of variables but a few things I always like to have on my radar -
crib/cot available - currently you cannot filter by this option but sometimes you can filter by “family”
high chair available - from what I’ve found, most “superhosts” seem to have all the baby essentials
if there is a pool - ensuring it is behind a locked fence or not attached to the main living area
blackout shades
AC/Heat
read reviews about street noise
proximity to daily activities ie: walks around town, sightseeing, parks, etc.
Don’t forget, you can always message the host to ask Qs. IE: maybe they don’t list crib availability but they actually have one (this happened to us in Lisbon).
TODDLER TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Items we never leave home without:
Slumperpod is LIFE - it creates a dark, comfortable environment for babe
Hatch Sound Machine - they make a mini version too!
Doona Trike - we gave up strollers at 12 months and never looked back.
Nanit with travel stand and case
traveling Toddler Grocery List
These are the items I grab as soon as we land (even sometimes travel with) because I know I can create easy, nutrient packed snacks and meals for her in a crunch:
eggs
bananas
peanut butter
berries
cheese: typically mozzarella and/or ricotta
bread
avocado
spinach
apples
chicken
pasta
marinara sauce
Our favorite AIRBNBs to-date:
PARIS, FRANCE - the perfect location. Streets noise is a little loud but nothing a sound machine won’t drown out.
SICILY, ITALY - walking distance from the ocean and a gorge rooftop deck! Our daughter was in heaven.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - we spent a month here in the fall and already booked it again for this fall!
Did I miss anything? Let me know if you have any Qs about AIRBNB’ing with your FAM. You can always comment below or send me a DM on insta. Beyond happy to help! xo Ash
Cartagena's friendly and lively atmosphere, combined with its breathtaking beaches, historic sites, and vibrant street life, makes it an ideal destination for solo female travelers looking to explore, relax, and discover new adventures. Here are my tips for planning your next Cartagena adventure!