The Traveling Dutchman » Blog

When I talk to fellow Airbnb hosts, I always ask them if they were apprehensive about letting random people from the internet into their homes. The answer is always a clear “yes.”

The next question I ask them, is if those fears ever materialized. The answer to this question may surprise you. It’s almost always a very definite “no.”

The biggest worry that people have when renting out their space on Airbnb is that guests will damage their property. Particular questions that are often raised include the following: Continue reading »

In the winter of 2010, I decided to quit my financial career. I booked a one-way ticket to Brazil, sold my belongings, packed what was left in two suitcases, and ventured into unchartered territory.

I didn’t know what I would do for money or where I would end up in the world; I simply recognized that I was taking the first step of an epic journey. Continue reading »

During my travels, I often stay at Airbnb apartments across the globe. Since I am a host myself, I pay close attention to various aspects of the listings I peruse.

One of those aspects is price. Over the last few years, I have noticed that most hosts have a fixed daily price regardless of the day of the week or month. This is highly surprising. Why? Continue reading »

The main concern that most people have about Airbnb is that they will not be welcomed appropriately upon arrival. Guests are fraught with innumerable concerns and questions.

Will my host be on site when I arrive? Will he answer my phone calls? Will he be thoroughly prepared for my stay?

Truth be told, these fears are completely understandable. Why? Because most travelers are accustomed to staying at corporate style accommodations, i.e. hotels. Continue reading »

The main promotion avenue for your Airbnb listing is the Airbnb search results. This is where potential guests shop for relevant listings.

When your listing pops up, the first thing a user will see is the title of your listing along with the primary photo of your home.

These two pieces of information are what will burn an indelible first impression into the mind of the user. Accordingly, these components must be of the highest quality if you expect guests to inquire further. Continue reading »

One of the reasons why I love Airbnb is that it enables me to travel. I make money everyday, even if I’m lounging at a beach in the south of Brazil or jumping off a ski lift in the Swiss Alps.

But when I first transitioned from fixed-term rentals to Airbnb, I was a bit dumfounded as how I could manage my budding business while maintaining my nomadic lifestyle. Continue reading »

An integral part of a solid Airbnb business is receiving an abundance of positive reviews. Airbnb is built on trust, reputation, and social standing.

Accordingly, nothing entices new guests more than a collection of stellar recommendations from former guests.

It must logically follow, then, that bad reviews are the kiss of death, right? Not necessarily. Continue reading »

In the summer of 2013, life was good. My Airbnb business was in full swing, earning more than double what I was making from my fixed-term rate.

I had hosted over 60 groups and had a healthy collection of glowing reviews and five-star ratings. My listing was on the up and up. And then, without warning, disaster struck.

I received the following message from a guest who had just checked in in a day earlier: Continue reading »

Reviews are the foundation of the service industry. Hotels, restaurants, personal trainers, real estate agents, and any other service-based professions must live and die by the review system.

As the world has grown ever more interconnected, and social media has engulfed every aspect of our lives, the power of customer feedback has grown exponentially. General advertising and marketing are still vastly important tools, but at the end of the day, cyber word of mouth is fast becoming the ultimate determinant for a business venture’s success. Continue reading »

Nowadays, everyone wants a bargain. There are a plethora of websites and services that make their money by flooding consumers with terrific financial savings for all sorts of products. When people save money, it makes them feel good. It often engenders a feeling akin to earning an extra bit of income.

Airbnb customers are no different. They are constantly in search of the best deal available. Most hosts are aware of this because they’ve likely dealt with a customer who is eager to haggle. You think you’ve set a reasonable price for your listing, but a potential guest has requested a discount. What now? Should you accept it, or do you stay strong and hold your ground? Continue reading »

The last few years I’ve been traveling around the world non-stop. I’ve been to over 50 countries.

I went lobster hunting in the Bahamas, scuba diving in the worlds’ most tropical places such as Fiji, Vanuatu, Thailand and the Philippines, hiked up a volcano in Iceland and sailed along the coast of Croatia during Yacht week.

The number one question I get from my readers is: how do I afford this? The short answer is: Airbnb. Continue reading »

Located on the Northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the province of Guanacaste, the town of Tamarindo swells from a mere 500 to 5000 due to its popular tourist attractions, including surfing and eco-tourism.

 Tamarindo is known for its beautiful beaches, particularly Playa Tamarindo–which has several excellent breaks for surfers–and Playa Grande, which is famous as the nesting ground for Leatherback turtles. Continue reading »

During my four years of traveling around the world I have met a lot of people who also chose to step out of the 9 to 5 environment and try something entrepreneurial. It’s always inspiring and interesting to see what these fellow globetrotters are up to, but some of them have really blown me away by what they’ve accomplished. Navid Moazzez is a good example and I’m honored to be featured on his business podcast, The Lifestyle Architects, which is ranked #2 in the iTunes business section! Continue reading »

For years I wanted to visit Medellin. I had heard so much about this city. January 2014 the day had finally arrived, as I touched down at José María Córdova International Airport with a few friends.

The following month I discovered what all the talk was about. Superb climate, stunning scenery, beautiful women, delicious food and fresh mountain air. What else can you wish for? Continue reading »

People often ask me which countries they should visit in South East Asia. Most of the time, they have Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia in mind. I often ask if they’ve considered the Philippines. Most of the time the answer is “no.”

I’ve been to the Philippines almost ten times and I’m not sure why the Philippines isn’t on the top of the list of countries to visit for most people, but I definitely think it should be. Here’s why. Continue reading »

Does your business or the work you do not only reflect but amplify your interests and passions?

Have you been focusing so much on growing your business, or working so hard that it’s come at the expense of having a lifestyle where you feel empowered and creatively expressed? Then read on… Continue reading »

During your travels, you will most likely want to chat to family or friends back home from time to time and share photos with them. And, if you are freelancing as you go, then communication with clients is crucial.

Back in the day, this was usually a costly endeavor. Not anymore, though! The internet revolution has made international communications a lot cheaper—free in many cases! Continue reading »