I chose Carlos’ house because I wanted to stay somewhere that offered a personal connection to the city, rather than just some Airbnb styled investment project. After all, that’s what airbnb was about before it hit the big bucks. This was by far my best ever airbnb experience. It’s not a hotel and Carlos doesn’t try to be like that, instead he invites you in to share his world. For me, travel is about making memories and connections, it’s about going deeper than interacting with the tourist service industry. I guess what I’lm saying is that Carolos’ house might not be the right place for everybody; You have to go through Carlos’ world to get to your space at the top of the house and that’s what makes this such a special shared experience. It also takes time to get to know Zico the dog (give it a couple of days) but when he does come up to you and lets you play you know that you have arrived. I had a free evening and Carlos invited me to join him and some friends at a Fado evening in a hidden gem of a bar, a part of a world that is disappearing as global financial trends push against Porto’s traditional heritage. I will never forget that evening or my stay with Carlos.