My sister and I stayed in Sarah’s studio this past weekend (Oct. 16-18, 2010) and as our first airbnb experience I must say it was a very positive one. We contacted Sarah at a very late notice (1 day prior) and she was able to accommodate us. Sarah’s studio is large and very cozy. Checking in is easy and hassle-free as she leaves the keys to the place in a lock box and gives you the combination prior to your arrival. She will even obtain a parking permit for you if you have a car so that you may park in front of the place and avoid getting ticketed. The entire apartment is private and for your use only throughout your stay. Sarah is not intrusive, and you probably won’t see her throughout the entire stay. We just so happened to bump into her outside on the second day of our stay and she gave us a friendly hello. She seems to be very gracious and sweet. The apartment has everything you need-a fridge, a microwave, kitchen utensils, an iron, fresh towels, soap to shower, and more. I was pleasantly surprised to find an interesting collection of books and music. Sarah leaves a detailed letter with everything there is to know-the dos and don’ts, and places to eat, shop, & be entertained. The cable television works just fine and the bathroom was my favorite as it was very clean and there was warm water for showering. The bed was comfortable-perfect for one to two people. The blankets were my sister’s favorite as they kept us VERY warm in the chilly Chicago weather. The neighborhood is peaceful and quiet and as two young females traveling alone in a big city, we felt very safe here.

Overall, it was the perfect place to stay for us-it’s cheaper than a hotel and far bigger and cozier in my opinion, and we felt right at home. It gave us a chance to really get a feel for the city and feel like locals, which is an experience you don’t get at a hotel. We fell in love with this place-we would definitely stay again and highly recommend it!