Thanks to Hilary and her superb hospitality, the first Airbnb stay for myself and my friend could not have been better. She was incredibly communicative, welcoming, friendly, and helpful. Thanks to the directions and tips she provided us in advance, we easily found our way through a new and unfamiliar city, from the airport to the subway station, and to her house.

When we arrived, she and her sweet dog, Aggie, greeted us at the door, and we were welcomed into the kitchen for water and a chat. She provided us with a key and a large binder full of local menus, information, maps, and the house rules, which are reasonable and relaxed. The room was just as described, and perfect for our needs, complete with fresh flowers, hangers for our clothes, and a large shelving unit for anything we wanted to unpack. Colorful, clean towels were laid out for us on the bed to use in the shared bathroom, which includes a multi-tier towel rack for everyone in the house to hang their towels between uses. The bedroom and bathroom, much like the rest of the house, displays beautiful artwork and personal touches throughout.

With the information in the binder, and some additional information from Hilary, we quickly learned our way around the neighborhood, and to a local pub for dinner after our arrival. In the following days, we visited many different areas of Boston, as well as Salem, and were able to quickly make our way back to the house to relax or refresh when needed. The location of the house makes it very easy to access both the heart of the neighborhood and the transit system to get to wherever and whatever you need.

On the last full day of our short visit, which was spent up in Salem, we made a visit into the North End for some treats from Modern Pastry before heading back to the house. Despite being in the middle of a project when we got back, she sat with us to visit over wine and pastries. Never once did we feel unwelcome in her home during our time there. My only dissatisfaction lies with not being able to stay longer! I would highly recommend Hilary as a host, and would gladly stay with her again on my next trip to Boston. Thanks for everything, Hilary!