This was my first experience with Airbnb. I heard it could be hit or miss. Mine was a hit! My hosts, Eileen and Vaughn, were very friendly and responsive, and patiently answered all of my newbie questions.
Their place is in a safe neighborhood near the campus of the University of Texas and mostly residential. A lot of detail has been covered in previous reviews so I won't repeat it here.
Across the street is a small coin-operated laundry and a convenience store that has a nice selection of snacks and other items including beer and wine. Beyond that, It's less than a five-minute walk to Starbucks, pizza, and ice cream.
The hosts provided some thoughtful touches such as chilled water already in the fridge, paper bowls and cups for the microwave, and some ear plugs (the good kind) for those who may want to tune out the road noise. The road noise died down quite a bit in the evenings.
Overall, I would recommend Eileen and Vaughn's place to those looking for a clean and comfortable room at a great price in central Austin. I would stay here again!
Safe travels!