Welcome to Airbnb, the website that, according to Wikipedia, is for people to “list, find, and rent lodging”. According to those who use the site, however, it’s so much more: a community where hosts can share their homes and experiences with travellers. City Views looks at some of its listings in the Central City.

At the time of writing, there were over 200 listings for places to stay under R1 000 per night in the Cape Town CBD. Here’s a taste of what’s on offer for two to four guests, as we chat with four local hosts.

01/1 bedroom loft apartment: R803 per night

Entire apartment; 4 guests; 1 bedroom; 2 beds

“Beautifully decorated loft apartment in the heart of the Cape Town CBD; has access to a terrace with a pool; close proximity to transport hubs, restaurants and tourist attractions.”

Unique selling point: This listing is situated in Adderley Street, the Mother City’s de facto main road and home to every conceivable type of shopping offering – from street traders to big-name chain stores.

Host: Robert

CV: Why stay in the Cape Town CBD?

Robert: Cape Town CBD has seen a huge amount of development and rejuvenation. This, in turn, has created a true tourist destination for both local and international travellers. It offers close proximity to all major transport hubs, tourist attractions and is one of the safest places in the country.

CV: What made you decide to rent out your place through Airbnb?

Robert: About a year ago, a friend of mine put me onto the idea and I’ve never looked back. Since then, I have found a partner and we are using Airbnb as our main rental driver. If used properly, Airbnb does show a decent yield and I think a profitable business can be made using this model.

02/A comfortable safe city apartment: R973 per night

Entire apartment; 4 guests; 2 bedrooms; 2 beds

“Two-bedroom apartment with 24hour security, parking, a gym and pool in the block; walking distance from the city centre, Parliament and Greenmarket Square, and the best cafes in the CBD; perfect place to relax after a busy day.”

Unique selling point: The East City is now undeniably Cape Town CBD’s coffee quarter. This listing is close to Haas Coffee Collective, The Blend, the Field Office and Truth Coffee Roasting, rated the best in the world by the British broadsheet newspaper the Daily Telegraph.

Host: Irina

CV: Why stay in the Cape Town CBD?

Irina: Staying in the CBD is very convenient if you don’t want to miss out on things. Gallery openings, book launches, markets, expos, not to mention all the great coffee shops and restaurants, are located right here. It is very central and has easy access to highways leading to the best wine farms and nature reserves in the country.

CV: What made you decide to rent out your place through Airbnb?

Irina: Airbnb has a very good infrastructure that serves both the tourist and the host.

03/Convenience, safety, style – CBD living: R671 per night

Entire apartment; 3 guests; 3 beds

“Private studio, secure parking, washing machine, safe, full kitchen, stunning views, space for three adults or two adults and two kids. Convenient CBD living: two to 10 minute walk to bars, restaurants, V&A Waterfront, CTICC etc.”

Unique selling point: The whole studio is yours. The hosts do live in the same building, however, and are always available to give inside information into all things Cape Town.

Host: Victoria

CV: Why stay in the Cape Town CBD?

Victoria: You are in the middle of everything, walking distance from everything you need, and there is no easier and more convenient starting point for all your adventures. Besides, as Cape Town is basically the only city in South Africa with a beautiful and safe CBD – why not take advantage of that?

CV: What made you decide to rent out your place through Airbnb?

Victoria: I own a mobile yoga company called The Om Revolution. In season a lot of our clients are tourists. Last season I had many tourist clients who were forced to stay in locations they would not have chosen otherwise – because Cape Town CBD was fully booked. So I thought: add an extra room to the mix; give one extra person or a couple the opportunity to stay in town!


 

04/Holiday happy; come, rain or shine: R868 per night

Entire apartment; 2 guests; 1 bed

 “This studio offers single or travelling couples comfort, holiday fun and relaxation in historical sights and a central location. In the city skyline, quietly next to the equivalent of NY’s Central Park – with sweeping views, a swimming pool and garage parking.”

Unique selling point: This listing is a two-minute walk to the nearest MyCiTi stop and 10 to 15 minutes’ walk to the train station. CitySightseeing buses stop outside.

Host: Astrid

CV: Why stay in the Cape Town CBD?

Astrid: The CBD is vibrant, well connected by the MyCiTi and a central location from which to explore Kloof and Long streets, as well as the rest of Cape Town’s beach attractions.

CV: What made you decide to rent out your place through Airbnb?

Astrid: From initially renting one room in my own home through Airbnb, I have come to offer two more apartments. As an architect I have taken these apartments as design opportunities and have developed a small business therein and, for the longer term, a retirement annuity fund.
 

Shared City

Airbnb recently launched an initiative that is aimed at encouraging microentrepreneurship and fostering communities. The first so-called Shared City was Portland in the US state of Oregon. As part of the programme, Airbnb pledged to make it easy for Portland hosts to donate part of their earnings from rentals to a local cause, and to match those donations as a percentage of its fees. It also offered free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to hosts to help make their homes safer.

Additionally, Airbnb committed to working with Travel Portland, a private NPO that markets the city, on joint campaigns to promote Portland, its neighbourhoods and small businesses to the Airbnb global community. We think Cape Town CBD would make a great Shared City: it’s compact and walkable, has plenty of cultural attractions (being the oldest downtown in SA), a steadily growing residential population, and a culture of coworking and microentrepreneurship.

Can the Cape town CBD become an Airbnb Shared City? Email us your thoughts at brent@capetownccid.org and we’ll pass them on.

 

Building a community

In 2007, designers Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia couldn’t afford the rent on their San Francisco loft apartment. So they decided to offer part of it as lodging space, which they remember as a “pop-up B&B with inflatable mattresses”. The door opened for a startup that now has over two million listings in over 190 countries and 34 000+ cities.

How it works

Airbnb’s diverse range of listings include everything from sofa beds to spare rooms, campervans to castles. Log in, find a host, connect, confirm travel dates and pay – all through Airbnb’s built-in services. If you want to turn your property into an Airbnb, make sure that your body corporate rules allow for shortterm rentals.

Why it rocks

You’ll find accommodation that offers a different experience from a hotel – often at a better price. And, if you enjoy personalised service and personal insights into the area you’re visiting, many hosts are happy to oblige. It’s all part of the conversation you have from the moment you make contact to the moment you arrive.

 

Tips for first-time renters

• Be yourself: The Airbnb community is built on trust, so create an honest profile and use your social media accounts to verify who you are.
• Be careful: Just as your profile is verified, check that your potential host’s is too. Communicate and pay on Airbnb only.
• Be thorough: Narrow your search down using Airbnb’s extensive filters; then make sure you’re happy before booking by viewing all the listing’s photos and reviews.
• Be inquisitive: If something’s not clear in a listing, use Airbnb’s messenger to correspond with the host.
• Be responsible: Each listing has its own house rules – such as an instruction to keep the noise down. Make sure you read these before agreeing to a booking.
• Be friendly: Start a conversation with your host and get to know them.

 

For a listing of traditional Central City hotels and backpackers, click here.

This article first appeared in the summer 2015-16 issue of City Views. Read it online.

All photos supplied by hosts