A "Fairy Host Mother's" Guide“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain
I suspect Mark Twain would have LOVED Airbnb.
While travel is indeed a catalyst for personal growth and understanding our fellow humans, I think the same could be said for hosting. My very favorite part about hosting has been making personal connections with people who come to our part of the world to experience the things I’ve enjoyed here for many years. Sharing this little town I love and helping others see it as we do has been such a joyful part of my own personal journey.
What I hadn’t expected was the opportunity to see this place through the eyes of others; The glee of a first snowfall as experienced by southerners; The majesty of the mountains in the summer from the perspective of a city dweller; The spectacular autumn colors that make lines of cars pull off of our winding roads to take photographs. It’s all new again when viewed alongside first timers.A little "purple mountain's majesty" from the garden at the Barn at Bourne House
Perhaps my favorite aspect of hosting our guests is helping them feel at home in the place I call home. Over time I’ve developed a guide of “insider tips.” It isn’t a review of every single place. It’s the highlights, the places to go that are unlike all the others. It’s the places where guests will feel welcomed and looked after, or places to go to be peaceful in the woods. It’s where to park when the lot is full and the “special” to order that’s not on the menu. I aim to make guests feel they’ve got a “fairy host mother” for their adventure.
I’ve had the good luck to have my guide carefully translated into Spanish and French by native speakers who have understood the nuances of what I want our visitors to know and I share it with guests before they arrive. I’m overwhelmed by the gratitude folks have expressed for having a compass to guide them while they explore.
While we live in a time when there seems to be a lot dividing us from each other, I’m thankful that Airbnb brings us together. I’m thankful we meet people who at first may seem very different and at heart are so much the same.