OUR HOUSE IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

My First Airbnb Experience in California

By Henry Libo-on

Introduction

The concept of Airbnb was originally developed by Brian Chesky, an American Internet entrepreneur who was born in Niskayuna, New York in August of 1981. 

Who is Brian Chesky? Wikipedia has this to say about him:

"Brian Chesky is an American Internet entrepreneur who has a net worth of $3.3 billion. Brian Chesky was born in Niskayuna, New York in August 1981. He is best known for being the co-founder and CEO of the hospitality exchange service Airbnb. He studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and met co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Airbnb Joe Gebbia. Since 2010 he has not owned a home and has used Airbnb. Chesky and Gebbia moved to San Francisco, California in 2008. They found many hotels to be overbooked while planning to attend a conference and purchased three airbeds to rent out their place and make some money. They created the website Air Bed and Breakfast which became Airbnb. The company utilized the SXSW festival and now has over 50,000 people using it each day. In March 2015 Airbnb was valued at $20 billion."

Why would I prefer to stay in an Airbnb rather than a hotel?

My main reason is I have privacy and freedom. In cases when I rent a unit in a condominium, I will have a room that is with the kitchen, and I can cook therefore lessen my expenses on food. In cases when I rent the whole house, I can bring my family, cook our meals, and have a long conversation and fellowship in the ambiance of a home. 

Actually, I informed my daughter Bambi that I am taking the tourist bus from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park because this park is one of the most visited places in the U.S. and since I was already in California I might as well take the opportunity to go there on a tour bus. But she informed me that she will go with her daughter Nat and husband Ness with me. My youngest daughter Tin2 also went with us together with her beau Curtis. That is why we rented an Airbnb which is located a few miles from Yosemite National Park. 

 All Airbnb can be booked on-line.  Just visit the Airbnb Website and enter the necessary information to find your Airbnb.  My recent experience happened when we had a trip to the Yosemite National Park in California.  My daughter Angel chose to rent the whole house with four rooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen with all the needed appliances, a dining area, a living area, laundry, and dryer area, and a covered barbecue area on the side of the house that overlooks the forest.  Below are the photos I took of the whole house.

 

 This is the dining area. This hallway leads to my room and on the left side is another room and the bathroom. Behind me on the other side of the wall are the washing machine and dryer. 

That area also leads to the door going down to the covered Barbecue area. There is a big table good for six persons near the Barbecue grill.  

  

 The Master's Bedroom has a Jacuzzi and a shower room. Yes, there is a toilet. 

 Next to the master's Bedroom is a Kid's room shown here below. 

My granddaughter's room is connected to her parent's room. 

 I call this room as Grandpa's Room or room number 3. Grandma was on a separate vacation on the island of Guam, U.S.A. The bed cover and pillow set feature the Black Bear that are residents of Yosemite National Park.  

My children and granddaughter occupied the third and the fourth rooms. 

This is the dining area. The reclining chair is facing the T.V. screen which is hung on the wall near the main door.  Wait, was it reclining? Sorry, I have not tried it, lol. 

The living room is behind me. I cannot find the picture of the living room as of this writing. I have hundreds of pictures of my recent trip to San Francisco and the Yosemite National Park. 

The table is now set for breakfast. My son-in-law Ness is an early riser and he cooked well. 

Behind me is the photography done by Ansel Adams, a famous landscape photographer, and environmentalist who was known for his black and white images of the American West. (search.yahoo.com)

This is the Kitchen.  Two chairs with a bottle of wine or beer (I prefer beer) with a plateful of cold cuts or nuts can make this area a bar, haha. 

My comments:

1.  Google the website of Airbnb.com and enter the place where you wanted to stay overnight as well as the other information, they need so they can show you the Airbnb available in that area. Decide which one to choose and make your reservation at least one or two weeks in advance. 

2. We are a group of five (5) adults and a child and we need four (4) rooms which this Airbnb had.

3. In case you are more than what the rooms can accommodate, this Airbnb has extra sets of beddings that guests can use.  Just inform your host about the number of guests she is expecting so she can prepare the place and assure you of a pleasant stay. 

4. This Airbnb has provided little extras like coffee, tea, creamer, etc. My children brought enough food for us so the only thing we did was cooking them. The kitchen is loaded with silverware, crystals, china, cutleries, crockery and so on and so forth. 

5. To my readers in other countries just be cautious of your privacy.  There were cases in some countries that I do not want to mention where the Airbnb owners installed a CCTV camera even inside the rooms thus compromising the privacy of its guests. CCTV Camera outside of the house is acceptable to me because that is part of security purposes. Once cameras are installed in the kitchen, dining area, and living room, for example, the owner must inform the guest or the guest must ask the owner about this. 

Airbnb owners have the right to protect their property but the guests have the right to protect their privacy.  A proper disclosure to the guest by the owner is, therefore, a good way to clear the air, so to speak. 

I was told that there were cameras around the property to protect us and I love that. Our host was very nice to my daughter who made the reservation.  Thank you, Brenda. We're planning to come back. 

6. Regarding the price of rent per night, you will know it the moment you are connected to the website of your Airbnb. 

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Finally, I am not paid by this Airbnb owner to write this blog it is just that I like the place.

So, if you like this blog, please SHARE this story with your friends and LIKE my Facebook Page.  Thank you. 

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The place is - Creek Hideaway, Near Yosemite, Bass Lake, Off Hwy 41. 

Reviewed on February 20, 2021

Before you leave, I suggest you click this link to read my Blog about the Yosemite National Park - here - YOSEMITE: THE WORLD'S FIRST NATIONAL PARK - Touristang Pobre

 

Thanks.