I’ve modified my preferences for where I like to stay because I travel a lot during the last two years. In the past, I would search for a hotel room, but today Airbnb is the first website I always visit. I do some study on the area before choosing a neighborhood that will make me feel like a native for a few days.

I had a very pleasant first experience in Paris in 2016 and have been an renting from Airbnb ever since. For the amenities like a pool or fitness center, I still occasionally rent hotel rooms, but if the trip is longer than a few days, you can bet I’ll be staying in an Airbnb along the route for the following reasons.

1. I’m all for pinching pennies as much as I can when I travel since little things add up. KITCHEN = SAVE MONEY ON MEALS I appreciate having a kitchen in an Airbnb accommodation so I can prepare quick meals. Going grocery shopping is one of my most favorite things to do when I reach a new location. I buy breakfast or lunch there to eat while I’m there and bring with me when I’m out and about visiting the neighborhood.

Just last week in Bergen, my traveling companion and I browsed the aisles of the neighborhood market, choosing our coffee, veggies, bacon, eggs, and other necessities for our three-day stay. We then bagged everything up and brought it back to our apartment to prepare meals together.

2 . MORE SPACE Hotels can feel crowded and impersonal, and European cheap hotels are known for their diminutive accommodations. Many of the hotels I’ve stayed in while traveling have the teeniest, tiniest bathrooms you can imagine, with hardly enough space to move around the bed. I can get a lot more space by renting an apartment on Airbnb for the same (or less) price.

I left this awesome Airbnb apartment in Oslo about two weeks ago. We had a dining room that was close by and a fully equipped kitchen where I could relax and work while sipping my morning coffee. The apartment’s interior reflected the owners’ thoughtfulness. It has a beautiful rooftop view of the city and far larger bedrooms and baths than a hotel. It was a lot more unwinding!

3. The biggest benefit of all when renting an Airbnb home or apartment is having access to a washer and dryer. When I can wash my clothing in the middle of the trip, I can pack very lightly because I can put them on again as soon as they’ve been freshly washed. I can travel with only my carry-on luggage because I’m wearing two different outfits.

4. A carefully chosen Airbnb offers the sensation of becoming a member of the neighborhood for a short period of time. COMMUNITY FEEL