COVER STORY
a t to be h g u o y really a d i ui Wen l o H h n t i x h ur ne and C Why yo Ric Stockfis By rental.
C
all it social travel, short-term letting, peer-to-peer holidaying or just the new, new thing, sites like Airbnb (www.airbnb.com) and Roomorama (www. roomorama.com) appear to have reached something of a tipping point; worldwide bookings through the former alone are set to exceed those at Hilton Hotels (some 600,000) this year. Renting a property instead of a hotel room when you travel abroad is nothing new; but these sites, which connect hosts with spare rooms, empty apartments, tents and even castles to guests looking for something a little different on their next trip, have revolutionized the market. Gone are the cumbersome classified ads, the exorbitant agency fees and the need to book a year in advance. Gone, too, is the hype surrounding their scuzzy progenitors, Craigslist and Couchsurfing—both we and the Web have grown up in the last few years. Now you really can do this kind of thing not only on a whim and on a budget but in real style.
From Door to Door
T
hese sites, though, have themselves already been around a couple of years; so what’s new, and what difference does that make here in Singapore? Well, for one thing, there’s now a vast inventory in Asia, especially on the two sites already namechecked, meaning you can find awesome options almost anywhere you want to go. For another, many of them have big plans for the local market and, in several cases, know it pretty well already. Both industry poster boy Airbnb and the previously Euro-focused 9flats (whose VP, Wei Leen Ng, is an NUS alumni) say they’re opening offices in Singapore before year-end, to better service those of us on this side of the world. Roomorama founders Federico Folcia and Jia En Teo (also a Singaporean) are one step ahead of them, having relocated their headquarters from NYC last year to focus on operations here. Despite widely voiced concerns that Asians might not be quite so comfortable in throwing open their doors to strangers, they’re all confident this is only the beginning. The space is evolving, too. Indeed, the notion that this is all about sketchy spare rooms has gone out the (grubby-paned) window. Roomorama, in particular, focuses on premium properties, including villas and even serviced apartments; 90% of their inventory is private and not all of it comes cheap (Teo tells us they recently had a single booking to the value of US$17,000). Airbnb, meanwhile, curate their vast collection so that instead of looking at a bunk bed, you can look at villas near vineyards, or only apartments featuring original design works by the Eames brothers (seriously—they have 53 of those). Sure, you can still find some less-than-stellar studios, but this is all a far cry from what sites like this were first known for. Indeed, those that haven’t seen fit to filter or finesse, including unabashed Airbnb clone Wimdu (www.wimdu.com), look horribly out of step.
Top of Google’s ‘related searches’ for “couchsurfing ”: “couchsurfing bad experience.” Then “couchsurfing horror stories.” That’s one reason why the next gen sites have placed such a premium on identity verification.
Why now? Wei Leen Ng, VP of 9flats: It seems mostly that this is an idea whose time has come. Vacation rentals existed before the Internet and the confluence of several factors, including a soft economy, the proliferation of online vacation booking, the maturity of the Couchsurfing concept, mature online payment options and Google Maps, all combined to make this inevitable.
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 I-S MAGAZINE 7
COVER STORY How To: Cover Your Back If you’re not used to peer-to-peer rental, it can seem a little daunting. After all, you can’t go running to Reception if there’s a problem. But by following some simple, sensible steps you can take the sting out of the whole thing. Here are our top five tips for a pain free experience.
Read listings carefully Look for specifics about price, the number of tenants and distance from attractions and public transport. Favor to-the-point listings with lots of pictures from multiple angles; be suspicious of flowery language. Write to the host and ask specific questions (don’t forget that many hosts are first-timers too).
Go “walkabout” Check the area out online. Google Street View allows you to explore easily. You’ll know for sure if the place really has unobstructed views or is, in fact, opposite a busy bus station.
Document everything Payment should be made by a traceable method. Using a credit card is best so you have a record if something goes awry. Once there, make sure the spot is in the agreed condition. Take photos to provide evidence of problems and report them immediately.
Connect socially Sites like Tripping allow you to connect with home leasers through Facebook and even find out where your friends have stayed. The personal connection could make all the difference.
The Paradox of Choice Where to start, though, when there are so many of these sites out there? The overwhelming number of sites can undoubtedly be a turn-off, especially when the concept of renting peer-to-peer is still new to so many. But it’s a problem that is, for the most part, disappearing; another reason why now’s such a good time to start thinking seriously about this kind of holiday, if you haven’t already. The biggest players in the market are buying or tying up with the (reputable) competition—earlier this year Roomorama merged with European site Lofty, while Airbnb acquired the UK’s Crashpadder (the names of the two being pretty indicative of the different markets they’re going after)—meaning it’s less and less intimating when you start doing your research. There are other big players, such as the somewhat more traditional and whole lot less sexy HomeAway (www.homeaway. com), which lists more than 300,000 properties, but there’s a reason we keep mentioning the other two; if you’ve an eye for design, money to spare but not to burn and an interest in offbeat and plain awesome places, then you don’t really need to look beyond them; particularly if you’re holidaying around Asia. (See Battle of Bedroom, page11, for a comparison of the key differences between the biggest players.) In any case, this being the Web, there are various aggregator tools that make browsing inventory from several sites simultaneously a breeze, and curators (so 2012, darling) choosing their favorites. Late last year Tripping (www.tripping.com) launched a Kayak-style discovery engine for some 500,000+ listings on sites like Roomorama, 9flats and HomeAway; though not Airbnb. Rentmix (www.rentmix.com), is a map mashup created by an ex-Google engineer that plots all the different properties for superintuitive viewing. And the likes of WelcomeBeyond (www.welcomebeyond. com), which acts like a Mr and Mrs Smith for the rental market by handpicking properties, are a great alternative if you prefer someone else doing your gem hunting for you; though, frankly, where’s the fun in that? (They currently have only one property listed in all of SE Asia, anyway.) Booking is getting easier, too. In April, Airbnb launched Match, a slick booking process that automates the process of messaging hosts so that guests can find the kind of property they’re looking for quicker and at the last minute; and they already have their own app. Roomorama’s ShoutOut post messages to the whole community for faster response times, their merger with Lofty was driven in part by a desire to use their back-end to implement truly instant booking (one area the industry’s still playing catch-up with hotels) and they have an app of their own launching in the next couple of months (along with Thai and Bahasa versions of the site). User feedback—a key driver of this space from the beginning—is getting more sophisticated as the mere novelty of staying in someone else’s apartment wears off, meaning more confidence when booking. Security, specifically lack of comeback for both hosts and guests, dominated the headlines for sites like these last year, when an unlucky host had her house trashed in what became known as “the Airbnb incident”; but that triggered a wave of improvements and assurances and now 9flats, for example, trumpet their host protection plan, which runs to €900,000, as their biggest selling point and assures guests that they meet all hosts face-to-face.
Have all the contacts It may sound basic. But if something is off, you need to know who to tell. Take down all the helpline numbers— Airbnb and Roomorama have 24hour ones—and make sure you have the landlord’s details handy.
The guests rifled through drawers, burnt sheets in the fireplace, poured bleach on the bed and stole a bunch of stuff. Ouch. Read the full story on Gawker at is.gd/airbnbincident.
Can this really take off in Asia? Jia En Teo, COO and CoFounder of Roomorama The Asian market is very different. We have fewer shared spaces here in Asia, as opening up a home is much less common—hence, we have many private properties in Asia. Asian travellers also tend to be more cautious of shortterm rentals. However, from the short time we’ve been breaking ground in Asia, we’ve seen more and more receptiveness—many more Asian travellers are booking apartments and homes when they travel.
» 8 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012
IS-BB-SR.pdf
1
6/5/12
4:38 PM
SERIOUSLY? I CAN STAY HERE??! Live the Entourage dream at these plush pads around Asia.
Castle on the Bund
Villa Sunset with Private Boat
Malacca Guesthouse
Bird Sanctuary Villa by the Lake
Coco’s Garden
Cave House
China Castle on the Bund, US$190 ($245)/night A two-bedroom penthouse in Shanghai’s famed waterfront district, the Bund, this place has a private balcony with 360 degree views and castle-like furnishings such as latticed window grilles, wrought iron chandeliers and arched wooden doors.
The Philippines Coco’s Garden, $70/night Housing up to six people, this vintage home in the historic Paco District of Old Manila has a traditional Filipino dipping bath, airy patio and lush green garden. Foodies take note: Local grub, including vegetarian and organic options, can be arranged (from $5 per meal).
http://localhost.airbnb. com/rooms/181484
www.roomorama.com/ rooms/13161
Indonesia Villa Sunset with Private Boat, €515 ($820)/night Just 20 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport, this threebedroom villa in southern Bali is right by an ocean lagoon, and boasts a 20-meter swimming pool and pier with private boat ($170 for four hours). Kayaks and three bikes are free to use.
Sri Lanka Bird Sanctuary Villa by the Lake, US$50 ($64)/night Less than half an hour from Colombo city, this villa is next to a bird sanctuary and boasts clear lakeside views. A swimming pool with jacuzzi, and rooftop terrace are also part of the four-bedroom space.
www.9flats.com/places/23076villa-tanjung_benoa
Malaysia Guesthouse, $428/night A 1941 pre-war art deco building, sleeping up to four and furnished with both antique and contemporary pieces (right down to the Lavazza espresso maker) . Other highlights include a lap pool and a bougainvilleacovered rooftop patio boasting panaromic views of Old Malacca.
www.airbnb.com/rooms/305135
Thailand Cave House, $141/night Held up by two imposing sandalwood poles salvaged from a sailboat is this rugged chic abode on Southeastern Thai island Koh Phangan. It sleeps four (one double, two singles), boasts an impressive kitchen with a wood-fired brick pizza oven and is entirely solar-powered. www.roomorama.com/ rooms/17595
www.roomorama.com/ rooms/17562
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 I-S MAGAZINE 9
COVER STORY Villa, Vidi, Vici
I-S ASKS:
What was your vacation rental experience like? “It was delightful, considering it was my first time in Europe and I was traveling alone. I was lucky to have chosen such perfect apartments for my stay in London and Paris, and recommend Roomarama because it’s easy to navigate and some hosts don’t require a security deposit fee.”
It’s hard to think of a better way of doing Bali (or Phuket, or any other island for that matter) than by renting a villa and, while there’s an increasing number of such spots listed on the peer-to-peer sites, villa agencies, for now at least, retain an edge for travelers who just don’t want to take the risk. Here are three of our favorites.
Ira Aznor, graphic designer “We stayed in a cool Art Deco home right outside Melbourne, through AirBnB. It’s a great trial run for someone who’s considering moving to a city, has a good map interface and filtering options, and offers an amazing variety. Rental sites are great in general because they add more character to the traveling experience than a hotel stay.”
Taman Ahimsa Retreat
Villa Chi
Awesome Villas
using recycled iron, tamarind and teak woods. Dedicated chefs are also on hand, serving organic, macrobiotic and ayurvedic meals. The rate’s the same through the site or direct at www.tamanahimsa.com: US$2,700 ($3,476) for the peak season from June 1-September 15.
www.awesomevillas.com
Be Disloyal co-founder Luke Norman and his wife, Rowena Paz “I’ve stayed in a studio apartment in New York and on an entire floor in a three-story Portland house, both booked through AirBnB. I really liked that one of my hosts was a Buddhist astrologer with great taste in music and interior design.” Farizan Fauzan, Delta Airlines reservation agent
Rated “Excellent” by TripAdvisor for its coverage of Phuket’s Kamala beach, this high-end villa rental and sales site’s USP is that the founder, Joanne Baylis, personally stays and checks on each listed property. The focus is on ultra swank spots like the three-bedroom Villa Chi (just a five-minute walk from Kamala Beach) featuring incredible sea views and a 16-meter infinity swimming pool, which goes from $750 per night.
The Villa Guide www.thevillaguide.com
Covering Indonesia, The Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, The Villa Guide offers a cute, irreverent voice, an easy-to-navigate site and a carefully curated selection of properties. Among the highlights is Suralai, high in the hills overlooking Koh Samui’s Bophut Bay. This kick-ass spot sleeps 12 and comes with its own private chef. It goes from US$1,530 ($1,965) through the site, versus US$1,200 ($1,540) when booking direct through www.suralai.com.
Bali Tropical Villas www.bali-tropical-villas.com
In operation for more than 17 years, this Bali specialist has over 500 properties across the island. Expect diverse options from remote beaches or mountains to better known spots in Seminyak, Kerobokan and Sanur. A luxe pick is Taman Ahimsa Retreat, a seven-bedroom eco-getaway built Suralai
Leader of the Pack Travel in style with these sleek new functional designs.
American Tourister Maximum Volume Plus With its extra thick design, this bag has 30 percent more space than other luggage of the same length. There’s also a vertical opening on the side, allowing you to grab stuff within even when the bag’s stowed. Construction’s solid, too: it’s sealed with an inbuilt TSA combination lock, which has been tested 15,000 times in quick succession. Find it in three sizes, with an upright height of 50cm, 68cm or 78cm. From $140 at #02-45 Suntec City Tower 1, 3 Temasek Blvd., 6338-6557, www. americantourister.com.sg.
10 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012
Samsonite Black Label Cubelite Strong and light, the Cubelite is made with Samsonite’s patented CURV material—thin sheets of polypropylene which are stretched, layered then hot compressed to make a shiny shell. It also boasts a four wheel hub for extra stability, an integrated TSA combination lock and palladium zippers. From $790 at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8688, www.samsonite.com.sg.
Tumi Tegra-Lite The stylish Tegra-Lite collection comes highly recommended for its durability and impact resistance features. Each piece is created using Tegris, a thermoplastic composite material that’s usually used in lifesaving armor and NASCAR race cars, and is intricately lined throughout. The full collection comprises two-wheeled and four-wheeled carry-ons, as well as four-wheeled packing cases.
Tumi Tegra-Lite
American Tourister
$1,060 upwards at #01-02 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Rd., 6732-9880, www.tumi.com.
Samsonite Cubelite
Battle of the Bedroom Not all peer-to-peer rental sites are exactly alike. While aggregators can help you navigate by location, going direct to the sites offers a greater degree of functionality. Here’s how the big players measure up, so you don’t waste your time looking in the wrong place. IF YOU’RE…
Just after something cheap
INTO DESIGN AND ON A BUDGET
Looking for luxe
Airbnb (www.airbnb.com)
Roomorama (https://roomorama.com)
HomeAway
Flipkey (www.flipkey.com)
Wimdu (www.wimdu.com)
Launched 2008, 120,000+ properties
Launched 2009, 60,000+ properties
(www.homeaway.com)
Launched 2008, 150,000+ properties
Launched in 2011, 50,000+ properties
They Say
“Travel like a human”
“Quality accommodations for the discerning traveler”
“Let’s stay together”
“Find a vacation rental”
“Travel like a local”
We Like
• Cool curated collections
• Focused on premium rentals – 90% of properties are private (not shared room)
• Massive range of properties in the US
• Reasonable amount of properties in Asia
• 20% of properties are in Asia
• Their own app
• Built as a platform for verified guest reviews – it’s Tripadvisor for vacation rentals (they’re part of the same group)
Opt For…
Launched 2005, 300,000+ properties
• Their own app (though it’s kind of buggy)
SUFFERING FROM TRUST ISSUES
Already semi-retired
• Professional photos of properties (service currently free for hosts)
• PERKS program – 20% off local services, like car services, gym passes and laundry service in some places
• Facebook linking
• Concierge service which shortlists suitable properties via a preselected pool (Airbnb have a concierge too, but reviews are less flattering)
• Galleries like “Vacation homes from movies and movie stars” • 5,000+ deals listed on the site daily
• Hosts have to submit IDs
• Especially popular in Hong Kong, and through sister site Airizu in China • Insurance damage cover up to €500,000 (along with 9flats this is the highest in the market - Airbnb’s only goes to US$50,000)
• Site auto converts to SGD
We Don’t Like
• Lots of less than premium properties – including some sketchy spare beds • Users can’t post their own photos (which means professional ones can be misleading)
• Lots of managed properties, so tends to be more expensive • Guests, not hosts, pay the booking fee (though this allegedly means a better class of host) • No free insurance cover for hosts
• It’s less peer-to-peer and more like the traditional vacation rental market • Few properties can be booked online
• Doesn’t facilitate booking online • Properties and even customer support mostly limited to US market
• It’s just like Airbnb… back when it launched: few private properties, no curation, no app
• Very few bargains • Dearth of options elsewhere in the world
I-S GUIDES
W
hether it’s the city’s top restaurants, the hottest new fitness trends or the region’s newest hotels and resorts, there’s an I-S Guide that will help you find what you need.
+ expert recommendations & insider tips + up-to-date contact information and prices + available in print & mobile/tablet
For free e-books of all our current guides go to is.asia-city.com/store No, man, it’s an island!
Singapore’s Best Restaurants
WORK IT, BABY
WWW.IS-MAGAZINE.COM
DINING GUIDE 2012
Grand Openings 2012
The Best of Asian Travel
WELLNESS Coming in Jul!
Guide 2012
Coming in Aug!
Coming in Sep!
For advertising inquiries: sales@asia-city.com.sg, 6371-9110 FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 I-S MAGAZINE 11
COVER STORY Ultimately, of course, you get what you pay for—you can’t run to Reception like you can at the Ritz-Carlton, but if that’s what you expect then you’re on the wrong webpage. (See How To, page 8, for our tips on sensible booking.)
Long-term Lease on Life What with all this hype and all these clones, you’d be forgiven for thinking this carries more than a whiff of Groupon about it (remember them? Check your junk folder if not). But the speed with which the market leaders have evolved (even hotels are now looking to get their suites listed) and the fact that the model is so eminently scalable (you have a room? You can make money!) suggests the travel industry’s old way of doing things really has been overturned for good. It’s a safe bet that the space is set to grow a whole lot more, especially here, where we’re still at the surface-scratching stage. And if there are bumps ahead, they’re more likely to be regulatory than because people are bored of the concept; city councils around the world have queried the legality of tenants subletting their apartments for short-term stays, and in some cases, changed the law to prohibit it, but none of the sites has found (or necessarily tried to find) a way to police all their listings. In Singapore, the rule seems to be that you can only sublet for six months or more, though there’s some confusion about which properties that applies to. So, while Airbnb’s revelation that hosts in NYC are now making US$21,000 a year on average might be rather envyinducing, it’s where you can go, not how much can make, that’s truly exciting about all this. Don’t believe it? Maybe it’s time you took a look for yourself. n
BEYOND THE BACKPACK Feel like keeping up with the kids? These offbeat services help you travel on the cheap.
Camp In My Garden campinmygarden.com
This outdoor housing specialist provides a range of private garden options, from the bare basics to glamping. Most locations are in the UK (snag a bargain for the Olympics!), with some regional spots in Thailand and Indonesia. Places are sorted by area events (from music fests to sports competitions).
Homestay Malaysia go2homestay.com
The Malaysian Ministry of Tourism partners with kampong (village) dwellers to offer stays at communal longhouses all over the country. Harvest and cook local produce and learn about traditional handicrafts like batik and woodcarving firsthand.
Warm Showers www.warmshowers.org
Long distance bikers know the plight well: You’ve been on the road for hours and are in dire need of a good scrub. Enter Warm Showers. The online community allows you to use hosts’ home bathrooms and potentially negotiate overnight stays.
▼
12 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012