In February, a few of my friends wanted to hit the slopes in Aspen. We had a friend who'd recently moved to Snowmass, where snow is plentiful and pot is legal. To save a little bit of money we rented a condo from Airbnb. I was skeptical about sleeping in someone else's bed and using their dishes, but there was a wood-burning fireplace, a community hot tub, and we would be saving hundreds of dollars. Sold.
Last week, I used Airbnb for the second time. We were in Denton for the night and didn't want to worry about drinking too much to drive. For $50 we stayed in the back room of a lovely little home just minutes from the square. Sure, it's odd to invade a stranger's home, but I'm starting to buy into the sharing culture, one stay at a time. So I've rounded up some of the places I'd consider spending the night, if I were visiting Dallas.
Art Getaway OK, this one I can actually vouch for. This "Cozy Cabin Behind Art Gallery" sits behind RE Gallery, which is owned by the lovely Wanda Dye. Private entrance, bathroom, plus access to both her gallery and Lee Harvey's, which is a dive bar with a damn good burger, would be the perfect complement to a trip to Dallas. $125/night.
Sports Vacay Walking distance from the American Airlines Center, this "Luxurious Apt" can be all yours for a Dallas Mavericks weekend. Sure, Victory Park isn't a great place to call home year round, but with easy access to public transit, you can hop on a DART train and head to Deep Ellum for a night out when the game ends. Entire apartment. $110.
Artsy, Cool Downtown There are only a few things about downtown that make it "cool" or "artsy." But if you're coming downtown for a show at the Majestic, stop by RO2 Art then eat at CBD Provisions in the Joule, across from Tony Tasset's Eyeball and then have a night cap at Midnight Rambler. Voila! Artsy. Cool. Entire loft for $150, which is loads cheaper than the Joule.
Get a Roomie in Bishop Arts Get to know the most talked about neighborhood in Dallas. The Bishop Arts District is home to great food, shops, and bars. This lady is renting out her master bedroom for just $75/night.
Uptown It's something I've grown accustomed to: out of towers want to go to Uptown. Outside of Dallas, McKinney Avenue is well known as the place to be for nightlife. I always drag my friends elsewhere, but if you want the bustle of Uptown, this looks like a charming little bungalow. $120.
Poolside Party Pad This might be the deal of the day on AirBnB. Charging just $98/night, this one bedroom apartment is walking distance from Henderson Ave, which means restaurants, nightlife, and Houndstooth Coffee.
Worth the Hike Little Forest Hills is not close to downtown Dallas. East of east Dallas, it's a lovely little area near White Rock Lake. If you're coming with friends and don't mind driving, this host rents out a two bedroom home that looks lovely. I'm envisioning staying up late with a bottle of wine in this charming backyard. $89/night.
Charming Lower Greenville We just named Lower Greenville the best neighborhood in Dallas, especially due to Lowest Greenville's revival. There are restaurants, shops, bars, and even the city's first Trader Joe's. Rent this charming little home in the M Streets for just $85/night.
Music Nights In Deep Ellum Deep Ellum is ch-ch-ch-changing. Which is mostly a good thing. But it's definitely a place to visit in Dallas. And this loft looks pretty alluring. Two bedrooms for $170/night? Yes, please.
Instagram Friendly Loft Scenario: You're in town for a conference, but have to pay for your own hotel room... if say, you're an Arbonne consultant or something.... Why not stay downtown for cheap in a comfortable apartment that just screams, "Instagram me!" It probably beats most downtown hotels by comfort and price. $150.
