When You Get To Your Airbnb, Do These 6 Things For Your Safety

“I’ve never felt unsafe while staying at an Airbnb, but I always do my research prior to booking,” Nelson said, adding that she tries to choose properties from Airbnb “Superhosts” when possible due to their experience and top ratings. “Familiarize yourself with the local area and always read the Airbnb guests’ reviews, so there aren’t any surprises.”

She also recommended resources like CrimeMapping.com to “understand the vulnerabilities” of a particular area. Google Street View can help you see what the street and entrance look like as well. 

“A short-term rental property may look great in photos, but be sure to research the neighborhood ― you will be interacting with it, including coming and going with luggage,” Prout noted. “A simple search can provide you with an overview of the risks. If you’re not sure, ask the host. If you’re still not sure, find another accommodation.”

In addition to crime concerns, Coffey said some travelers like to consider if an area is good fit from a cultural perspective. 

“A person of color, someone who’s LGBTQ, a woman traveler ― they might want to take a deeper dive and look at safety scores from different apps and websites,” he explained. “GeoSure offers helpful ratings.”

He also suggested parents traveling with children check the sex offender registry for the neighborhood. Meanwhile, Prout urged travelers to think about the types of accommodation they’re searching.

“When it comes to safety, booking individual room rentals instead of an entire property can put a traveler at risk as the guest may find themselves sharing a home or an apartment with other people, which can increase the likelihood of a security incident ― assault, harassment, etc.,” he said. 

Still, Prout added, there’s no simple solution for avoiding all risk.

“The reality is that emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time,” he emphasized. “Therefore, there is no one answer when it comes to ensuring your safety when booking lodging accommodations. The best thing a traveler can do to protect themselves is to do research ahead of booking accommodations to determine the level of risk associated with the location and plan accordingly.”

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.