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Your Very Detailed Guide to Safely Staying in a Rental House
What to know, what to disinfect, and whether it’s okay to swim in the pool
With travelers clearly still wary of hotels — in April, bookings were down by a staggering 85% compared to last year — many are instead considering (or already planning) a stay in a home rental property this summer.
Eleanor Murray, ScD, assistant professor of epidemiology at Boston University’s School of Public Health, agrees that a rental house can be a good way to take a vacation in the next few months. Unlike hotels where you will naturally come into contact with more people (cleaning staff, other guests, and so on), she says staying in a place where it’s just you and your chosen unit could be safer. “When you get there you can make sure everything is sanitized to a level that you’re comfortable with, and then it would be just like your house,” she says.
Still, there are a few issues you’ll need to navigate to ensure a safe stay. Here’s what to know.
How home-sharing companies are responding to Covid-19
Last month, Airbnb announced plans to launch an “Enhanced Cleaning Initiative” in May (it’s not up yet, but an Airbnb spokesperson confirms it’s on track to launch this month). The…
