Web twist on holiday home

A TASTE of the Airbnb home-stay concept inspired a Hobart couple rent their home through the website.

AirBnB

HOBART'S Kim Newstead and his wife Sue were first introduced to the Airbnb home-stay concept on a recent trip to Europe, and loved living among the locals so much that they were soon renting out the top floor of their Battery Point home through the website.

The couple, both avid travellers, said paying for a room inside other people's homes was infinitely more personal and authentic than staying in traditional hotel or B&B set-up.

"On our trip, location was important to us and local advice was too," Mr Newstead said.

"We're not hotel-y people, so Airbnb homes were just perfect." On their return to Hobart and with a wealth of happy memories, the couple turned their mind to playing Airbnb host – eyeing off their home's self-contained top floor as the perfect space for short-term visitors.

The area, comprising a double bedroom, bathroom and small sitting room, is now being used as a temporary yet homely base for people from across the country and around the world to explore the Tasmanian capital.

"We only started about six weeks ago, and since then we've just been inundated," Mr Newstead said.

"We've been very impressed with the type of person that has stayed with us. They've all been very interesting, with some from Australia and many from overseas."

The real beauty of the website, Mr Newstead said, was its ease of use, with hosts retaining the power to pick and choose their guests, whether or not they included food in their offering, when their visitors come and for how long.

"I don't want to be making scones or washing up people's dishes every day and, because of where we are right in Battery Point, we deliberately chose to not offer food," he said.

"Basically what we're saying to travellers is that we've got a room in a very good location, and if you would like to stay with us you're very welcome."

As a marketing consultant, Mr Newstead has been fascinated by the clientele that have been attracted to his home, with food and wine-loving culture-vultures well in the majority.

"It's not the traditional sort of backpacker, but rather a sophisticated backpacker," he said.

"They're here for MONA, they're here for a cultural experience, and they're here for our wine and food in Salamanca."

One such couple are Western Australia's David McDonald, 33, and Melissa Donald, 32, who found Mr Newstead's hideaway via the Airbnb smartphone app.

They are on the final leg of a year-long, round-Australia adventure.

"Kim's been great, and it's good to be able to stay with someone who can tell us about all the local attractions," Mr McDonald said.

"It's much more personal ... it's just a better experience." And like their Hobart hosts, Mr McDonald and Ms Donald have been so taken with the Airbnb model that they plan on signing up themselves once home.

"We're going to be building a house down at Margaret River, and we want to set up something similar. It's a good way to meet people, and get involved in showing them your community," Mr McDonald said.

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