Booking a Ukrainian AirBnB

We just completed a three day “stay” at an apartment in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine. The idea to book ghost reservations at AirBnBs as a way to support individual Ukrainians began to circulate in online #AirBnBHost groups a few days ago and as hosts ourselves it resonated with us.
Our host messaged immediately and was obviously concerned, “How are you in Kyiv!?!? Can you please call me?” he said. I explained I was a host wanting to support a fellow host and wasn’t actually traveling. He immediately messaged back, “that is so nice Bethany. I am deeply touched.” My reservation ended this morning. I gave him a five star review. Because even the little things are still important. Maybe one day I will get the chance to stay there.

*Read on for tips to booking a Ukrainian AirBnB!*

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BOOK

• choose a space hosted by an individual, not a company (you can usually tell this just by looking at the name & photo)
• Hosts receive the transfer of funds about 24 hours after the guest reservation begins , so book something that is available starting today or tomorrow so the host receives the payout ASAP.
• many properties are listed at discount prices right now and range from $15-$50 USD per night. You can easily make a very small investment in the life of a host!  (I saw one woman in a host group comment that she had booked a one night stay for a total of $19!)
• #AirBnB is currently waiving their fee on reservations in Ukraine so your money goes entirely to the host.
• Be sure to send your host a short message telling them you are NOT traveling and this reservation is just to support them!
• Choose a property that has the "instant book" feature enabled that way no matter where the host is at the moment (in case they are evacuating the country, in hiding, etc.) the booking will automatically process without them needing to approve it in case they temporarily don't have internet or cellular service to do so.

#airbnbukraine #ukraine #supportukraine #host

I've repeatedly seen comments on social media of people concerned that they might be booking with a scam account or an oligarch posing as a Ukrainian and are hesitant to book.  To be fair, this is a valid concern.  My perspective on this is that anytime you give money to help someone else, there is little way to patrol the stewardship of that money once it leaves your hands. If booking an AirBnB is a way you choose to be supportive I would recommend: 

• Keep your reservation to a small amount of money you are comfortable giving.  If you'd like to give a large amount of money, diversify and book several reservations with different hosts.
• If a host messages you asking for additional money, let them know that the reservation you have booked is all you are able to do to support them.
• Keep all communications inside of the AirBnB platform.  AirBnB processes all the payments for their hosts, so a host should NEVER ask for your banking, credit card, Venmo or other financial details in a message.  If this happens, report the profile to AirBnB.
• I've seen people voice concerns that hosts might not have access to their electronic banking services at the moment.  I obviously can't speak to that, but AirBnB will deposit the funds to their online account and so whenever a host  CAN access their bank, it will be there.

There are LOTS of other ways to be supportive if this doesn't resonate with you!  Here are two other ideas:

• Check out the work my friends at Justice and Mercy International are doing with Ukrainian refugees in Moldova. 
• Visit  Etsy and choose the "Filter" menu, then enter "Ukraine" as the shop location.  Then sort by "digital files" and purchase a graphic or whatever you like. Digital files don't require shipping and often cost $5 or less and it's another great way to reach an individual seller directly.  Again, make sure you choose something that is ready for download, not a custom portrait or something the seller will have to create as they likely are not in a position to be able to create something at the moment.