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As people return to travel, safety tops many Americans' priority lists, with travelers choosing close-to-home driving trips bound for private home rentals as opposed to boarding a flight to a crowded resort.
That's because doctors consider the private residential environment to be low risk for virus transmission, given the fact that the virus is known to transmit primarily between people via respiratory droplets. And when compared with hotels, the number of face-to-face encounters at a private home rental is especially low.
Airbnb also recently released data underscoring these travel trends. They showed nearly half of 2,200 adult survey respondents in the US prefer their first post-pandemic trip to be within 200 miles from home.
Fortunately, in a state like California, there's plenty of choices, including beach bungalows, mid-century desert homes, and tiny mountain houses. We rounded up top-rated Airbnbs in cities such as San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco; as well as coastal getaways in Santa Barbara and Big Sur, wine country retreats in Napa Valley and San Louis Obispo, desert homes in Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, and listings near national parks like Yosemite.
The following properties were all selected based on the following criteria:
However, it's important to note that without a vaccine, there is no guarantee as to safety. We recommend following guidelines and advice from organizations such as the CDC and WHO, and practicing safety measures including wearing a mask, washing your hands, and maintaining social distancing.
Additionally, Airbnb also implemented new procedures and cleaning policies, including the Cleaning Protocol, which includes guidelines on personal protective equipment for hosts or cleaners and multiple waiting periods between cleanings and guests. Alternatively, Booking Buffer enforces a 72-hour vacancy period between stays.
Regardless, cleaning practices and costs vary widely. We've noted policies as outlined by hosts for each listing. Experts also recommend taking extra preventative measures like running dishes through the dishwasher before and wiping down all surfaces and high-touch areas. Some travelers may even feel more comfortable bringing their own sheets. Of course, that means you're now cleaning the home for which you likely already paid a hefty cleaning fee.
Looking for more Airbnbs?These are the best Airbnbs in California, sorted by price from low to high.