Despite Airbnb being unwelcome in some larger cities, such as Barcelona and New York, it is an important resource for travelers who want to immerse themselves in the culture and daily life of the cities they visit. Hotels insulate visitors from the reality of the destination whereas staying in an apartment in which you are required to do your own shopping, laundry and housekeeping turns a vacation into an adventure. 
Our apartment in London was a short walk from Victoria Station, laying bare the whole city with easy access to the Underground, and the rest of England by train. Within the block we had a grocery store, a pub, a pharmacy and an amazing take away Fish and Chips restaurant. I woke up early one morning and sipped my own coffee while watching a trio of ladies gossiping on the street as they waited for the coffee shop across the street to open. Later that day we watched from the corner as dozens of folks on roller blades flew by.
We packed a lunch for a full day bus tour so as not to lose time in a restaurant when all we wanted to do was walk around Stratford Upon Avon. We stopped by the pub on the way home and spend a couple of hours in lively conversation with Fiona and David, a local couple and their friends over a pint or three. Then we staggered over to the restaurant across the street for take away, and probably the best fish & chips we have ever had.
Later in our travels we found the same situation in Paris. Ken spend the first 10 minutes we were in our apartment talking to the couple across the courtyard through an open window. Luckily they spoke English as his French is not great. We got a restaurant recommendation from a nice lady in the elevator which lead us to a small place with that days offering cooked to perfection by the chef as we watched. Paris has a great subway system and our apartment was close to three different stations, giving us access to everywhere we wanted to go, easily and cheaply. We got to see the best of touristy Paris without paying the cost to stay there.
Rome doesn’t have the same subway access as London and Paris do but they do have plenty of taxis that are efficient and inexpensive. Taxi stands are located throughout the city. Once you find one just stand there and within minutes someone will be by to drive you to your next destination. It is also a great city to walk. Our apartment in Rome was a short distance from S. Pietro train station, an easy landmark to remember and a great transportation hub. We also had a grocery store just downstairs, with a wonderful selection of Italian wines, along with numerous restaurants and pizzerias within a short walk.
Each of our apartments had washing machines so we could still pack carry-on despite this trip being over 5 weeks long. We had to hang the laundry on a rack either inside or on the balcony to dry but it felt very authentic to do so. We recycled our glass, washed our own dishes and occasionally cooked our own meals. This may not seem like a vacation for some but we weren’t on vacation, we were on an adventure. It was immersive, inexpensive and rewarding.
Next time you are booking a trip think about what you want to accomplish and what’s important to ensure you have a great adventure. For us its all about location, location, location!!!