When planning a two week visit to Monrovia, Liberia, I was surprised to find that hotel prices rivaled those in a big U.S. city: $100 per night in a not so nice hotel; $150 to $200 in a mid-range hotel; and $250 at the top end.
My trip was to visit family, and I wanted to stay within walking distance of their place. I had narrowed my search down to a brand new property recommended to me — the Millennium Hotel and Guest House — when I had a brainstorm. Why not check AirBnb.
There were only a few listings in Monrovia on AirBnb — and most of those were for hotel rooms.
However, there was one apartment advertised in what seemed to be the same general neighborhood where my family was staying.
I emailed back and forth with the host, and found out that the apartment was indeed just down the street from my relatives.
What’s more, the apartment had reliable water and electricity, air conditioning, hot water, access to a washing machine and dryer, and even wifi.
It was a two bedroom, two bath, two balcony flat with a full kitchen.
Wow, that would be ideal for my lengthy stay!
I checked back with the owner regarding security, and learned that the apartment was in a walled compound with a security guy present 24/7.
The price on AirBnB was $65 per night.
An AirBnb in West Africa
This was my first trip to Africa, and my first stay with AirBnb, so I was not quite sure what to expect.
I took a chance, and upon booking, was delighted to learn that the name of my place was Villa Villekula.
Villa Villekulla is a fictional house that is the home of Pippi Longstocking, a character in a series of books. She lives there with her horse and monkey, Mr. Nilsson. Outside stands a tree that grows Sockerdricka, a soft drink sold in Sweden. — Wikipedia
Villa Villekula, how delightful!
It turned out to be a little oasis in the middle of Monrovia.
On the property there was a banana tree, several coconut trees, hibiscus, bougainvillea, bird of paradise, lantana, philodendrum, and all manner of colorful tropical vegetation
I particularly enjoyed staying in a residential neighborhood rather than a hotel in the business district.
There’s Good News and There’s Bad News
The good news is that I totally lucked out with my first AirBnb rental. I landed a huge apartment, comfortably furnished, with friendly neighbors and reliable service.
The bad news is that my apartment at Villa Villekulla is actually meant to be a long-term rental and will probably not be available on AirBnb for long.
If you are planning on travelling to Liberia or elsewhere in West Africa, it is worth checking out listings on AirBnb before booking a guesthouse or hotel.
You just might find comfortable accommodations at a reasonable price!
