i used airbnb for the first time (in munich) late last month. scored a great room about 12 minutes away from Oktoberfest, for $41 a night, for 2 nights. hotels ranged from $250-500 per night for the weekend that i was there...

i actually stayed at a review-less property, but i made sure to interact with the host a few times before arriving, so i felt a bit more comfortable. be sure to click around to see whether they have 'friends' or have given/received comments before. it wasn't until i gave my comment to my host, when i realized that she had received a comment before...