Is an Airbnb or Urban Roost for you?

If you book a stay at Urban Roost, we work hard to provide you with a home-away-from-home in St. Louis.  We treat you to as many creature comforts as we can provide:  snacks in the kitchen, coffee at the ready, soft towels, Roku Smart TVs, comfy pillows, patio perches, and central access to our city.  We also showcase vintage and bohemian decor, all strewn together with hints of the country -- chickens, farmhouse style, and rustic touches -- alongside information about STL city. I'm constantly rethinking decor touches for every unit, and I want you to come enjoy the adventure of discovering your space.

This is what I want, but I know it is not what you or every guest wants. Airbnb itself is a new thing for many travelers -- we always have guests who identify as "first-timers' -- and some are nervous about what they will or will not find when they aren't booking a hotel.

Because all of our spaces are on Airbnb, I have many guests who express worries about booking for the first time.  I've also had many conversations with friends and acquaintances who give me arched eyebrows or suspicious squints when I explain how Airbnb works. No matter what, I'm always happy to introduce guests to the community or give new exposure to Urban Roost.  Still, I know that Airbnb is not for everyone. Urban Roost is not for everyone. 

So let me be as honest as I can.   Here are my tips for whether you should choose a hotel or an Airbnb.

You should choose a hotel if you....

• ...cannot live without cable TV or local news.  While many Airbnbs do have cable (check the listing), most hosts -- like most consumers -- have started to opt out of high-priced cable or DirectTV services.  If you need your dose of morning talk shows, local punditry, or the Weather Channel, best to go with what you know. 
• ...aren't used to apartment living.  If you book a stay in an apartment on Airbnb, chances are there will be other units in the building with other guests or tenants.  Although hosts work hard to list quiet hours and ask for courtesy, they can't prevent your upstairs neighbors from arriving home at midnight in heels or dropping the tea kettle on the floor.  If such an occurrence will destroy your night, then go with what you know.
• ...need a predictable continental breakfast.  If you aren't interested in exploring the area for brunch or finding a neighborhood coffee spot, then just get a hotel.    Many Airbnbs provide coffee, teas, even breakfast options, but don't expect one of those Belgian wafflers or an omelet chef to materialize in the kitchen just for you.  If the success of your trip is dependent on such expectations, get a hotel.
• ...don't want extra space as a lone traveler (or extra space makes you nervous).  Unless you book just a room on Airbnb, you will typically get an apartment or house for your stay.  Some guests who travel alone find having more space to be off-putting, or they like the sense of security that a hotel of guests offers.  If having more space than necessary bothers you, best to keep to the classic hotel layout. 
• ...rely on hotel toiletries.  Most Airbnbs have plentiful toiletries, but if you need the reliability of tiny bottles of soap and lotion (and look forward to swiping them), the hotel is your best choice.
• ...need modern facilities with no idiosyncracies.  Airbnbs are homes, after all, so there might be a key with a certain trick to it, or a breaker might flip, or maybe hot and cold faucets are reversed (all true in one of my buildings!)  If those issues really get to you, or if you are frustrated by some oddity, then don't bother. Be comfortable in the hotel where you won't be a headache to your host.
• ...don't enjoy traveling.  I will be honest here.  Even though I host on Airbnb, I often look forward to the predictability of a hotel when I'm really tired and in a strange place.  If you don't want your lodging to feature prominently in your travel experience, get a hotel.
• ...want to pay more. 'Nuff said.

If you don't qualify for the above, then hurray!  You've made next step.

You should choose an Airbnb if you...

• ...enjoy other people.  You may get to meet your host, which can be a plus or minus, based on the booking situation.  You might also encounter other guests as neighbors, so enjoying meeting others is key for a fun and comfortable Airbnb stay.
• ...love other homes or houses.  Are you one of those people who loves home tours or real estate open houses?  Do you like staying with friends or seeing where they live? Do you enjoy home decor or getting ideas about your own space? Then Airbnb is a great fit.  I got so many ideas just from staying in other Airbnbs... and even just staying in friends' houses!  I love to see the personality of others' homes.  If you do, too, then definitely explore an Airbnb stay.
• ...don't mind the idiosyncracies of houses that aren't yours.  As I mentioned above, we all know that our living spaces have quirks -- pull the doorknob a certain way to make it click, turn the shower on by a near-hidden lever, jiggle the dresser drawer just so to make it slide shut. We have to adapt sometimes.  Hosts do appreciate a bit of feedback on stuff that isn't perfect. However, if you can't cope with a door that sticks a bit in hot weather, for example, then maybe the slide key card at the hotel is the best pick for you.
• ...are adaptable.  Do you adjust fairly well to being "out of your element"?  Does spending a bit of time searching for a cutting board not throw you off?  Does using a certain brand of toilet paper for a few days' stay not disturb your sense of comfort?  Then an Airbnb is a good choice. 
• ...communicate well.   If you stay at an Airbnb, contact your host with your questions or needs.  Let them help you.   If you don't communicate well, find yourself dissatisfied with something, and then rant in the review.....well, that was your fault for not asking.  Good communicators always have better stays and relationships with hosts.  
• ...pay attention to details.  Read your chosen listing carefully and completely.  We find that  guests have questions or problems about things that are often answered clearly online or in our welcome message.  Be sure you know check-in/check-out times, key information, how or where to park, etc.  Not all Airbnbs are the same.  That's what hotels are for.
• ...are respectful to others' property and homes. Sure, you wouldn't leave a drink on a table without a coaster on your own table, but, oh well, it doesn't matter at your Airbnb, right?  Totally wrong.  In fact, just like in a hotel, it might land you with extra fees if you damage or break items at your Airbnb.  I once had guest ruin a coffee table by leaving a spilled drink that got trapped under the coaster (yes, riddle me that).   Your Airbnb is someone's home and property, and if you can't treat it as your own, then you should just go to the hotel with its slick varnished tables that repel liquids. 

Now, if an Airbnb sounds good to you, then may I suggest Urban Roost? :) 

You will enjoy Urban Roost if you...

• ...don't mind some 1920s style.  Our buildings were built in 1925, so yes, they are old. We have some creaky floors and some thin walls, but we also have stylish stained glass, arched walls between the living and dining rooms, and lovely trim and baseboards. One of our units -- the Sparrow Suite -- even has some original lighting fixtures!
• ...dig vintage.  We shop and collect vintage as much as we can. Just take a look through our photos online, and you are bound to see some of our favorite finds on display in the units, especially in the kitchens.
• ...enjoy exploring your space.  We put little touches everywhere just to add some "wow" factor when you least expect it. Piles of best-loved books, original works by artist friends, seasonal decor, warm throws and blankets, yoga mats.... we may not think of everything, but we try!
• ...want to be centrally-located in St Louis city.  Most of our hotels are downtown or near the airport. Our South City listings will place you just about 10-15 minutes from any major attraction and neighborhood.  Some are just walking distance to key areas like South Grand, Tower Grove Park, or the Botanical Gardens. We are also really close to major grocery stores and shopping. 
• ...want to feel at home while you travel.  Many of our guests report how happy they were to stay in a home, or a place that made them feel at home.  That's exactly our goal!

So come stay with us if Urban Roost on Airbnb is for you.  We are excited to help you live like a local. 

Summer Happenings at Urban Roost

Urban Roost is back from summer vacation, and we are up and running again! 



The past several months have proved successful for us as we ventured into piloting Urban Roost on AirBnb.  Through hard work and the support of many good friends, we welcomed wonderful guests and enjoyed receiving good reviews. In fact, we acquired Superhost status in April! In the middle of June, we ceased renting our pilot unit and moved Urban Roost to our own house.  After we and other hard-working friends spent several weeks painting, repairing items, and laboring in the heat, we soon finished Urban Roost 2.0! Our upstairs apartment unit is now listed on AirBnb, and we've already reserved to 70% occupancy for July. We are excited to welcome new guests this summer.

Now we are on to the next phase!  Southwest Gardens near the Missouri Botanical Gardens is the site of a property we purchased in February. This four-family building the boasts some beautiful one-bedroom apartments that we will soon turn into short-term rentals.  While we have had to overcome some significant plumbing and renovation projects, our goal is to have three more spaces listed on AirBnb by the end of the summer.  The Urban Roost touch will be all over them -- vintage meets bohemian meets a lil' bit of country meets....chickens!

Naturally, our four chickens are the current Urban Roost mascots. They are holding down the fort at our flagship Urban Roost and waiting to greet you when you visit! Come see us!

What is Urban Roost?

Urban Roost has been at least five years in the making. 

Even though we didn't know it at the time, we first spoke Urban Roost into existence in March 2010 over breakfast at Benton Park Cafe. We were gazing at a beautiful St. Louis property across the street -- a large house that we had recently walked through with our realtor.  It was way beyond our means or needs at the time, but it sparked our inspiration.  Complete with a rooftop deck that offered views of the Arch and the Anheuser-Busch brewery, it included several floors of roomy living space, that historic St. Louis house was an ideal spot for an urban bed & breakfast. That morning, over eggs and coffee, we didn't merely dream -- we began to cast a vision of a business that expressed our values of community and Midwest hospitality. 

At that time, our "projects" (marriage plans, full-time jobs, educational pursuits, name changes ....) kept us occupied, to say the least. Despite all the activity, our vision persisted. For example, our honeymoon was more than an escapist road trip -- it included a seminar on running b&b's. During our honeymoon, the name Urban Roost emerged from our collaboration. Now, five years after we first brainstormed our urban b&b in Benton Park, we are ready to begin in earnest to bring Urban Roost to life. 

Urban Roost -- as our idea, name, and brand -- captures our values of hospitality, community, and sustainability in the city of St. Louis.  It is, of course, the urban and local neighborhoods that we love and aim to serve.  We wish to cultivate spaces where our friends and guests experience the city that we love. 

Currently, we reside in Tower Grove South, and we are hoping to establish Urban Roost in this area of the city so that those who travel to St. Louis can enjoy this diverse and growing neighborhood. Roost, in contrast, is a more rural term, I suppose you could say, and it represents a place to stay. It encompasses our love for fresh farm food, local arts ... including our own backyard chickens.  Roost is a term that reminds me of my farm upbringing in Kansas, and I hope to carry forward the idea that everyone should feel welcome and at home. 

We will strive to offer amenities from local businesses, restaurants, and markets in that neighborhood.Urban Roost will be located in one of St. Louis’ historic districts south of I-44.  These neighborhoods include Shaw, Southwest Garden, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Soulard, Benton Park, and Cherokee St. Currently, we hope to maintain a Tower Grove South location,
given our commitment to this neighborhood.

We will especially advocate for urban & local food sources to emphasize a locavore philosophy for Urban Roost.  While we do not expect guests to maintain a vegetarian diet during their travels, we will not serve meat at our establishment to show our commitment to ecologically and ethically responsible eating. We assume we will attract guests who share this philosophy. This being said, private, fully-furnished kitchens in each apartment will be stocked with gourmet ingredients for guest to prepare a full range of breakfast items.  We promote local, vegetarian eating, so kitchen ingredients will include our own backyard chickens’ eggs and local seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as locally produced cheeses.

We aim to invoke a rural sensibility for our guests that is rooted in the present. Our style and decor will avoid kitschy country or shabby chic. Instead, we see Urban Roost as showcasing a modern, eclectic charm that is respun as old-fashioned.  Rustic details will incorporate an international, or even cosmopolitan feel.  We will rely on lots of color, especially bright or primary tones such as red, blue, yellows, or teal.  Overall, items and furniture might look rustic but their “bones” and details will include modern and mid-century touches.

We want our guests to step into a farmhouse for a new era, one that encourages urban homesteading, backyard farming, and individual gardening.  They can gather our eggs, meet our chickens, pick herbs or other vegetables (either in our own garden or surrounding farms), eat at restaurants that support sustainable food sources, and shop local markets.  We also want to invite them to have an experience of living in St. Louis, within our neighborhood, and help them discover the unique features of our City, even if just for a few days. We wish to be set apart for younger, even more urban travelers and/or for those visiting a city who wish to feel more at home in a local neighborhood.  

Traditional B&B’s often involve guests are sharing dining and living space with other guests and typically with the overseers/owners. Urban Roost exclusively provides private apartments that promote autonomy, a sense that guests are in a home away from home. While outdoor spaces and receptions will allow guests to mingle with others and with the owners, guests can expect a rather private and personally-tailored experience when they stay at Urban Roost.

As we move forward with our vision, this blog serves to express the ideas and reflections that that attempt to capture the personality and brand of Urban Roost.