The Weekender

Wanna try airbnb? Click here for $25 off your first stay when you sign up with this link! 

A few months ago, I heard about a website/app called airbnb, an online source of vacation rental listings in a wide range of areas.  The catch however, is that most of these listings are people's homes. Right off the bat, I was curious. How reliable was this website? Was it safe? Who is using this website? In a quest to find the answers to my questions, I came across an airbnb infographic.

At first glance, the infographic attracted me with a popping color scheme and cute vectors of unique places to stay.  A timeline of airbnb's history and number of stays are pinpointed with memorable events throughout the years. Well, sure it's attractive, but to convince me to stay I needed some facts.

Truth is, the facts about airbnb are just as attractive as the aesthetics.  The world map reveals the various high quality listings including President Obama's Hawaiian vacation home, a private island in Fiji, and the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Wisconsin.  Though these locations were interesting, they were not all I wanted to learn about. I needed to trust the users; those renting their homes out.  The infographic disclosed the top represented schools on airbnb (Harvard, Columbia, Berkeley, UCLA, NYU) ,their professions (teachers, lawyers, architects, flight attendants) and employer (Google, IBM, UN, Microsoft, ARMY).  I was compelled by the various listings and the credibility of the users that the infographic displayed.

Overall, the infographic had many attractive and compelling points.

It is simple- I was not overloaded with information or visuals. It was easy to follow visually and the wording was precise. 

Charts are Effective- I could recognize the objective of the chart and the map. It showed that airbnb was growing (in number of nights and internationally)

Facts are Honest- Airbnb is a start up and I didn't except the numbers to be astronomical.  The information and data presented made it seem credible and inspired me to be apart of the growing sensation.

Amazing Supplements- The presented facts were supplemented by interesting or amazing facts about airbnb.  For example, I could see that apartments account for most of airbnbs rentals, but 37 tree houses do too!

On airbnb's part, this is a very effective and compelling way to market to users.  It shared facts and attractive visuals while emphasizing the credibility of the users and the company.  Bravo!

St. Joe's will capture your heart with a beautiful downtown filled with a variety of eclectic shops, restaurants, and cafes. Not to mention, a beautiful beach with free public access, plenty of rental stops and a couple of darling food stands.  

Where to Stay:

St. Joseph Inn: $ ($60-100)

A classic motel off of Niles Ave that used to be an Econolodge. 2014 Memorial Day it re-opened with brand new management and is undergoing renovation.  The new owners are a husband and wife team who work very hard to keep the rooms clean, assure that you have what you need and give you the 411 about St. Joe.  

When my boyfriend and I first arrived we were greeted by the husband who wanted to take our picture, since we were his very guests.  He seemed very excited and offered us a great rate, $60 a night!  It wasn't the four seasons, and still has a ways to go. However, it smelled very clean, the sheets and towels were fresh and new.

It featured all of the amenities for a solid beach vacation:

-Mini Fridge (with top freezer) -Microwave -Flat Screen TV -A/C -Brand New Granite looking counter tops

If you are willing to give a hotel with new management a chance, you will save bundles in a safe and clean motel.  

What to Do:

Silver Beach This picturesque beach on Lake Michigan features a pier and a mini light house and a couple miles of fine sand.  We went on Memorial Day weekend and it was not very crowded. There was definitely spots to people watch or be in a secluded spot.  The beach stand, Wally's, offered some delicious beach meals including everything from hamburgers to popsicles.  

St. Joe's Rentals

Hidden Point: Putt Putt Golf

What to Eat:

This town has plenty of great options from expensive high end restaurants, to good eats and dives to the Jimmy Johns that you can't get enough of. The best part is, it is all in the adorable downtown area so walking around trying to decide where to eat is easy!

Clementines

Thorton's Hometown Cafe