I’m a travel writer— these 5 tips will stop you from booking a bad Airbnb

Not going home for the holidays?

One travel pro has revealed their tips and tricks for spotting red flags on rental listings.

“I’ve stayed in gorgeous farmhouse lofts, high-rise city apartments, and desert hideaways — but I’ve also booked a few duds along the way,” full-time traveler Tammy Barr, who has lodged in over 40 different rental units across 16 countries, wrote for Business Insider.

When deciding whether to book a rental listing found online, Barr firsts analyzes the photos.

Just because they might be “high-quality,” she warned, doesn’t necessarily mean the unit is better.

“Great staging doesn’t always equal a comfortable stay,” she noted, adding that an experienced photographer can make spaces seem bigger than they really are.