Though the Airbnb was central, the street we were on couldn’t have been quieter—ideal considering the historic home does not have air conditioning, so we slept with the windows open every night. Now, I’m the first person to lose my mind over a lack of AC, especially in the summer, but I’m happy to report that I more than survived, even in the July heat, thanks to a cross-breeze and a plethora of fans in every room. If you’re hoping to visit in the winter, never fear: there’s central heating.
The property’s only other minor flaw is the layout—specifically the fact that the kitchen and living room are separated by a long staircase. It would have been more convenient if they were located on the same floor (for drink and snack purposes), but we got our steps in, and you can’t blame a 19th-century home for being built the way it was. That said, I would not recommend the home to those with mobility issues. The bedrooms are all above ground level, and the staircases are steep. But for us 30-somethings fueled by the nostalgia of our college days, there was little complaining.
All in all, I would recommend this Airbnb to anyone visiting Halifax with a small group. The location was better than I could have ever dreamed of, the beds were incredibly comfy, there were plenty of bathrooms, the common areas were clean and clutter-free, and the kitchen had everything we needed to cook a few meals chez nous. The historic charm also certainly didn’t hurt.
But of course, a vacation rental is only as good as the people you fill it with, and lucky for me, I had 10s across the board. There’s something so special about traveling with the people that have been in your corner through it all—trading beer bottles for baby bottles and dorm rooms for first homes. So let this be a sign to text your group chat and plan your next little getaway, no matter how far apart you live from each other or how busy your schedules are. If you’re smart, you’ll book a trip to Halifax. The East Coast Canadians are waiting to welcome you.
