Airbnb rentals increase 450 percent in Idaho

With more than 500,000 people predicted to travel to the area for the eclipse, one dilemma is where to put them. The answer? Strangers homes.

It’s not just homes for rent. Some are renting out bedrooms while others are offering their RV’s and even lawns.

“We started with it by the whole house,” Kristi Neibaur, Airbnb host, said. “But didn’t get any takers so we put it down per bedroom. We have some tent sites on the lawn for $100 per night and I’ve been surprised at how fast everything has gone.”

Airbnb says there are more than 8,000 bookings in Idaho during eclipse weekend. That is a 450 percent increase from the previous weekend. Many people couldn’t pass up the opportunity for some extra income.

“My mom first did it with her house,” Neibaur said. “We saw the opportunity for extra income and we’re not going to be staying in it anyways so we thought we might as well take advantage of the good opportunity.”

Airbnb also says 68 percent of those renting out their houses are first time hosts. While some say it’s not worth it to give up their house for one weekend, others think differently.

“It will be a little bit crazy,” Neibaur said. “By the time we get the house cleaned. I’ve heard a lot of things on the news and on the radio about how people have debated whether or not it’s worth it. And there is a lot to do to get our personal stuff out of the house. But to do that and then to be able to be gone I think it will really hype up the experience to be enjoyable.”

Airbnb says Idaho ranks 4th in states with the most eclipse bookings.