Aída, a host in Carabanchel: “Travellers find an authentic Madrid here”

“I have a world globe in the dining room, and I put pins on my guests’ home countries. I’m looking forward to having a guest from Africa. It’s the only continent I’m missing!”

Aída started sharing an empty room in her apartment in Carabanchel three years ago. “I had to renovate it, and in order to pay for the renovation, I had to get a second job as a math tutor. But in the end, I was having a hard time balancing the schedules of the two jobs. I had already used Airbnb as a traveller, and I thought, ‘Why not?’”.

Carabanchel is not a touristy neighbourhood. Many of those who come to stay here want to see a more authentic Madrid: the tapas bars of a lifetime, churrerias…

“I still remember my first guests: two girls from Hamburg. I was so nervous about doing everything right that I even went to wait for them at the subway entrance half an hour early!”

“Carabanchel is not a touristy neighbourhood. Many of those who come to stay here want to see a more authentic Madrid: the tapas bars of a lifetime, churrerias… They love getting out of tourist areas”.

On the reasons for hosting, Aída is clear: “I no longer need that financial help, but I keep doing it because I love receiving people from other cultures. You become friends with many of them. Now I will be visiting Hugo, one of my guests, in Lisbon. And then off to South Korea!”