What’s happening in Ukraine sucks! When bad stuff happens in the world that feels out of our control, we often go looking for ways we can help.
I especially wanted to help because part of the family is from a small town just outside of Kyiv, Ukraine. I knew I found the right way to support when my friend shared with me a really unique option. It would make a small difference in the life of a Ukrainian right now.
So I booked an Airbnb stay with a local in Kyiv last weekend! But of course I didn’t go. I simply told the host to keep the money, but that I wasn’t coming. I believe that with enough people joining in, this small gesture can collectively have a lasting impact for many. As a traveler, I love this idea! And so, in this post, I share all the details in the hopes that others might book a stay in Ukraine right now, too!
My Connection To Ukraine
Photo by Garry Knight
Part of the paternal side of my family is from an area of what was once the Russian Empire, now known as Ukraine. They left the area in the late 1800s/early 1900s when it was still a part of the Russian Empire.
Back in 2014, I almost planned to stop in Ukraine on my trip around the world because I wanted to do a little investigation into my ancestors there. But tensions were already rising with Russia back then.
My great grandfather, Harry, was from a small farming town just outside of Kyiv on the South side of the Dnipier River. Below is a recording of Harry telling a story from his childhood about riding a horse across the river.
My great grandfather Harry in New York later in his lfie
Harry’s father owned a successful business that was not allowed to open up shop in Kyiv because of the Tsar’s restrictions against the Jewish people. This is what ultimately pushed his family to move to the United States—for freedom from the Tsar’s persecution of the Jewish people.
Roughly 2.5 million Jews left Russia between 1881 and the start of WWI as a result of unfair restrictions and anti-Semitic propoganda against them.
My family was very lucky to leave when they did. The situation only got worse for the Jews who stayed there. And considering what would happen in Europe some 20 years later, they were very fortunate to get out when they did.
It’s no surprise that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish. The fact that Putin is specifically targeting his government and family is not lost on any Jewish person today.
How I Booked My Airbnb Stay In Kyiv
My friend Dasha shared with me the above post, which inspired me to start booking an Airbnb stay of my own in Ukraine!
I wanted to make sure to book my travel to one of the major cities getting hit by Russia the hardest. I chose Kyiv because it is the city that is the closest to where Harry grew up. Other hard-hit cities include Kharkiv, Kherson, Mariupol, and Mykolaiv.
Once I chose my city, I chose dates that were right around the corner—literally the next night’s stay! That way my time with the host would be soon and they could collect the money quickly. This also opens it up to others to book it soon, too.
Alternatively, if their refund policy it set to “zero refund on cancellation” you can cancel the trip so the host still collects in full and it opens up the dates right away for someone else to book the same time.
Next, I specifically looked for hosts who were not considered “Superhosts.” My reason for this is that Superhosts tend to get bumped up in searches, so they get picked more often (by people fake booking, too!). I also intentionally chose a female host.
Finally, I was certain to write to my host to let them know that I was not staying. That way, they knew for sure I didn’t make a mistake! But, like, who would seriously book a trip to Kyiv right now—someone living under a rock?!
How Much To Fake Stay in Ukraine
The cost of my 3-night stay in Ukraine came to $130.40. The place actually looks amazing! For that price, especially, I wouldn’t mind staying there in the future.
Note that Airbnb stopped charging a Service Fee for stays in Ukraine at the start of the war. This means all the money you spend goes directly to the host—not a penny goes to Airbnb.
What Did My Host Say
I did not expect my host to respond at all—but she did!
I love to hear exactly how the money will be used to support others. She will give to support her employee’s salaries and give directly to the army.
It seems she is well off enough to support herself, but the fact that she can pay it forward in ways of her own choosing is so meaningful!
What wonderful world it is that we can still connect with people through the internet who are in the middle of a war zone! And to make a direct and meaningful impact like this with a response is the cherry on top!
How To Host Ukrainian Refugees
A big red box appears at the top of the Airbnb site encouraging visitors to “Help house 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine”
Airbnb currently includes a huge red box at the top of its site that encourages you to click to learn how to help Ukrainian refugees—by hosting them for free!
The page that follows explains exactly what you would be supporting.
The image above is a screenshot from Airbnb explaining how your support makes a difference. I believe this is an especially nice option to have for people living in Europe. I imagine some Ukrainians may even welcome the opportunity to fly to the USA to stay as far away from Putin’s forces as they can get.
In general, this is a great way to offer a place to stay to refugees while they await further assistance. Airbnb covers insurance for you as a host at up to $1 million in liability, damage protection, and more! Amazing!
More Support To Ukrainians On Airbnb
Many people also host “experiences” over Airbnb for travelers. Many people who cannot offer their home to travelers do this instead. This is a great way to support folks who depended on these tourism experiences for their main source of income. There is no telling how long it will be before things will be better.
Book any number of these experiences but let the host you won’t be attending them.
How Else To Support Ukraine
All of this, of course, requires that you have an Airbnb account. So, if Airbnb doesn’t work for you or you want to do more, you can donate to any of these great organizations:
In Conclusion
There are some really unique ways to both donate and connect with the Ukrainian people who are in the middle of a war zone. The travel connection keeps bringing us together through websites like Airbnb. This was my small way of making a difference and staying connected—now share this and get others to join in!
Slava Ukraini!
