Airbnb Review: What Sleeping in a Shipping Container Home is Really Like
If someone were to ask you whether or not you’d like to spend the night in a shipping container, what would your gut reaction be?
Heart say yes and head say no?
Your head says:
I mean, it looks fun and all when other people do it, but could it really be a suitable place for you to lay your head at night?
Could that tiny little shipping container really be a better experience than your boring old hotel option - 100% comfort guaranteed?
Is it REALLY worth the risk?
What if your hard earned money and vacation time are wasted?
Yet, then the heart responds with:
It DOES look fun and other people do it all the time!
I’m tired of the boring old hotel - let’s do something different this time!
Let’s take more risks this year - that’s living after all.
If the stay is a flop - that’s all part of the adventure anyways, right?
So who will win?
Keep reading to see if your head can change its mind or if the pull of your heart becomes so strong that you simply can’t resist.
What Sleeping in a Shipping Container Home is Really Like
Let’s start with the truth.
Truth is - your tiny-house, shipping container, small living skepticism is pretty normal. A lot of doubters in the world that think there’s absolutely no way a little ole shipping container could support a livable, high-functioning space to call home.
And to be honest, I was was right there with you.
When I first came across the Airbnb highlighted in this post, I scrolled past it countless times. I just really wasn’t interested in sleeping in a shipping container, in the woods, in the middle of winter AND in the middle of nowhere Mississippi.
I was weary, weary from 2020, from having to quarantine over Christmas and from all the negativity in our world. I wanted a simple nights sleep. In a comfy room. In a hotel. Where I felt cozy and spoiled and accommodated.
That was my head speaking, at least.
Then my heart challenged me. It asked if I was up for the adventure. Up for the unique stay. Everyone stays in hotels. How many people get to sleep in a shipping container.
The heart always gets me.
I’m so glad it does.
Introducing:
Another Tiny (Modern Shipping Container Retreat)
Our stay at Another Tiny (Modern Shipping Container Retreat)
Overall, our stay at Another Tiny was 100%. 5-stars. Absolutely no complaints. Amongst everything that I enjoyed about our stay, one thing about the property and the experience shocked me the most.
How Spacious it Felt
My skepticism prior to booking was almost completely around whether or not the container would feel cramped. Again, we were coming out of 2020, out of a year of lockdown (and facing more ahead), out of a month in the same home and Christmas in quarantine. I wanted to break free. Have space to breathe and think and clear my mind.
As we walked up to the door of the property in the cold winter rain, I was still pretty uncertain. Therefore, when I stepped foot into the sliding door on the long side of the container, my shock lead to a deep sigh of relief.
Space.
I was standing facing a kitchen. I looked to my left down a long hallway and see a bedroom at one end. I looked to my right into an open area living room. I panned over the surprisingly large kitchen in front of me.
No cramped spaces in sight.
The Lay of the Land
With the natural design of a shipping container running significantly longer than it does wide, the design on the container is limited on it’s layout. In our particular unit, which was 40FT long, the floorplan was as follows:
Bedroom in the far back
Bathroom
Kitchen
Living room
Patio attached to the front (where the container doors open)
There were no doors sectioning off any of the rooms in the container, other than the sliding multi-functional door/pantry in the kitchen. This closed the gap between the kitchen and the bathroom which I think we can all agree is necessary. On that note, there was no door between the bathroom and the bedroom, so this setup might not work if you’re staying with someone you aren’t THAT close with (unless you’re into awkward moments with strangers). However, it was no biggie from our perspective.
Another design element that surprised me was how each room of the container felt equally spacious. Due to its length, none of the rooms had to sacrifice on space, which made the entire property feel very livable. One of the most impressive spaces was the bathroom and the size of the shower. I honestly expected a shower similar to those in Europe (which if you’ve never been, are tiny) , but it had a good deal more space in comparison.
Color me impressed.
Shipping Container Home vs. Tiny House
After now having stayed in both a shipping container home and a tiny house, I much preferred the container. Again, it felt incredibly spacious and none of the rooms had to sacrifice on that space. However, tiny homes are usually on a much smaller footprint than 40FT, meaning your bedroom might be a loft with a very low ceiling, your shower European-style tiny, and stairs right in the middle of your living room.
I know the whole point is for them to by “tiny” - but a little extra space never hurt anyone.
Another Tiny (Modern Shipping Container Retreat)
Shipping Container Location: Starkville, MS
Shipping Container Sleeps: 3 Guests
Airbnb Rating: 4.85 (142 reviews)
Airbnb Price: $71 USD / night
Airbnb Pet Policy: Allowed
From a reviewer: I am so in love with these beautifully designed and well thought out converted containers. I love to cook. Everything in the kitchen was state of the art from the appliances to cookware to accessories. We could see the fabulous stars outside at night, and hear all of the nature sounds. The bed was so! comfortable and soft with the perfect amount of blankets and 100% cotton linens and towels. We had everything we needed. Truly a gem!
Why you should give a shipping container house a try
If you’ve come to the end of the post and your head is still winning by a long shot, here are few more practical reasons to book your shipping container stay:
1) For the Lower Cost
For the most part, Airbnbs are more affordable than their hotel counterparts. And when you get into tiny homes and shipping containers, since you aren’t actually booking an entire home, they are usually even MORE affordable than standard Airbnbs. So if you’re looking to save some dimes, a shipping container is the perfect solution.
2) For the Relationship Building
I love Airbnbs because the homes or properties are created by every day people like you and me who have a cool idea and then decide that they want to invite you into it. Your invitation awaits - RSVP already. Who knows what sort of new relationship could be built from it. It could be a life-changing one, ya never know.
3) For the Social Distance
Hopefully one day I can remove this bullet when we’re all back to sitting next to each other on planes and shaking hands. But for the time being, travel is what it is. Travel during the pandemic can feel risky, but if you are intentional about booking a place that is remote, and doesn’t share spaces with other people, then you’re in a pretty safe boat. Most Airbnbs are individual homes, so you can really keep distance from others. In a hotel, this is much harder to do.
4) If You’re Considering Living in a Tiny Home/Shipping Container Full-Time
THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT. If you think tiny homes are cool and that you want to #gotiny, then my recommendation is to stay in as many different versions of one as possible. After now staying in a few myself, I’ve been able to identify the things I like, the things I don’t like, and how much space I would actually want in a home. Rarely do you get a chance to stay in a bunch of homes doing research before you buy one, but going tiny is different. There are a lot of really unique and interesting tiny homes, including shipping containers, to book on Airbnb. I call this experiential research. Do your research.
Just do it.
Book your shipping container vacation today.
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