The startup Airbnb, an online marketplace that aggregates short-term rental listings, has launched a new way to filter results by neighborhood features, such as "nightlife" or "artsy." But is the site trustworthy and safe?
Called "Neighborhoods," the feature allows site users to curate results at a hyper-local level. Users can sift through neighborhood characteristics and data such as maps, photography, public transportation, parking details and tips to find the information they need.
The online feature takes advantage of what travelers have known for years: It's all about the location.
But in the evolution of Airbnb, the 4-year-old startup has encountered some criticism about whether the site keeps tabs on users. The company has also tussled with New York City, where state law limits short-term rentals.