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A St. Clair County Airbnb offers privacy, comfort and quick access to downtown St. Louis

A few years back, the husband and I attended a beer festival in Murphysboro.

Not wanting to drive back home afterward, we planned ahead and booked a night at an Airbnb near the event.

We spent the night there with our host, Stephen King.

No, not that Stephen King.

This Stephen King was a cat. And he was a most gracious host.

He was good company and even showed us around his cat space at the front of the house.

His human, the owner of the house and a volunteer firefighter, stayed at the stationhouse, so we never saw him.

The experience was a really good one. And the Airbnb was much better than a regular hotel. We had absolute privacy like we do at home.

Mostly. But to be fair, Stephen King’s presence wasn’t intrusive. Even if he did stick his paws under the door first thing in the morning to coax us out to hang with him.

Totally cute, but still.

Anyway, my point is that it’s not always easy to find that full privacy in a comfortable setting and convenient location.

A new place in Cahokia Heights, My Travelers Home Airbnb, provides all of this.

A nice place to stay

Mother and daughter duo Germany Allen and Angel Ford decided to open an Airbnb after observing the increasing popularity in short-term rentals.

Ford said when she was away at school, she saw the need for a place to stay on occasion.

She saw a need for a place conveniently close to St. Louis.

In June, Allen and Ford bought a 950-square-foot house at 864 St. Benedict Drive in Cahokia Heights.

They worked with the city to make sure everything was up to code.

Ford said that there were “so many renovations,” but it was a great space and a great canvas.

In November – five months and a major renovation later – the house was available for guest bookings, according to Allen.

Allen and Ford’s goal for the property is to highlight the space and location.

Ford said they want to do their part to make Cahokia Heights a more welcoming place and to help its local businesses grow.

While St. Louis is a smaller market for Airbnbs – there are already plenty of hotels in the city and a few on the Illinois side – Allen and Ford are able to provide a more comfortable and private space for visitors to the area.

Ford said they wanted to cater to a certain audience, to offer a place that provides privacy, as some Airbnbs offer just a room in an already occupied house. (Yup, been there, done that, witnessed by Stephen King.)

Ford feels that people tend to underestimate the need for the kind of accommodations they can provide.

With this Airbnb, there are no shared walls like in a hotel, and no shared spaces, like a hostel or bed & breakfast.

The whole place can be all yours.

The house is beautifully decorated. Ford said Allen loves to decorate, and it’s obvious when you see the place. (Check out the photo gallery on their website.)

If you’re having a small event, like a baby or bridal shower or birthday party, they will even decorate it for the occasion.

Allen and Ford are also nearby and able to check on the property and guests as needed.

Just minutes away from St. Louis, this house is ideal for people coming to the area for sports, concerts and other happenings in The Lou.

If you want to work from home without actually being at home, the Airbnb is an option.

It’s great for family or friends coming to town for weddings, reunions and other events.

Planning a girls’ night? A charcuterie party (ah, those millennials), a whiskey tasting or a Tupperware party?

Book the Airbnb for the get together.

Plus, you won’t have to clean your own place in advance. And there’s plenty of room if your own dwelling is the size of a shoebox or if you just can’t have guests because your dogs are like the Bumpus hounds … or like my own unruly pups.

We want people to be comfortable and enjoy themselves, said Ford.

“I think we have something great here.”

About My Travelers Home Airbnb

My Travelers Home Airbnb is located at 864 St. Benedict Drive in Cahokia Heights.

The Airbnb has two bedrooms, one bathroom and a full kitchen that includes all major appliances, a Keurig coffee maker, organic coffee, air fryer and tea kettle.

There’s a dining area (dishes are included), a living room, family room and a basement laundry room.

Perks include an electric fireplace, ping pong table, a private yard, parking and security cameras.

For more information or to book reservations, call 618-737-2681 or visit gmanandpartners.com.