It’s the final word battle royale: Airbnb vs. lodge. Both avid and occasional vacationers know that the selection generally is a tough one. Especially once we journey someplace new, there’s lots of stress to search out the correct lodging for our particular needs and wishes.
To take a few of that stress off, right here’s a breakdown of the professionals and cons of Airbnb vs. lodge stays, together with issues akin to security, value, and general high quality:
Pros of Airbnb
Opportunities to satisfy locals
Staying in a personal room in somebody’s residence via Airbnb generally is a nice alternative to satisfy locals, if that’s what you’re hoping to do. When Airbnb first launched, the platform was extra like a paid model of Couchsurfing. Hosts would obtain company of their houses, who would lease a room at a fraction of the price of a lodge. When I first used Airbnb in 2017 (I used to be slightly late to the sport, I do know), this was my expertise. I stayed in Bogotá with a beautiful couple of artists who even confirmed me across the metropolis and invited me out to drinks with their mates.
The platform has modified rather a lot since then, with an increasing number of choices to lease complete locations. You can nonetheless lease a room in somebody’s residence like at first, however extra typically folks search for a extra non-public keep.
Overall, it may be toss-up in case you select to lease a room, as a result of chances are high you’ll work together much more together with your host. I’ve had nice experiences with this, and others that have been simply “meh.”
Can be extra reasonably priced than inns
This isn’t at all times true for each vacation spot, however in lots of locations all over the world, Airbnb gives less expensive lodging that offer you an even bigger bang in your buck. Sometimes once I journey round Mexico, for instance, I’ll examine costs at inns to Airbnbs, and virtually at all times Airbnbs find yourself less expensive, even in any case the additional charges.
Typically, non-public rooms in a shared residence are the most cost effective possibility on Airbnb. These both have a personal or shared rest room, plus entry to frequent areas, akin to the lounge and kitchen. It’s additionally doable to search out utterly non-public rooms, suites, and full residences on Airbnb which might be cheaper than a lodge room.
More distinctive choices (glamping, treehouses, and so on.)
In latest years, Airbnb has leveled up its collection of distinctive stays. Now you’ll find glamping choices, treehouses, yurts, Airstreams, and extra on the platform. Places like these may be onerous to come back by in case you don’t know the place else to look, so Airbnb offers vacationers the chance to search out them extra simply — there’s even a search characteristic that lets you zero in on such distinctive stays.
Cozy environments with the comforts of residence
This is a big plus for me, as I like the thought of staying in a house quite than a sterile lodge room that appears precisely the identical as every other. Since Airbnb lets you keep in a bunch’s precise residence, typically you’ll be greeted by their distinctive decorations and homey touches. This additionally offers you a glimpse into how folks in a given place dwell, which may be fascinating.
More practical for longer stays (greater than every week)
Since there are listings for complete residences with full kitchens on Airbnb, the platform is far more supreme for longer stays than a typical lodge. Having a kitchen, which is nearly exceptional for a lodge, lets you do your individual grocery procuring and put together meals as an alternative of counting on eating places. If you’re staying someplace longer than every week, consuming completely at eating places can get costly, so having a kitchen may be a good way to save cash and even keep wholesome.
Staying in additional off-the-beaten-path areas
I really like that you’ll find Airbnbs virtually wherever on the earth, even in some fairly distant locations. I as soon as stayed in an Airbnb in Guatemala that was on part of Lake Atitlán that doesn’t obtain almost as a lot tourism as different areas. The most gratifying a part of it was being off the vacationer observe and having my very own little nook of the lake.
On Airbnb, you’ll be able to see a map of the properties in a given space. Although the precise areas aren’t at all times tremendous correct to the map, the characteristic lets you get a greater concept of how distant the place is. Many small cities or locations in nature won’t have inns, so Airbnb lets you discover lodging the place you in any other case wouldn’t have the ability to.
More potential for privateness
This clearly doesn’t apply in case you keep in a personal bed room in a shared home, however typically Airbnb gives extra potential for privateness. Since you’ll be able to select a whole home on the platform, for instance, you wouldn’t have to fret about sharing a wall with noisy neighbors.
Cons of Airbnb
Checking in generally is a problem
Trying to coordinate your check-in with an Airbnb host may be tough. Sometimes hosts will meet you to present you keys to the place, and typically they’ll go away keys in a lockbox. I want the latter, because it takes the stress off of needing to reach at a sure time to satisfy the host. You received’t know which check-in state of affairs you’ve got till you ebook, however most hosts have a system in place for very late or early check-ins. (This isn’t for certain, although.)
Unpredictable high quality
How many occasions have you ever fallen in love with a spot on Airbnb solely to search out that it appears to be like approach completely different than the images? This sort of Airbnb catfishing is basically annoying, nevertheless it’s, sadly, a actuality that many company face.
There are methods to search out out if the pictures of a spot don’t dwell as much as the in-person expertise. First, verify the critiques. Usually, prior company will level this out if it’s that apparent. You can even ship a message to a bunch earlier than you ebook to ask for extra present photos. They received’t at all times have the ability to do that, nevertheless it’s value a shot.
Also, if the worth appears too good to be true, it in all probability is. Check across the space on Airbnb to see how the place compares to others with the identical value level. If yours appears to be like approach nicer than the others, the pictures could be deceptive.
Potential for awkward host interactions
Fortunately, I haven’t had too many awkward encounters with Airbnb hosts, nevertheless it does occur. Especially in case you’re staying in a personal room in somebody’s residence, you’re subjected to their rhythm of life, and it won’t be the moment friendship that you simply imagined. What in case your host has company over throughout your keep? What if they’ve kids or pets? Make certain to learn the complete description of the place earlier than you ebook, to get a really feel in your host.
I are usually fairly optimistic about these conditions, nevertheless it’s essential to contemplate what sort of expertise you need to have whereas touring so you’ll be able to resolve if it is sensible to lease a personal room in somebody’s residence.
Hosts can cancel on the final minute
Hosts can cancel reservations at any second previous to check-in, which is one thing that doesn’t often occur with inns. Although this has by no means occurred to me, I’ve heard horror tales about vacationers getting left within the mud after their Airbnb host canceled their reserving on the final minute. Imagine arriving in a brand new nation late at evening after a protracted flight, solely to comprehend that you simply now have nowhere to remain.
The platform has tons of controversy
Airbnb has been underneath fireplace lately for a few causes. First of all, folks closely criticize the platform for being accountable for gentrification in numerous cities. Property homeowners can snatch up low-cost residences, spruce them up, and lease them on Airbnb for a lot greater charges than the common value within the neighborhood. This can drive up rents, pushing out residents who can now not afford to dwell there. It’s an advanced concern that’s too complicated to sum up utterly, however there are many articles like this one from Forbes that discover Airbnb’s impression on gentrification.
Airbnb additionally confronted controversy lately when a number of folks got here ahead accusing the platform of selling racial discrimination. Since then, Airbnb has promised to mitigate the bias, though the unhealthy press actually tarnished its status.
It’s as much as each traveler to resolve if these controversies are dealbreakers by way of utilizing the platform, particularly if you’d like to take action as ethically as doable. Just remember the fact that these points aren’t unique to Airbnb and could possibly be true for different lodging or companies.
Is Airbnb Safe?
Airbnb is a good reserving web site with a typically constructive security status. Personally, I’ve by no means felt unsafe in an Airbnb, whether or not I used to be renting a personal room in a shared residence or a whole place. Some vacationers categorical concern about reserving via Airbnb, nonetheless, as a result of they’re uncertain about whether or not or not they’ll belief their host. This is a legitimate concern, as you’re basically placing your belief in a stranger.
One strategy to keep secure whereas utilizing Airbnb is to make use of the Superhost filter, which solely reveals you hosts which have earned a Superhost badge for upholding Airbnb’s highest requirements. It’s additionally at all times a good suggestion to have a look at the critiques of hosts’ listings to see if different vacationers suggest them. I additionally suggest speaking solely by way of Airbnb messages, simply in case something goes improper, in order that it’s simpler to report any host misconduct.
Pros of Hotels
You can discover neat inns with lots of historical past
While Airbnb has solely been round for less than slightly over a decade, there are inns all over the world which have actually lots of of years of historical past inside their partitions. Places just like the Mizpah Hotel in Nevada are historic and cultural relics, with a long time and a long time of hospitality expertise. Staying at these sorts of inns is an expertise all by itself, which is tougher to search out on Airbnb.
Check-in is less complicated
Forget having to coordinate getting your keys together with your host. Checking in at inns is a lot simpler, as a result of you’ll be able to present up everytime you’d like. If you’re early, there’s often someplace close to the entrance desk the place you’ll be able to go away your baggage when you wait in your room to be prepared. This is commonplace follow at most inns, however fairly uncommon for Airbnbs.
The concierge is there that will help you
If one thing in your lodge room is damaged or not working correctly, the concierge is there that will help you instantly. This just isn’t essentially the case for Airbnbs, as there’s no assure that your host will have the ability to repair a leaky sink or clogged drain, forcing you to cope with it in the course of your keep. Hotels specialise in hospitality in ways in which Airbnb hosts often don’t, which means the service is usually higher and extra well timed.
More correct pictures and predictable high quality
It can be far more tough for a lodge to catfish potential company with unrealistic pictures, as they’ve far more on the road if their company catch them within the act. The entire lodge and even the entire chain may go down in the event that they lie in regards to the high quality of their rooms, whereas an Airbnb host doesn’t have as a lot to lose.
Though there could be some discrepancies between the polished {and professional} pictures of a lodge room and its precise high quality, inns are often far more predictable on the subject of high quality. You know you’ll have clear sheets and received’t discover any surprises within the drawers of the bedside tables, as a result of the lodge has an entire cleansing crew. With Airbnb, the standard and cleanliness can range drastically from host to host, and also you don’t actually know what you’re going to get till you arrive.
More security assurance
Hotels often have safety cameras of their hallways and lobbies, and outdoors of the constructing. If there have been any sort of security danger at your lodge, chances are high it will be caught on tape. This may give vacationers peace of thoughts to know that there’s an additional layer of accountability.
Some inns even have non-public safety on the premise, and sometimes employees on the entrance desk 24/7, so there’s at all times somebody there that will help you in case you really feel unsafe. The identical isn’t true for Airbnbs. Sure, you’ll be able to let your host know if one thing is improper, however there’s no assure that they’ll give you the chance that will help you out at that actual second.
Cons of Hotels
Possibly much less privateness
The shoebox-y really feel of some inns is a little bit of a turn-off for me, as a result of I don’t love that typically you’ll be able to hear your next-door neighbors. This isn’t at all times the case, however some cheaper inns have very skinny partitions. To say that that is disagreeable is an understatement.
Especially at bigger inns, the bustle within the foyer and even within the hallways may be counterproductive in your enjoyable getaway plans. If you recognize you need to completely disconnect or discover some solitude, there are smaller inns or ones which have extra non-public villas.
Sometimes costlier
As the hospitality business is altering, inns at the moment are keener on Airbnb’s status of being a budget-friendly platform and are adjusting their charges accordingly to compete. However, inns stay costlier than Airbnbs in most locations. Sometimes you may get a whole condo to your self for cheaper than a cramped lodge room in a big chain lodge, which may flip lots of people off to inns generally.
Fewer alternatives to get off the crushed path
Since inns are often in strategic areas which might be simply accessible to vacationers, it’s not as simple to search out them in additional off-the-beaten-path locations. This isn’t to say it’s not possible, although. It’s simply not at all times a assure that you simply’ll discover a lodge in the course of nowhere the identical approach you’ll find Airbnbs in these locations.
Not practical for longer stays
If you recognize you’ll be someplace for greater than every week or so, staying at a lodge won’t be the most effective concept. Unless you discover an “aparthotel” with a kitchen, confining your self to a lodge room means you received’t have the ability to put together your individual meals. Going out to eating places completely undoubtedly provides up.
Are Hotels Worth the Price?
The reply to this actually is determined by what sort of journey expertise you need to have and what your wants are on the subject of lodging. If you’re a first-time solo traveler who is a little more nervous about security, maybe the added safety of a lodge will present a extra worry-free journey. While inns aren’t at all times costlier than Airbnbs, they typically provide much less house in change for higher facilities, security, and repair, which could be value the additional price if these issues are essential to you.
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If you’re an adventurous traveler who needs to keep away from crowds and keep in distinctive locations, Airbnb could be a greater possibility. If you’re extra cautious and need a extra predictable journey expertise, inns are nice. Putting Airbnb vs. lodge stays head-to-head will look completely different for various sorts of vacationers, however I hope this listing offers you a greater concept of what’s best for you.
Which do you often want once you journey? Let us know within the feedback!