My college roommates and I rented an AirBNB the weekend of the 2021 Ohio State-Oregon game, then the cable went out about 30 minutes before kickoff because the owner had some sketch FIOS off brand service. We had to go watch at a bar. I blame AirBNB for the loss, now that we’ve fired our defensive staff.
It's situational but I really do love hotels, generally. And though loyalty is overrated as far as cost efficiency goes, it really does often make it markedly sweeter.
Only times I've used Airbnb is when I've been sick of hotels after months of being in one and when I moved to a new city. Hotels are better in almost every way, including the way they make everyone horny.
Depends completely on where I am travelling. NYC, LA, Vegas, New Orleans, etc. - hotel. Texas Hill Country, mountain towns, etc. - Airbnb.
Hotels. With all fees factored in, Airbnbs have been substantially more expensive than hotels in all my recent attempts to book one. The fees are ridiculous
I've noticed this as well recently. Also the rental agreements and other hoops you have to jump through are pretty obnoxious.
If I'm staying for ten days in a waterfront airbnb on Maui with my wife and three kids, I don't really mind washing the pots/pans and running the dishwasher on my way out
As said, airbnb has had an awful affect on the worldwide housing market and the company couldn’t give less of a shit. It’s of course mainly taking away rental housing stock from the market, but also imagine living in the same hallway as an apartment airbnb’d out to a bunch of partiers almost every night. It’s quite common in Toronto for kids from the suburbs to rent an airbnb downtown and throw a huge rager.
Nah son. I recognize and understand the significant problem of airbnb's business model on affordable housing. But, my places are deep in the woods outside national parks with no alternative lodging for miles. Edit: to add, I don't think I have completely unclean hands, but I think it's a much diff situation than taking away a 2 bed/1 bath in a suburban neighborhood of a major city.
different situation. No hotels out there edit: I came rushing in on my gallant steed a bit too slowly and the man defended himself
The “COVID enhanced cleaning fees” have killed the weekend AirBnB trips for us. $250 cleaning fees for a $150 a night rental is crazy especially when you have to wash dishes, take out all garbage, sweep, and throw sheets and towels in the wash. For week long trips it’s tough to beat a VRBO or AirBnB. We usually do a few fishing trips a year and are in smaller beach towns or areas without big hotels. Being able to rent a house on the water with a dock is a game changer.
I stay in an airbnb every week, but I usually negotiate my rate down, or have them waive cleaning fees.
used airbnb in napa a while back, one of the rare situations where the value still lives often leaned towards them when staying in portland too because all the hotels in portland are in trash areas
i am big proponent of affordable housing. I hate what has become of affordable housing and the way in contributes to homelessness. I worked for a non profit that attempted to organize similar organizations throughout the country. That said if I understand your situation it doesn’t appear to contribute to homelessness. You seem to provide vacation lodging in remote areas. If that is the case I don’t see the issue.
Hotels by a mile for me. I did a promo thing for hyatt about 5 years ago where I had to stay 12 nights in a 3 month period to get their highest status. I’ve made it a point to renew each year because we enjoy it so much. Beyond the consistently great upgrades, hyatt has a great points system unlike the other major brands. We’ve stayed in numerous hotels that are $1,000+ per night on points and it’s a great experience each time. They also gifted me Executive Platinum status on American Airlines a couple years ago (never could have earned it just from flying) and I’ve kept that up as well. I use Airbnb when there are no hyatt properties in the area, but it’s a rare occurrence. I hate dealing with the hosts, picking up keys, cleaning at the end, etc.
hyatt also has the most no-brainer credit card in the game $95 annual fee and I go to new orleans once a year and it covers a $200-300 night
Yep, great card. Makes requalifying much easier. Was even better when it came with 2 category 1-7 free nights with signup
Of course I write all this as I am steadily getting more pissed that my room isn’t ready for checkin lol
I delivered pizzas in that area in high school (early 90’s). I was the only driver in our store that was never robbed. It was interesting. There was nothing there that would bring people in. It’s now a destination.
Echoing the Air BnB fees have made me a hotel loyalist. That said when looking for mountain spots with a nice balcony and such has made me realize there is a massively underserved market for hotels with amenities like that. A ton of ABBs have great mountain views for decent rates but the cleaning and booking fees (and refund policies) make that kind of hard to stomach. If Marriott or something would offer more options for places with similar options, I'd think it would be a killing. (Caveat: this is specifically in places like Colorado, not some of the larger hotel resort properties)
Post college, me and some friends were visiting another friend in Houston, and one of my dumber friends bought a bag of coke and left it open on the desk in our hotel room. We left to get food, came back, our room was clean and he found the bag sealed and placed neatly on the inside of a shoe. 5 star review hotels 1, AirBnB 0.
As many have stated, both have their place depending on the location and people. Recently went couple nights to Daytona, FL area, just 2 of us. AirBNB ON THE BEACH was $90/night and perfect. Hotels were $200/night. AirBNB was the correct decision.
went to Maui two years ago and stayed at a lovely hotel on a cliff overlooking the water for free with no kids. was sweet
Airbnb hosts ask you to take the trash out and then charge $250 to clean the place. FOH. I did stay at a great Airbnb in Alfama, Lisbon. Was such a great location that I was happy to take out the trash and pay my absurd cleaning see.
Posting from an AirBnb right now in Sag Harbor, NY. Great deal compared to the hotels here for my wife and 2 kids. Right on the Long Island Sound and just a short drive to town. Convenience factor of having a kitchen and separate rooms for kids is an easy win over hotels. That being said, there’s nothing better than going to an excellent hotel. Being able to check into the Park Hyatt in Paris at like 8am, use their insane sauna/hot tub/steam room/shower situation right after a red-eye flight and recharge with breakfast before hitting the town was so god damn clutch. Nothing like having a legit concierge service when you are in a new place to handle logistics, set you up with museum tickets and stuff like that, help you map out a day, etc. St Regis in Bangkok probably had the best service of any hotel I’ve ever been to. Some hotels can be a religious experience, Baumeniere Hotel & Spa in Les Baux de Provence stands out for me in this regard.
I love hotels. Anytime I’ve looked to stay at an air bnb it would double my lodging costs. I’ve done a vrbo once in a group trip.
they usually only make sense for group trips and then only if you value hanging out with the people you’re traveling with a lot
Depends on the situation/location but prefer hotels. For awhile it seemed like Airbnb's were a much better value, especially when we were traveling around central/eastern Europe in 2018, but that seems to be less and less the case now. When the price difference is negligible, hotel is an easy choice.