I appreciate travel value and the following reasons are what I consider Airbnb advantages over hotels. If you know other reasons Airbnb are better than hotels, enter a comment below and share the travel knowledge. Thank you.
A vacation rental—whether a home, apartment, condo, boat, yurt, shared space, or other property—represents tremendous value for flexible, more adventurous travel consumers (when compared to hotels).
Here are some of my favorite reasons why Airbnb rentals are better than hotels.
1. Airbnb Properties Usually Have More Space
My favorite simple example is for a family of four (such as the McCool gang). To stay in a hotel suite, we have to book two rooms, but, at a lower price, I can find a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment. More space, less price. Brilliant. That might be all you need to know but read on for seven more Airbnb advantages.
2. Airbnb Properties Have Kitchens
Our temporary Airbnb homes have full kitchens so we have the option of preparing meals, thus slashing our dining expenses and eating healthier.
3. Airbnb Amenities Are Better Than Hotels
Rental properties often have amenities that are unavailable at hotels (or cost money)—such as bicycles, canoes or kayaks, views (oceanfront), convenient (and free) parking, better entertainment (TV, premium channels, sound system), private pool / spa, games (pool table, foosball), and more.
4. Another Airbnb Advantage Is a Washer and Dryer
Our family can travel with only carryon baggage knowing that we can do laundry every 3-4 days in our rental properties. In fact, it is kind of fun trying to figure out appliances in Montreal, Rome, Venice, or wherever in the world we are.
5. Airbnb Properties are in Neighborhoods
Vacation rentals are typically located in local neighborhoods (rather than tourist areas, where hotels are) so they are more authentically fun, restaurants and shops charge less, and people are naturally friendlier.
6. Airbnb Owners Provide Better Info to Visitors
information provided by Airbnb property owners is more appropriate (to me) than what I extract from hotel staff. For instance, home owners recommend more down-to-earth (authentic, local favorite) restaurants than hotel concierges (trendy, touristy).
7. Airbnb Properties Cost Less than Hotels
the price of vacation rentals is usually lower than hotel rooms of comparable quality. My Airbnb rental in Boston this past March had a plush king bed, amazing shower and bathroom, two levels, full kitchen, deck, private entrance, nearby street parking, and many custom touches; the rate was half the price of nearby Boston city hotels. Let me repeat that:
HALF the price of nearby hotels.
8. Airbnbs Have Free Wifi (and Faster Wifi, Too!)
Good, working wifi, too, not crappy pretend hotel wifi. A common hotel complaint is costly and ineffective wifi. Every vacation rental I have stayed at had strong and free wifi. Most also had extended cable, AppleTV, Netflix, and/or other fantastic entertainment options.
In these articles I compare a vacation house rental to hotel:
- Outer Banks Lodging: Luxury Resort or Home Rental
- St. John USVI Lodging: Vacation Home or Luxury Resort Hotel
I mention Airbnb in many McCool Travel articles, including:
- 3 Habits of Happy Travelers (later published by Yahoo Travel)
- 8 Great Reasons NOT to Use a Travel Agent
- Become a Better Traveler in One Step
- 8 Great Reasons to Travel Like a Local
What other Airbnb advantages have you experienced? If you are a hotel person, see my article about 8 Great Hotel Advantages (over Airbnb)
8 Great Airbnb Advantages Over Hotels was first published for McCool Travel on 10 Aug 2015.
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Great Airbnb, I’ll probably be back again to read through more, thanks for the info.
Thank you for the note. Let me know if I can assist you further. If you have not used Airbnb before, use my link to get a nice discount off your first stay.
We have had great experiences with Airbnb, always saving money over the price of a hotel. When you add in the bonus of having a space to do laundry, cook, and just get some space from your travel partner(s), it’s definitely worth it. That being said, if we’re only in town one night or two, we usually go with a hotel, particularly if it has a pool, gym, or free breakfast. So for us, we mix it up!
Wonderful travel strategy. Thank you for the note, Deahh!
Great advice that I need to take and use!
Thank you, Sara.
We’ve used Airbnb a few times, but have actually had better success and nicer accommodations using Homeaway… I’d use Airbnb again, but I always go to Homeaway first.
Cool deal, Tami. Glad you have a system to fit your travel preferences. That is really smart and important.
Like a lot of other people I have had mixed experiences with AirBnB. When it was good is was great but a few issues dealing with owners and one or two that don’t live up to the promise, keep me on the fence.
You do make some good points here though.
Keep using Airbnb. It is such a revolutionary disruption to the travel lodging segment.
Well your share looking cool to see it.
I saved a ton of money on lodging in Italy and Spain this summer renting apartments and houses. I only used Airbnb for one of them. Other sites for everything else.
Excellent, Phil. Did you use local rental resources? VRBO, Homeaway, FliKey, or what?
My experience with AirBnB has been rather mixed. I’m a solo traveler, and really cannot justify the cost of an entire apartment just for myself. Renting a room in an apartment has its good points and bad points. I’ve rented through them 5 or 6 times. Two stays were great, and the others were just okay. Most of the issues had to do with cleanliness, and just plain weird and annoying people renting the other rooms. Doors and locks come in so handy! Paying upfront (sometimes months in advance) is also something I’m not that keen on.
Thank you for the note, Nancie.
We rented a gorgeous traditional house on one of the islands in Greece through AirBnB and it was wonderful to be immersed in the region with all books in the bookcase in Greek – and members of the family who owned the house dropping local food stuffs off to us as welcoming gifts!
That sounds like a wonderful experience, Linda.
It’s true Charles, AirBnB has been great to us, too. I don’t know why I don’t do it all the time.
Great stuff. Thank you, Tom.
I hear so many great things about Airbnb, but haven’t tried them yet. We were very close to renting thru Airbnb in Paris in December, but ultimately decided on a hotel. We’ve stayed in apartments several times in our travels, and definitely appreciate the benefits. Will give Airbnb a closer look next time.
Of course, I think you should!
You do sing well the praises of AirB&B. I will try it someday.
When you do, let me know how it goes.
Agree with everything you said. I’ve always had great experiences at Airbnb’s. In Spain, our hosts took us on an evening of eating, dancing and fun with their friends and family at the “feria” – such a great firsthand cultural experience, and a highlight of our trip!
Sounds magnificent.