<\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nChecking in can be a hassle<\/h3>\n Trying to coordinate your check-in with an Airbnb host can be tricky. Sometimes hosts will meet you to give you keys to the place, and sometimes they\u2019ll leave keys in a lockbox. I prefer the latter, as it takes the pressure off of needing to arrive at a certain time to meet the host. You won\u2019t know which check-in situation you have until you book, but most hosts have a system in place for very late or early check-ins. (This isn\u2019t for sure, though.)<\/p>\n
Unpredictable quality<\/h3>\n How many times have you fallen in love with a place on Airbnb only to find that it looks way different than the pictures? This kind of Airbnb catfishing is really annoying, but it\u2019s, unfortunately, a reality that many guests face.<\/p>\n
There are ways to find out if the photos of a place don\u2019t live up to the in-person experience. First, check the reviews. Usually, prior guests will point this out if it\u2019s that obvious. You can also send a message to a host before you book to ask for more current pictures. They won\u2019t always be able to do this, but it\u2019s worth a shot.<\/p>\n
Also, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Check around the area on Airbnb to see how the place compares to others with the same price point. If yours looks way nicer than the others, the photos might be misleading.<\/p>\n
Potential for awkward host interactions<\/h3>\n Fortunately, I haven\u2019t had too many awkward encounters with Airbnb hosts, but it does happen. Especially if you\u2019re staying in a private room in someone\u2019s home, you are subjected to their rhythm of life, and it might not be the instant friendship that you imagined. What if your host has guests over during your stay? What if they have children or pets? Make sure to read the full description of the place before you book, to get a feel for your host. <\/p>\n
I tend to be pretty optimistic about these situations, but it\u2019s important to consider what kind of experience you want to have while traveling so you can decide if it makes sense to rent a private room in someone\u2019s home.<\/p>\n
Hosts can cancel at the last minute<\/h3>\n Hosts can cancel reservations at any moment prior to check-in, which is something that doesn\u2019t usually happen with hotels. Although this has never happened to me, I\u2019ve heard horror stories about travelers getting left in the dust after their Airbnb host canceled their booking at the last minute. Imagine arriving in a new country late at night after a long flight, only to realize that you now have nowhere to stay.<\/p>\n
The platform has tons of controversy<\/h3>\n Airbnb has been under fire in recent years for a couple of reasons. First of all, people heavily criticize the platform for being responsible for gentrification in various cities. Property owners can snatch up cheap apartments, spruce them up, and rent them on Airbnb for much higher rates than the average price in the neighborhood. This can drive up rents, pushing out residents who can no longer afford to live there. It\u2019s a complicated issue that is too complex to sum up completely, but there are plenty of articles like this one from Forbes<\/em> that explore Airbnb\u2019s impact on gentrification.<\/p>\nAirbnb also faced controversy in recent years when several people came forward accusing the platform of promoting racial discrimination. Since then, Airbnb has promised to mitigate the bias, although the bad press certainly tarnished its reputation.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s up to every traveler to decide if these controversies are dealbreakers in terms of using the platform, especially if you want to do so as ethically as possible. Just keep in mind that these issues are not exclusive to Airbnb and could be true for other accommodations or businesses.<\/p>\n
Is Airbnb Safe?<\/h2>\n\n
<\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nAirbnb is a reputable booking site with a generally positive safety reputation. Personally, I have never felt unsafe in an Airbnb, whether I was renting a private room in a shared home or an entire place. Some travelers express concern about booking through Airbnb, however, because they are unsure about whether or not they can trust their host. This is a valid concern, as you are essentially putting your trust in a stranger.<\/p>\n
One way to stay safe while using Airbnb is to use the Superhost filter, which only shows you hosts that have earned a Superhost badge for upholding Airbnb\u2019s highest standards. It\u2019s also always a good idea to look at the reviews of hosts\u2019 listings to see if other travelers recommend them. I also recommend communicating only via Airbnb messages, just in case anything goes wrong, so that it\u2019s easier to report any host misconduct.<\/p>\n
Pros of Hotels<\/h2>\n\n
<\/noscript>If walls could talk, what would they say at the US\u2019s most haunted hotel, the Mizpah?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nYou can find neat hotels with a lot of history<\/h3>\n While Airbnb has only been around for only a little over a decade, there are hotels around the world that have literally hundreds of years of history within their walls. Places like the Mizpah Hotel in Nevada are historical and cultural relics, with decades and decades of hospitality experience. Staying at these kinds of hotels is an experience all on its own, which is harder to find on Airbnb.<\/p>\n
Check-in is easier<\/h3>\n Forget having to coordinate getting your keys with your host. Checking in at hotels is so much easier, because you can show up whenever you\u2019d like. If you\u2019re early, there\u2019s usually somewhere near the front desk where you can leave your luggage while you wait for your room to be ready. This is standard practice at most hotels, but pretty rare for Airbnbs.<\/p>\n
The concierge is there to help you<\/h3>\n\n
<\/noscript>Opt for hotels that serve a la carte breakfasts: another hotel perk. This one\u2019s from Bali.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIf something in your hotel room is broken or not working properly, the concierge is there to help you right away. This is not necessarily the case for Airbnbs, as there\u2019s no guarantee that your host will be able to fix a leaky sink or clogged drain, forcing you to deal with it for the duration of your stay. Hotels specialize in hospitality in ways that Airbnb hosts usually don\u2019t, meaning the service is generally better and more timely.<\/p>\n
More accurate photos and predictable quality<\/h3>\n It would be much more difficult for a hotel to catfish potential guests with unrealistic photos, as they have much more on the line if their guests catch them in the act. The whole hotel or even the whole chain could go down if they lie about the quality of their rooms, whereas an Airbnb host doesn\u2019t have as much to lose.<\/p>\n
Though there might be some discrepancies between the polished and professional photos of a hotel room and its actual quality, hotels are usually much more predictable when it comes to quality. You know you\u2019ll have clean sheets and won\u2019t find any surprises in the drawers of the bedside tables, because the hotel has a whole cleaning crew. With Airbnb, the quality and cleanliness can vary drastically from host to host, and you don\u2019t really know what you\u2019re going to get until you arrive.<\/p>\n
More safety assurance<\/h3>\n Hotels usually have security cameras in their hallways and lobbies, and outside of the building. If there were any kind of safety risk at your hotel, chances are it would be caught on tape. This can give travelers peace of mind to know that there\u2019s an extra layer of accountability.<\/p>\n
Some hotels also have private security on the premise, and often staff at the front desk 24\/7, so there\u2019s always someone there to help you if you feel unsafe. The same isn\u2019t true for Airbnbs. Sure, you can let your host know if something is wrong, but there\u2019s no guarantee that they\u2019ll be able to help you out at that exact moment.<\/p>\n
Cons of Hotels<\/h2>\n\n
<\/noscript>Hotels in Bora Bora are beautiful, but definitely on the pricey side.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nPossibly less privacy<\/h3>\n The shoebox-y feel of some hotels is a bit of a turn-off for me, because I don\u2019t love that sometimes you can hear your next-door neighbors. This isn\u2019t always the case, but some cheaper hotels have very thin walls. To say that this is unpleasant is an understatement.<\/p>\n
Especially at larger hotels, the bustle in the lobby and even in the hallways can be counterproductive for your relaxing getaway plans. If you know you want to totally disconnect or find some solitude, there are smaller hotels or ones that have more private villas.<\/p>\n
Sometimes more expensive<\/h3>\n As the hospitality industry is changing, hotels are now keener on Airbnb\u2019s reputation of being a budget-friendly platform and are adjusting their rates accordingly to compete. However, hotels remain more expensive than Airbnbs in most places. Sometimes you can get an entire apartment to yourself for cheaper than a cramped hotel room in a large chain hotel, which can turn a lot of people off to hotels in general.<\/p>\n
Fewer opportunities to get off the beaten path<\/h3>\n Since hotels are usually in strategic locations that are easily accessible to tourists, it\u2019s not as easy to find them in more off-the-beaten-path places. This isn\u2019t to say it\u2019s impossible, though. It\u2019s just not always a guarantee that you\u2019ll find a hotel in the middle of nowhere the same way you can find Airbnbs in these places.<\/p>\n
Not realistic for longer stays<\/h3>\n If you know you\u2019ll be somewhere for more than a week or so, staying at a hotel might not be the best idea. Unless you find an \u201caparthotel\u201d with a kitchen, confining yourself to a hotel room means you won\u2019t be able to prepare your own meals. Going out to restaurants exclusively definitely adds up.<\/p>\n
Are Hotels Worth the Price?<\/h2>\n\n
<\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe answer to this really depends on what kind of travel experience you want to have and what your needs are when it comes to accommodation. If you\u2019re a first-time solo traveler who is a bit more nervous about safety, perhaps the added security of a hotel will provide a more worry-free trip. While hotels aren\u2019t always more expensive than Airbnbs, they generally offer less space in exchange for better amenities, safety, and service, which might be worth the extra cost if those things are important to you.<\/p>\n
Pin me for later:<\/p>\n\n <\/noscript><\/figure>\n <\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nIf you\u2019re an adventurous traveler who wants to avoid crowds and stay in unique places, Airbnb might be a better option. If you are more cautious and want a more predictable travel experience, hotels are great. Putting Airbnb vs. hotel stays head-to-head will look different for different kinds of travelers, but I hope this list gives you a better idea of what is right for you. <\/p>\n
Which do you usually prefer when you travel? Let us know in the comments!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n