{"id":10948,"date":"2022-12-20T23:49:23","date_gmt":"2022-12-20T23:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/airbnb-vs-hotel-what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-each\/"},"modified":"2022-12-20T23:49:23","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T23:49:23","slug":"airbnb-vs-hotel-what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-each","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/airbnb-vs-hotel-what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-each\/","title":{"rendered":"Airbnb vs. Hotel: What Are the Pros and Cons of Each?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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It\u2019s the ultimate battle royale: Airbnb vs. hotel. Both avid and occasional travelers know that the choice can be a difficult one. Especially when we travel somewhere new, there\u2019s a lot of pressure to find the right accommodations for our specific wants and needs. <\/p>\n

To take some of that pressure off, here\u2019s a breakdown of the pros and cons of Airbnb vs. hotel stays, including considerations such as safety, price, and overall quality:<\/p>\n

Pros of Airbnb<\/h2>\n
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A lovely Airbnb in Joshua Tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Opportunities to meet locals<\/h3>\n

Staying in a private room in someone\u2019s home through Airbnb can be a great opportunity to meet locals, if that\u2019s what you\u2019re hoping to do. When Airbnb first launched, the platform was more like a paid version of Couchsurfing. Hosts would receive guests in their homes, who would rent a room at a fraction of the cost of a hotel. When I first used Airbnb in 2017 (I was a little late to the game, I know), this was my experience. I stayed in Bogot\u00e1 with a lovely couple of artists who even showed me around the city and invited me out to drinks with their friends.<\/p>\n

The platform has changed a lot since then, with more and more options to rent entire places. You can still rent a room in someone\u2019s home like in the beginning, but more often people look for a more private stay. <\/p>\n

Overall, it can be toss-up if you choose to rent a room, because chances are you\u2019ll interact a lot more with your host. I\u2019ve had great experiences with this, and others that were just \u201cmeh.\u201d <\/p>\n

Can be more affordable than hotels<\/h3>\n

This isn\u2019t always true for every destination, but in many places around the world, Airbnb offers much cheaper accommodations that give you a bigger bang for your buck. Sometimes when I travel around Mexico, for example, I\u2019ll compare prices at hotels to Airbnbs, and almost always Airbnbs end up much cheaper, even after all the extra fees.<\/p>\n

Typically, private rooms in a shared home are the cheapest option on Airbnb. These either have a private or shared bathroom, plus access to common areas, such as the living room and kitchen. It\u2019s also possible to find completely private rooms, suites, and entire apartments on Airbnb that are cheaper than a hotel room.<\/p>\n

More unique options (glamping, treehouses, etc.)<\/h3>\n

In recent years, Airbnb has leveled up its selection of unique stays. Now you can find glamping options, treehouses, yurts, Airstreams, and more on the platform. Places like these can be hard to come by if you don\u2019t know where else to look, so Airbnb gives travelers the opportunity to find them more easily \u2014 there\u2019s even a search feature that allows you to zero in on such unique stays.<\/p>\n

Cozy environments with the comforts of home<\/h3>\n

This is a huge plus for me, as I like the idea of staying in a home rather than a sterile hotel room that looks exactly the same as any other. Since Airbnb allows you to stay in a host\u2019s actual residence, often you\u2019ll be greeted by their unique decorations and homey touches. This also gives you a glimpse into how people in a given place live, which can be interesting.<\/p>\n

More realistic for longer stays (more than a week)<\/h3>\n

Since there are listings for entire apartments with full kitchens on Airbnb, the platform is much more ideal for longer stays than a typical hotel. Having a kitchen, which is almost unheard of for a hotel, allows you to do your own grocery shopping and prepare meals instead of relying on restaurants. If you\u2019re staying somewhere longer than a week, eating exclusively at restaurants can get expensive, so having a kitchen can be a great way to save money and even stay healthy.<\/p>\n

Staying in more off-the-beaten-path locations<\/h3>\n
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