Since its inception in 2008, Airbnb has been a hot-button topic. For travelers and homeowners, Airbnb changed the way we travel. However, it hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows. The hospitality industry saw a decrease in sales, the housing market experienced a shortage of affordable housing, and the Airbnb hosts were largely unregulated, leaving much to be desired by many guests.
In this blog, we’ll dive in and discuss the pros and cons of Airbnb vs hotel options, so you can make an informed decision before you book your next vacation.
Pros and Cons: Airbnb vs Hotel Options
When planning your next vacation, you might be debating whether to book an Airbnb or reserve a hotel room. Both options have pros and cons, especially if you’re also trying to be a responsible traveler.
Here’s a rundown of some considerations to remember as you make your decision:
The Local Economy
One of the benefits of booking a hotel stay is that you’re more likely to support the local economy. Hotels pay taxes to their municipality, keeping things like public safety, infrastructure, and parks and recreation funded. They also provide jobs for the local people living in your destination.
Reserving an Airbnb, on the other hand, doesn’t have the same guaranteed economic impact since many Airbnb hosts are not required to pay taxes on their rental income. Some cities are starting to crack down on this practice, but it’s still something to be aware of when trying to support the local economy with your travel dollars. Hawaii is a prime example of Airbnb’s negative impact in the islands. The government in Hawaii is cracking down on the many illegal rentals with stricter rules and regulations because it’s causing a major housing shortage.
The Environment
Regarding environmental impact, there are many hotels that have taken up practice of being more sustainable these days. Hotels also have staff dedicated to cleaning rooms and doing laundry, which is more energy and water efficient than if you were doing those things yourself in an Airbnb rental. In addition, most hotels have recycling programs for guests to use, whereas recycling opportunities might be limited in an individual rental unit.
However, there are some great eco-friendly Airbnb rentals out there offset their carbon emissions or use green practices like solar power. It’s worth doing some research if sustainability is important to you. Be sure to research and ask the host about their rules if you choose to go the Airbnb route.
Safety
With an Airbnb, you never really know what the owners are like and they usually don’t have a place to lock up valuables. With a hotel there is security personnel and hotel staff on shift all night, along with cameras for added safety. Most hotels also have a safe in each room to lock up your valuables.
Amenities
A lot of Airbnb’s only come with the essentials like toiletries, towels, and other household amenities. While some Airbnb’s have pools and hot tubs, and offer items such as coolers and beach chairs you can use, you won’t find the level of amenities that you typically find at a hotel. When you book at a hotel, it usually comes with more luxury amenities like a pool, spa, room service, free breakfast buffet, a bar or pool service, etc.
You also have someone cleaning your room for you at a hotel, whereas an Airbnb doesn’t offer this kind of service and often makes requests that you take out your own garbage and take off your bed linens and put them in a specific area before you leave.
Price
Airbnb tends to be a cheaper option if you need to do an extended stay beyond the typical week vacation. Whereas an extended stay in a hotel can get pricey. However, don’t be fooled by just looking at the price per night. With Airbnb stays they often have hefty cleaning fees that show up on the bill after you have selected your dates which can often bring the price up to the same price or even higher as a hotel booking. But then again, you also have to watch out for resort fees at many hotels that add on an additional cost to your vacation as well.
In our blog titled – 7 Unexpected Travel Expenses to Watch Out For, we explain more about these types of fees.
Last Minute Cancellations
It is a risk when booking an Airbnb that this could happen to you. I can’t even count how many times I have helped people find a new place to stay when their Airbnb canceled on them last minute. This notoriously happens in Hawaii because of the ever changing rules and regulations with Airbnbs there.
Nothing is worse than a last minute cancellation causing you to be forced to book a hotel room that is two to three times the price than if you had booked it in the first place. This blows the budget of a lot of people and it’s really unfortunate. Owners have no obligation other than to refund your original payment amount, and travelers have no recourse for any kind of compensation outside of that.
With a hotel booking, last minute cancellations are pretty rare. However, if one does happen, the hotel will do everything they can to book you into another comparable hotel with no stress or work on your part, or any additional money to be paid by you.
Which is Better: Airbnb or Hotel?
Wanderland Escapes believes that hotel rooms are generally a better option than staying at an Airbnb. Although it really depends on personal preference. Some prefer the feel of “living amongst the locals” than staying in crowded hotels and resorts. While some prefer all of the amenities or even added perks of staying in a hotel over an apartment.
Moreover, Airbnbs contribute to local housing shortages in your destination, (this is a major issue in Hawaii) and thus making hotels the more responsible choice when you travel.
The Choice is Yours
When it comes to Airbnb vs hotel options, they both have pros and cons depending on the type of traveler you are. When it comes down to it, supporting the local economy and minimizing your environmental impact are probably the two most important factors to consider. No matter which option you choose, make sure you do your research ahead of time so you can choose wisely.
If you want help from your travel specialist at Wanderland Escapes, do note that we are not legally allowed to book an Airbnb for you, but we are able to find suitable options that could be similar dwellings. Reach out to us today find out which type of stay will serve your needs and will leave the least amount of negative impact on the community you’re staying in.
