Staying At A Hotel vs Airbnb
Intro
The ultimate debate happens to go on and on between travelers on an ongoing basis. Should one spend a vacation at an Airbnb or a hotel? Well, after staying in about 40 hotels this year and twenty Airbnbs, I'll share my policies.
Solo Traveling Vs Family
The first and biggest one to address is who you are going to be traveling with. When I am by myself, I tend to stay at Airbnb a bit more if the other factors don't come into play. Now, if I was traveling with my mum and my sister, this might be a little bit different.
For example, last month, I was in Cape Town and opted to stay at a small chic Airbnb. I paid less than 40$ a night, was in a great area, and was walkable to the beach.
However, it was an extremely small studio, and I wouldn't want to stay with someone else, even if I was with a significant other.
Cost
The next factor that goes into this debate is cost. When I happened to be in Namibia, I opted to stay in a lodge outside of Swakopmund instead of paying slightly more for an Airbnb.
Traveling across the world, I often find Airbnb cheaper than hotels. However, there are certain countries where I can find same-day hotels that are cheaper than Airbnbs. It's definitely something to take a look at if you have a trip planned.
Safety
Trekking the gorillas was a lifelong dream of mine. In order to fulfill this lifelong dream, I headed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Part of the package I went on included a beautiful hotel in Bukavu with this view...
Similarly, when I was in Georgetown, Guyana, I decided to stay at the Marriot as I had never been to these countries before. When I go back to the DRC, I will most definitely stay at an Airbnb for reason number 4. My recommendation is that if you haven't been to a country, spend a night in a hotel first for peace of mind. Once again, that's just my opinion, and everyone's different.
Experiences
This is the reason I love staying at Airbnbs and the reason I continue to do it. Whether it be drinking rum in Cuba with my host or watching Euro 2024 in Mozambique, I have found some Airbnb hosts who take me in with open arms and treat me as family. A hotel rarely does this (the FS Vietnam did).
In Mozambique, that Airbnb even came with "guard dogs". These were dogs that went around with me everywhere and were the cutest things in the world. If you are someone who likes experiences, Airbnb might be a better option for you in underdeveloped countries.
Supporting The Locals
Don't get me wrong, I love a good stay at a nice hotel such as the Park Hyatt in Paris (paid with rewards).
However, when I stay in big-name hotels, I feel like I am just giving money to a big corporation, which I am... Now, when I stay in an Airbnb, I am giving money to the locals who are making a living off of allowing me into their homes (of course, Airbnb takes a cut). Something about that just makes me feel better. It makes me feel like I am supporting the local community. To each their own, of course.
Final Thoughts
These are the five main aspects that come to mind when I am deciding whether to stay at an Airbnb versus an Airbnb. Oftentimes, I am not able to tick all of the boxes, but I still manage to see which is best through all of these factors. Perhaps you might come across this Dilemma, and this list can help!
Comments