Where to Stay: Hotel or Airbnb?
With so many options, how do you narrow down where to stay while traveling? Here are some factors I consider when deciding between a hotel or Airbnb.
Check-in
Hotel: You can arrive and check-in anytime, and if your room isn’t ready yet, they will hold your luggage for free.
Airbnb: You will message with your host through the app about check-in plans. Sometimes this means meeting your host in person to get your key, but some places offer self check-in with lockbox or keypad which is very convenient. However, if you’re arriving early, there’s likely not an option to drop off your bags, at least not until the previous guests have left.
Winner: hotel
Space
Hotel: Most hotel rooms are pretty small, and if you want more space you’ll pay for a bigger room. We stayed in a hotel room in London where the bed touched three walls, but the location and price made it worth it!
Airbnb: Even when just renting a room, it’s often bigger than a hotel room for the same price. When renting an entire apartment or house you also get a kitchen and living room, and possibly additional rooms. This can be especially convenient and economical when traveling with a group.
Winner: Airbnb
Breakfast
Hotel: Most American hotels don’t include a free breakfast, or it’s a sad assortment of stale muffins you’re better off skipping. However, in Europe we’ve had some delicious free breakfasts that saved us time and money. If you see that breakfast is included, look at the pictures and reviews to see if it’s worth it.
Airbnb: If you have a kitchen, this gives you the option to cook your own meals, which can save money. In Dublin, the host even left us complimentary ingredients to make a full Irish breakfast. More commonly though, you’ll find the kitchen stocked with coffee and some basics.
Winner: (tie) hotel if the breakfast is high quality, Airbnb for option to cook
Housekeeping
Hotel: You’ll get fresh towels, your bed made up, and some light cleaning daily.
Airbnb: Your place won’t get cleaned during your stay, which you may prefer if you don’t like when housekeeping rearranges your things.
Winner: hotel (I like fresh towels)
The Feel
Hotel: Great if you like the feeling of service you get from hotel staff taking care of you. One of my most relaxing vacations was staying at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico with amazing service, and we couldn’t pass up the glamor of staying in a moderately fancy hotel in Dubai for my birthday.
Airbnb: Staying in an apartment or house gives you a more authentic experience that allows you to feel more like a local. I loved the homey feeling of staying in an Airbnb in Montreal that was in a neighborhood overlooked by tourists. We got the kinds of recommendations from our host that can only come from someone who lives in the area.
Winner: Airbnb
Conclusion
It depends on what kind of trip you’re planning and your personal preferences. It also might come down to prices and location. For my most recent trip, we stayed in a hotel in Amsterdam because of our early arrival (and the breakfast was amazing!), but then stayed in an Airbnb in Brussels to experience the city more like a local, and it happened to be much cheaper than nearby hotels. Both worked out great, so I recommend always considering both options.
Booking a hotel?
Get $25 off Booking.com: https://www.booking.com/s/35_6/4bd2e53e
Booking an Airbnb?
Get a $40 travel credit: www.airbnb.com/c/jpeters149
