4 Reasons Airbnb is Better Than a Hotel
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Is it time to make travel plans? If so, you must be wondering whether it is better to opt for a hotel or an Airbnb accommodation. There are few things as thrilling as organizing a fun holiday or business trip to a new location. Now that house exchanges and Airbnb have become more popular, tourists have more alternatives than ever for lodging. The question is: how do you decide between booking a hotel and an Airbnb?
The answer to this question depends on the type of vacation you want to have, how you want to travel, and other factors. Nevertheless, in order to help you understand the difference between the two types of accommodation and help you make an informed choice, we have compiled a number of points that shed light on the differences between Airbnb accommodations and hotels, as well as the pros and cons of both.
What is Airbnb?
Airbnb is a company that lists accommodations in cities across the world for tourists to stay in. It connects property owners and travelers so that they can rent or book a place to stay.
The accommodations of Airbnb include apartments, studios, tree houses, boat houses and villas owned by private individuals. All you have to do is visit Airbnb’s website, search for lodgings within the city you intend to visit, and apply a few filters, such as your budget range, the duration of your trip, the number of guests, and the amenities.
Then, you will be presented with a series of options for places to stay during your trip. If your booking is accepted, you will be able to communicate and receive messages from the property owner or manager.
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Airbnb vs. hotels: the benefits of each
What makes Airbnb rentals different is that they allow tourists and travelers the opportunity to live in a home rather than stay at a hotel. This obviously comes with certain benefits. Below, we have listed the differences between Airbnb lodgings and hotels.
Airbnb
Here are some of the benefits of booking an Airbnb accommodation:
- Prices are substantially lower because homeowners decide how much to charge guests.
- Staying in Airbnb lodgings offers you the opportunity to immerse yourself into the local culture.
- Airbnb hosts are very friendly and provide key recommendations.
Hotels
Here are a few advantages of staying at a hotel:
- Because of their elevation and high-rise effect, hotels typically offer superior views. They also usually offer every convenience imaginable, such as room service, towel service, dry-cleaning, fitness centers, etc.
- Traveling with kids is safer and more enjoyable thanks to the excellent security measures that hotels have in place, and the efforts they make to provide enough amenities to meet the demands of children, regardless of age group.
Should you choose Airbnb or a hotel?
This can be a tricky question. Going the Airbnb route can save you money. Using Airbnb, you can get a comfortable and centrally located accommodation for a fraction of the $ 300/night cost that a downtown 4-star hotel might charge you.
However, in some locations, particularly those with security issues, it might be wiser to pick a hotel. Likewise, in some cities, there might be a shortage of quality Airbnb accommodations. Certain types of travelers prefer hotels due to the convenience and facilities they offer. In many hotels, for example, there are conference rooms and spaces that can be used for business meetings. Business travelers usually prefer to stay at a hotel rather than an Airbnb lodging.
Why Airbnb can be better than a hotel
It allows you to experience your destination like a local
With Airbnb, you can stay in a local neighborhood, gather insider information about your trip, and get a brief peek at how locals live. You can also immerse yourself in the tapestry of your destinations by eating where the locals eat, and enjoy memorable conversations with people who live in the neighborhood in which your lodging is situated.
If you want to take your experience to the next level, you can hire a personal chef from the country you’re visiting so that he can prepare you some local delicacies in your Airbnb. The hotel experience, by contrast, can be stifling, restricted, and artificial.
You can enjoy privacy without having to pay hotel rates
There was a time when budget travelers used to have to stay at hostels. While this can be a fantastic experience, especially in terms of the social component, there are moments when you prefer a little quiet. With Airbnb, you can enjoy privacy without having to pay the exorbitant rates of hotel rooms.
It offers you a home away from home
Hotel rooms come with an artificial smell and atmosphere. However hard they try, they can’t achieve the homely atmosphere of an actual home. The majority of Airbnb properties provide guests with a cozy environment designed to make them feel at home.
You can choose interesting accommodations
Unlike hotels, where the rooms and suites are standardized, Airbnb has a host of accommodations with interesting decor and that are set in interesting locations. Many Airbnb locations have personalities, thanks to the creative visions of the hosts who run them. These can enrich your travel experience.
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How safe and secure is an Airbnb?
It makes perfect sense that some individuals might feel uneasy about renting an Airbnb property from a stranger. If you happen to be one of those, you can set your mind at ease. Airbnb does an excellent job at minimizing risks and safety worries.
Here are some of the measures Airbnb has in place to ensure your safety as a guest:
- Verified IDs: Airbnb requires hosts to validate their identities by providing their social media profiles, phone number, email address, and driver's license.
- Reviews: Reviews are a great way to learn more about a listing and the host’s reputation. This works both ways. In other words, hosts are also allowed to post reviews of guests. However, neither can see the other's review until both are posted. This gives both the host and the guest the freedom to express their opinions honestly without worrying about upsetting the other party.
- Messaging: You can message the host to learn more about them outside of their profile and reviews. You can contact a host on Airbnb, even if you haven't booked their space. Good Airbnb hosts will answer all your questions promptly.
- Verified listing images: Verified listing photos demonstrate that an Airbnb photographer visited the listing in person and took pictures of the rental unit. This way, you can rest assured that the accommodation you choose will match the photos.
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What should I consider while shopping for Airbnb accommodation?
While browsing online for your Airbnb accommodation, it’s important to consider what you want and need from your lodging. For this, you should ask yourself some questions such as:
- Do you prefer to share space or rent out the entire accommodation for yourself?
- How many bedrooms do you need?
- What kind of kitchen facilities are you looking for?
- Do you have a preferred neighborhood in a city?
- Do you want a yard?
- Do your children require their own bedrooms or can you live in an open-concept space?
- Do you have any accessibility requirements?
- Do you require parking space and laundry services?
- What is your spending limit?
Make a list of everything you need after giving it some thought and apply filters to your search to find the perfect Airbnb accommodation.
What sort of hosts should I look for on Airbnb?
When searching through the lists of apartments and homes on Airbnb, be sure to look out for superhosts. To be a superhost, you must have hosted at least 10 guests, have an average rating of 4.8 or higher, have a response rate of 90%, and a cancellation rate of less than 1%.
You may narrow your search results to only show superhosts, which can be a useful approach if you want to focus on high-quality listings. Despite this, there are many great Airbnb lodgings available that are not run by superhosts.
Will my experience at an Airbnb accommodation be different from that at a hotel?
This depends on the type of Airbnb you have. If you are staying in a private room or lodging, where you have the whole place to yourself, then it is very much like a hotel apart from the lack of daily cleaning and constant replenishment of bedsheets.
What rules can I expect if I stay at an Airbnb rental?
If you and your Airbnb host are in the lodging together, then you can expect some rules such as a quiet time after 11 pm. There are set times during the evening and early morning hours that are known as quiet hours in Airbnb accommodations. These times are set by the host.
Guests are expected to keep their voices down at this time. Quiet hours are established so that the host and other guests are not disturbed at odd times. Any instructions conveyed by hosts can be clarified by Airbnb customer service. Some hosts might merely ask that the TV, music, and voice volume be turned down. Others might ask for complete avoidance of noisy tasks such as dishwashing.
Other examples of Airbnb house rules include:
- No shoes inside the home.
- No smoking inside the accommodation.
- No parties or events allowed.
- Guests should comply with the parking regulations.
- No unregistered guests or visitors allowed.
- Etc.
Hire a chef to enrich your Airbnb experience
Nothing makes a vacation better than good food. Hiring a personal chef for dinner or cooking classes allows you to enjoy a culinary experience that’s truly local. What’s more, by hiring a chef, you can customize your eating experience and create the menu with the chef of your choice. You can arrange for the meal to be an intimate event or a large event, depending on your preferences.
MiumMium, the largest personal chef marketplace online, allows consumers to book unparalleled culinary experiences everywhere in the world. All you have to do is register, browse menus and chefs, and pick a date. The chef takes care of buying the groceries and cooking in your Airbnb. He even takes care of the dishes so you don’t have to lift a finger. Hiring a local chef allows you to learn more about the cuisine of your destination!