The difference between AirBnB and Hotels has nothing to do with services...one destroys communities, drives up rents and takes rentals off the market, illegally. The other does not.
One company is libertarian-led and currently suing the city it started in because they dared put some sane restrictions down.
No contest here.
I would never, ever use AirBnB, and shame on all who do--- you are contributing to an arrogant, often illegal company that has no sense of responsibility for those who use it, and no end to their greed.
If you care about the world's great cities, do NOT use AirBnB. Just ask Vancouver, SF, Venice Italy, NYC etc....
One company is libertarian-led and currently suing the city it started in because they dared put some sane restrictions down.
No contest here.
I would never, ever use AirBnB, and shame on all who do--- you are contributing to an arrogant, often illegal company that has no sense of responsibility for those who use it, and no end to their greed.
If you care about the world's great cities, do NOT use AirBnB. Just ask Vancouver, SF, Venice Italy, NYC etc....
9
I've been to Venice, Italy, SF, live in NY and traveled all over the world, and didn't see how home rental sights destroy economies. To the contrary, they boost the income of local people. Ever been to Cambodia where the hotels charge $1,000 per night or more and people live on $1 a day or less, right next to these properties? Who is destroying communities? Hotels are boring and it is by staying in people's homes whether it's through Homeaway, AirBnB or a myriad of other sites that you get a much better local flavor. It's caring for the community much better this way.
2
I beg to differ. People have a right to do what they want with their property. Its clear many big hotel companies are pushing these new regulations to drive out competition, and it is absolutely wrong. Its clear they have connections with the local city and state governments. These days cities and states are pushing "licences" for everything in order to prevent innovation and new ideas in the market. If people choose to work for a company or to use their services, that is there choice to do so. The market is not some system that is meant to be manipulated by government. By their very nature entrepreneurs disrupt the market, that is just how things work.
1
I love hotels! I love having my bags carried and being called "sir". I love the Nespresso machine in my room and the Bose sound system. I love room service, clean beds and towels and receiving a copy of the NYT every morning. I love getting points for my stays and use them to redeem free rooms. When I need info, I get it from the receptionists, who are always very obliging. The notion that hotels aren't personal isn't true; a girl who works at the bar in a hotel I once stayed in remembered that I ordered a double shot low fat latte the day before and asked me if I wanted the same drink. And I am a "millennial". Last point, thrift is definitely not cool.
4
I'v never understood the appeal of Airbnb. The thought of staying over in a stranger's house is a nonstarter. Unless it is family or someone with whom I am involved intimately, I don't stay overnight in someone else's home. I would feel uncomfortable and as though I am intruding in personal space - I have always felt this way, even as a child. I prefer to stay in a hotel when I travel. If I have a fridge in the room for bottled water, fruit, salads or restaurant leftovers, I am good to go. I don't need a full kitchen but then I don't cook on vacation. If for some reason, I am away from home for a long period of time, I'll stay in a "long stay" hotel that offers suites with full kitchens.
6
For people who like cookie cutter experiences, hotels are the way to go. Sharing economies are for those who are a little different than the masses.
1
We advertise our cottage rentals on AirBnB, but it's not a perfect fit for us. Their platform is designed around individual homeowners who have one unit to offer, and who presumably appreciate AirBnB providing credit card processing, automated booking and calendar maintenance. We have ten cottages (and no time to maintain 10 separate listings and calendars on another platform), and we have our own website, calendar and credit card infrastructure. But what's worse, we decided early on NOT to permit automated booking because we want to talk with (and vet) each potential guest, and AirBnB's insistence on staying in the middle of the transaction (hiding contact info prior to booking) interferes with our effort to accept bookings from families who will respect each other. They haven't sent us any downright nuisances yet, but guests who find us through AirBnB tend to be more aloof than our directly booked guests. Plus AirBnB holds on to our money until the day after arrival, which removes that protection for a cranky canceller. And AirBnB guests wind up paying as much as a couple hundred dollars more than they would by finding us directly. www.PineGroveLakeGeorge.com
5
Update your activities schedule. It's for 2013, and that makes you look kind of inattentive. But your place looks great.
I've used AirBnB successfully several times (Paris, Munich, Warsaw to name the top three). I've never had a bad experience, but it's true that I found via trial and error that I prefer properties that are bought and intended to be used as rental properties only (i.e. I'm not staying in someone's actual home while they're away). The key to improving your chances of a positive experience is time - reading the reviews, checking out how long the landlord has rented, carefully paying attention to how they communicate and interact with guests on their page. Sure, it takes more time than choosing between the Hilton or the InterConti, but it also gives you a chance to start exploring the city a bit before you go and get excited about your upcoming trip. Best stay ever was 15 days in Warsaw. Amazing landlord, amazing place, great location - I would rent that place again hands down before a hotel every time.
5
I don't want fresh towels every day. I don't want my luggage carried. I don't want the convenient $25 breakfast with the waffle machine. I don't want a phone that charges me for looking at it. I don't want a bar in the lobby. I don't want my bed made. I don't want lots of security, just a key.
I want a functional kitchen, not just a hotpot and some coffee bags. I want wifi and a TV that don't add charges to my bill.
You take your chances with Air BnB, but you also take your chances with hotels at the same price point. Perhaps I've been lucky.
For an overnighter, I still use a hotel. It's just easier. But for more than 3 days, I'm nothing but AirBnB unless it is in a totally unknown place. Also, you can often find AirBnB places in really obscure rural places that hotels simply can't cover.
Does AirBnB mess up local economies? Do hotels mess up local economies?
I want a functional kitchen, not just a hotpot and some coffee bags. I want wifi and a TV that don't add charges to my bill.
You take your chances with Air BnB, but you also take your chances with hotels at the same price point. Perhaps I've been lucky.
For an overnighter, I still use a hotel. It's just easier. But for more than 3 days, I'm nothing but AirBnB unless it is in a totally unknown place. Also, you can often find AirBnB places in really obscure rural places that hotels simply can't cover.
Does AirBnB mess up local economies? Do hotels mess up local economies?
7
My main reason to use AirB&B: to experience the warmth, character and beauty of a real home. Cannot stand hotels and their impersonal, often noisy facilities and location. Secondly: price. Just stayed with 2 adult children in Paddington, Sydney, in a beautiful terrace for $350 per night. That is impossible in a hotel, not that there are any hotels in Paddington anyway. After 9 AirB&B experiences, we can only report wonderful stays. However, we own an apartment in Melbourne, and our Body Corporate is seeking a ban on AirB&B due to irresponsible owners leasing out to party-goers. When the owner is not on-site, it can be a massive problem.
5
I am always amused when people try to package "authenticity." It reminds me of the old joke about television: The key is sincerity. If you can fake, that, you've got it made!
9
How did you write this article without mentioning that Airbnb is largely promoting blatantly illegal rentals in many of it's most profitable markets? Surely you aren't ignorant of the large backlash happening in SF, NOLA, and NYC among others. Here in New Orleans Airbnb is wildly exacerbating the housing crisis and rapidly driving up rents at an unsustainable rate, a phenomena noted in this very paper in the article "Airbnb Pits Neighbor Against Neighbor in Tourist Friendly New Orleans". While this may be a bit beyond the purview of this article, it should certainly be a consideration for any ethically minded traveller.
19
The only backlash in SF is from the politicians fanning the flames for their own benefit, and the hotel unions. There are not enough hotels in SF to accommodate the people who want to come here. I rent my in-law unit on airbnb, im permitted. Im not taking a rental unit off the market becasue I would never rent my legal in-law unit. SF gives renters far to many rights.
Also im a libertarian, in other words get your crappy laws off my private property!
Also im a libertarian, in other words get your crappy laws off my private property!
3
Your private property does not exist without laws, without the infrastructure around it, without building code to make sure it and your neighbors were safe, that provided sewage treatment and water, that provided security, that controlled the industries that grew up around it to serve you. All regulated by laws...
Now, if you built your home, and supplied your own infrastructure, essentially living off the grid, then your libertarian rant would have some credence, but you didn't and it doesn't...
Now, if you built your home, and supplied your own infrastructure, essentially living off the grid, then your libertarian rant would have some credence, but you didn't and it doesn't...
12
And as a result of greed-minded libertarians like yourself, nearly everyone I grew up with, my parents, my friends, my friend's parents....and me...have been kicked out of our SF homes.
Thanks a lot.
It is people like you who have destroyed San Francisco's soul...but you wouldn't know that-- you have none.
Thanks a lot.
It is people like you who have destroyed San Francisco's soul...but you wouldn't know that-- you have none.
6
airbnb is not legal in some cities
3
"People who choose Airbnb are seeking an intimate, non-manufactured experience" What world do you people live on? I, and people I know, choose it primarily for the price. I'm not looking for "authenticity" but a better location, often free parking, a kitchen, wifi, etc that I'd pay a lot more for even if I booked at a budget hotel.
I'd bet that's why most people choose Airbnb.
I'd bet that's why most people choose Airbnb.
24
It is the kitchen we want! Esp for those of us traveling w kids.
8
I learned the hard way that if you use AirB&B, "you pays your money and you takes your chances," regardless of how well you think you've researched and scrutinized the reviews and profiles of your would-be hosts.
At the pinnacle of my experiences were the incredibly lovely couple with whom I stayed in Lisbon over New Year's — I had breakfast with them every morning; they took care of me when I was sick; picked me up and returned me to the airport; invited me to join their family for New Year's dinner; gave me a cell phone with which to call them if I got lost; and so much more.
But in the depths were the couple in Seville, Spain, whose AirB&B I selected because they spoke English and I didn't trust my Spanish, but who were actually in Scotland, leaving a young non-Englishing speaking relative in charge of a freezing cold, poorly lit place that I left early, forfeiting a night's stay because of the conditions.
And the abominable Moroccan place — allegedly owned and managed by an English-speaking couple, but actually run by a scary young man who apparently "felt" that an older woman traveling alone was fair game for his advances. When I wrote my review, he, of course denied everything that had happened, and the place was still profiled quite differently from the reality.
At least internationally, henceforth, I will choose a legitimate B&B or inn (not a hotel) to an AirB&B facility where you have little recourse when faced with insurmountable. unexpected problems.
At the pinnacle of my experiences were the incredibly lovely couple with whom I stayed in Lisbon over New Year's — I had breakfast with them every morning; they took care of me when I was sick; picked me up and returned me to the airport; invited me to join their family for New Year's dinner; gave me a cell phone with which to call them if I got lost; and so much more.
But in the depths were the couple in Seville, Spain, whose AirB&B I selected because they spoke English and I didn't trust my Spanish, but who were actually in Scotland, leaving a young non-Englishing speaking relative in charge of a freezing cold, poorly lit place that I left early, forfeiting a night's stay because of the conditions.
And the abominable Moroccan place — allegedly owned and managed by an English-speaking couple, but actually run by a scary young man who apparently "felt" that an older woman traveling alone was fair game for his advances. When I wrote my review, he, of course denied everything that had happened, and the place was still profiled quite differently from the reality.
At least internationally, henceforth, I will choose a legitimate B&B or inn (not a hotel) to an AirB&B facility where you have little recourse when faced with insurmountable. unexpected problems.
15
Very interesting article. Then having recently exited the corporate world I wonder how Airbnb will get at the road warrior demographic. The typical road warrior is under strict supervision by either a HR department or bigger corporations often have a travel department. or farm that out that service . The road warrior arrives at the end of the day in a airport, gets his level of rental car allowed, and in a few minutes is in any number of chain hotels, but usually one that is designated. They are close to airports and WIFI in room and lobby allows them to get back to work. In the am breakfast is usually modest but free, and your out the door early . Big chains the likes of Marriott, how ever bland, or all the Hilton Brands . are available. Usually the room has a fridge, and Pizza joints are always delivering, if one has lots of work to do. On weekend these chains near airports are usually empty or chase a family with a pile of kids at reduced rates. If a assignment might take a employee to a city for an extended stay then Airbnb makes sense. Being confined to a Marriott red room for more than a day or two is indeed confining.
wonder why you left the corporate world.
My company uses airbnb for business as one of our options. It has really changed the usually sterile and lonely feel of business travel for myself and a lot of my colleagues.
6
We have used both and find that the advantage of Airbnb is savings and space, particularly for a family of 5 on vacation. A house/condo provides a living room and sometimes outdoor space to spread out and relax while offering the advantage of a leisurely breakfast that is far cheaper than eating out. There is no way getting 2-3 hotel rooms compare economically. We like to eat dinners out as we are still on vacation but welcome the option of a home cooked meal as well. The down side is that there is no cleaning service to change linens and towels, dust or make your bed. Internet pictures can also be deceiving so best to read all the airbnb reviews. Hotels are far more on top of keeping up with decor, maintanence and repairs.
8
Glad to see via these comments that I am not the only one uncomfortable with the Airbnb concept. I am definitely the creative, non cookie cutter type, but when staying somewhere on vacation, a nice corporate space that is immaculate, safe, and has desk and other services available, and I'm happy. I find the idea of staying in a complete stranger's house sight unseen (pictures mean little) creepy and weird.
29
Dont knock it till you try it. You also might want to re-think that immaculate part, hotels are some of the most vile germ pits out there. The airbnb's ive stayed in are always as clean or truly cleaner than hotels. Most hotel rooms get a cursory at best cleaning. Most airbnb's ive stayed get a full housekeeping between guests.
4
I think the definition of "creative, non cookie cutter type" is relative.
1
It's all about the cost of hotels, even if they don't want to admit that. As our world has become more profit driven and executive pay has climbed higher and higher, companies charge the most they can for their products and services, despite what they may be worth. They all want to live in a market driven economy - well that's what gave rise to airbnb. The market will no longer bear $200 a night for a 2* hotel when $200 a night will get you a 2 bedroom/2 bath condo.
A note to hotel owners - stop spending your money on pricey consultants who tell you what millennials want and lower the price for your rooms. If you spend much time looking at hotel prices, the new hotels with the homey lobbies are also less expensive. Price is the driver, particularly at the low and mid range end.
Wages haven't increased in a significant way in decades, but the price of hotels sure have.
A note to hotel owners - stop spending your money on pricey consultants who tell you what millennials want and lower the price for your rooms. If you spend much time looking at hotel prices, the new hotels with the homey lobbies are also less expensive. Price is the driver, particularly at the low and mid range end.
Wages haven't increased in a significant way in decades, but the price of hotels sure have.
39
Last year we spent a month in Paris living in a five-room (two-bedroom) AirB&B apartment in the seventh arrondisement. We had privacy, room to spread out, a pleasant neighborhood, just a few blocks from Rue Cler, around a mile from the Louvre, two blocks from the Seine. We didn't worry about maids and all the other unwanted/unneeded services, we picked up cabs outside the apartment or we walked. The price? Around $100 a night. Try to stay that long in Paris in a hotel with a suite of similar size for that price.
18
I've stayed at AirB&B flats in Boston, London (several times), and Washington, DC (several times), and I hate it when circumstances force me to opt for a hotel. I hate the bland corporate decor, I hate the lack of a kitchen, and I hate the lack of space. And I"m no millennial.
FWIW, the idea of a hotel lobby stocked with games and "grab-and-go" food, like some grim commercial version of a student union, makes me twitch.
FWIW, the idea of a hotel lobby stocked with games and "grab-and-go" food, like some grim commercial version of a student union, makes me twitch.
18
Hotels can try all they want for decor and attitude, but price matters most and they don't even come close at the low end.
I have spent a month in NYC, a month in Paris, and a month in Melbourne and Sydney. And, dozens more places.
I could never afford these cities if it weren't for people sharing their own spaces(s) thru airbnb. And, the cities would, likewise, have never received my tourist business.
Plus...I also really like putting my money right in a single mother's grocery kittie, or an elderly empty-nester's gas tank. Good people, real 'real' people.
I have spent a month in NYC, a month in Paris, and a month in Melbourne and Sydney. And, dozens more places.
I could never afford these cities if it weren't for people sharing their own spaces(s) thru airbnb. And, the cities would, likewise, have never received my tourist business.
Plus...I also really like putting my money right in a single mother's grocery kittie, or an elderly empty-nester's gas tank. Good people, real 'real' people.
15
Try living in a neighborhood overrun by Airbnb rentals like some in San Diego, a popular tourist destination. You thought you were living in a residential area with some expectation of quiet and privacy? Forget it when all your neighbors rent to people coming to party hearty on vacation. Local police get repeated calls over noise, trash, and bad behavior fueled by alcohol, making them unavailable or slower to respond to more serious calls by the people paying taxes for their service. If the Airbnb host is an absentee as many are in our local circumstances, it's a nightmare. BTW, I've never had trouble finding a decent hotel with a kitchen at a reasonable price. Longterm business suite type hotel chains are ideal for this, and tend to be empty on weekends when business travelers are home.
15
Never AirBnB. The idea of staying in a stranger's house skeevs me out. When I'm away, I don't want to cook, I don't want to be surrounded by someone else's tchotckes, and I don't want to gamble on whether or not I'll like the location/neighbors/surroundings. Give me a hotel every time -- and the newer ones can keep their social spaces. I'm not looking to hang out; I'm looking to retreat.
28
Please don't airbnb in my building. I live in a multi-family building, originally an apartment building which was converted to condominiums in, I believe, the 1970's. Our residents are about half owner-occupied and half long-term rentals. As is necessary in any multi-unit building, there are lots of rules. One is apprised of these rules when one purchases (or rents/lives) here. We've got dog rules, loud music rules, disposal and recycling of trash rules, use of common areas rules, and, yes, rental rules.
When you airbnb in my building, you put me in the position of living in a hotel. I pay a monthly fee for building services which include staff, enforcement of the rules (see above) and, additionally, security measures. As a short-term renter you get to bypass or ignore any rules and building standards about which you are unaware or unconcerned. If you overflow the bathtub and it runs into my apartment, it already gets pretty tricky about whose insurance is liable. (Don't get me started.) Adding airbnb short-term 'guests' into the mix is not helpful.
I'm sorry. I can see why you want to visit this area and walk this neighborhood. I mean, I keep an extra twin bed for 'actual real friends' who want to stay with me for a day or a week. Sometimes somebody ends up on my sofa. Me sharing my apartment for a few days with a girlfriend from out of town as a house guest, and us hanging out together, and her not paying me is real. Anything else is a business transaction.
When you airbnb in my building, you put me in the position of living in a hotel. I pay a monthly fee for building services which include staff, enforcement of the rules (see above) and, additionally, security measures. As a short-term renter you get to bypass or ignore any rules and building standards about which you are unaware or unconcerned. If you overflow the bathtub and it runs into my apartment, it already gets pretty tricky about whose insurance is liable. (Don't get me started.) Adding airbnb short-term 'guests' into the mix is not helpful.
I'm sorry. I can see why you want to visit this area and walk this neighborhood. I mean, I keep an extra twin bed for 'actual real friends' who want to stay with me for a day or a week. Sometimes somebody ends up on my sofa. Me sharing my apartment for a few days with a girlfriend from out of town as a house guest, and us hanging out together, and her not paying me is real. Anything else is a business transaction.
24
If you are thoroughly enjoying your Airbnb it is because you are enjoying what was once, and still should be, a home and permanent living space to a resident -- a former member of the community you are visiting and enjoying who once participated in it to make it the enjoyable place it is today. And now they don't live there, replaced by and endless stream of transient travelers.
Coming from the city that "hosts" Airbnb and seeing the effect that it has had on that city (more rentals per capita than anywhere in the US), the only ethical choice is obvious for me: hotels.
The next thing I hope to see Airbnb host is a going out of business sale.
Coming from the city that "hosts" Airbnb and seeing the effect that it has had on that city (more rentals per capita than anywhere in the US), the only ethical choice is obvious for me: hotels.
The next thing I hope to see Airbnb host is a going out of business sale.
21
During the last couple of years, we've stayed in AirBNBs in Herefordshire and Edinburgh in the UK, NYC, Lisbon, Munich, Leipzig...It's been a blast! I've never really been much of a hotel person anyway- growing up, our family normally rented cottages in the country, where we could do our own cooking, etc.
I love the independence and haven't found it onerous to be polite and friendly to our hosts, whom we've only seen briefly, if at all. I guess if you're renting a room in a house you might see more of them, but in most cases we've rented the whole property, and definitely had our privacy.
Some things I love: staying in a real home and being entrusted with personal possessions that give the home its character. Staying in a residential neighbourhood, and having great recommendations for food and grocery shopping (an experience in itself)! Being able to save money by having at least breakfast at "home". Meeting local hosts and exchanging ideas and experiences.
I can't recommend AirBNB enough, and can't wait for our next trip- probably Devon in October.
I love the independence and haven't found it onerous to be polite and friendly to our hosts, whom we've only seen briefly, if at all. I guess if you're renting a room in a house you might see more of them, but in most cases we've rented the whole property, and definitely had our privacy.
Some things I love: staying in a real home and being entrusted with personal possessions that give the home its character. Staying in a residential neighbourhood, and having great recommendations for food and grocery shopping (an experience in itself)! Being able to save money by having at least breakfast at "home". Meeting local hosts and exchanging ideas and experiences.
I can't recommend AirBNB enough, and can't wait for our next trip- probably Devon in October.
9
In every European city where I have traveled there are LICENSED, experienced, established BnBs or guest houses, gites, etc. that have always been excellent. They are businesses, they abide by all kinds of city regulations, pay taxes, list with guide books, etc. You get the great advantage of staying in smaller lodgings, meeting other people, having hosts who can give you information, and also knowing that this is their BUSINESS, their LIFE. Airbnb simply has too many holes in the fabric and no supervision, oversight, etc. i don't care how beautiful the pictures are, I'm not going to stay in a stranger's home.
29
I enjoyed a lovely airbnb experience just minutes outside London in a lovely home with a room with glass doors that looked out on a quintessential English garden and large yard. The husband and wife who owned the home lived on the premises and I saw them each day. One night the woman greeted me with, "would you like a scone and some tea?" We sat together at a picnic table overlooking the pretty yard and had scones and tea together. It was a much warmer experience than my previous stay in a hotel, but the hosts were responsible people, something you apparently don't always get.
8
Throughout my life my family generally has not stayed in many hotels. Occasionally we will if we are going to stay in a city but most of the time renting a condo or house seems more appealing. Its nice after you get back from a long day of activities to just relax somewhere where you can make dinner and sit all together in a living room and have space to play card games and talk. Now I see the appeal of getting a hotel room to, if you were on a short business trip,going to visit family who didn't have enough room for you to stay, or a short trip. I just got back from a trip to Ecuador and while I was there I stayed part of my time in an apartment and the other part in a hotel. Even though hotels have everything you need it just was not as comfortable as staying in an apartment. While in the hotel you have to get up at certain time to get breakfast, make sure you lock all your stuff up, tip the hotel staff, and sometimes hotels can be really noisey. Plus it felt like you weren’t really a part of the culture. Honestly the hotels seemed pretty “Americanized” and I was there to fully experience the culture. I guess it all depends on a person's preferences and why they are going to that place. But overall it would be smart for hotels to make their atmospheres “homeier” and make the hotel more relaxed.
13
I'm from the US but live in Europe now and have used airbnb in my hometown in Massachusetts (four different homes), Paris (3X), Boston and was going to try NYC. Well, we had an emergency family illness and had to cancel the NYC airbnb two days before arrival and we lost over $400. Had we kept our original reservation at the Gansevoort Park Ave we would have been able to cancel without penalty. The owner of the NYC apt was really nice and gave us a fraction back of what we had paid but other than the places in my hometown and Paris (because I now know the owners personally), I will be very reluctant to use airbnb in new cities.
16
It is no wonder that Airbnb can afford their legions of lobbyists with the exorbitant fees they charge BOTH the host and guest. All they do is manage a website. We should all start a no fee room sharing site with cosigned contracts
8
Great article and fantastic comments.
I've found using both is what works for us. There are so many variables.
Time, money, location, length of stay, purpose of visit etc.
I've had good and bad stay at both hotels and AirBnB offerings.
I now know what to avoid and our needs to stay at either or.
Recently we stayed at a pricey hotel with no in-room coffee maker.
I wandered down to the restaurant and found 4 dollar paper cups of junky coffee. So that tacks on an extra 10 bucks a day to our stay. At an AirBnB we could not only make our morning coffee but our own breakfasts too.
For long term stays, AirBnB or VRBO works better for the ability to prepare and cook meals. You just can't cook a freshly caught lobster in your hotel room. But also when you need the continuity, hotel chains work too.
Sometimes you just need a room to sleep. AirBnB can be too much forced interaction at times so it's not for everyone. I agree the review part is dreadful. Imagine if hotels reviewed guests?
I've found using both is what works for us. There are so many variables.
Time, money, location, length of stay, purpose of visit etc.
I've had good and bad stay at both hotels and AirBnB offerings.
I now know what to avoid and our needs to stay at either or.
Recently we stayed at a pricey hotel with no in-room coffee maker.
I wandered down to the restaurant and found 4 dollar paper cups of junky coffee. So that tacks on an extra 10 bucks a day to our stay. At an AirBnB we could not only make our morning coffee but our own breakfasts too.
For long term stays, AirBnB or VRBO works better for the ability to prepare and cook meals. You just can't cook a freshly caught lobster in your hotel room. But also when you need the continuity, hotel chains work too.
Sometimes you just need a room to sleep. AirBnB can be too much forced interaction at times so it's not for everyone. I agree the review part is dreadful. Imagine if hotels reviewed guests?
18
I am writing this from an AirBnB just outside Cambridge in the UK. I have a small kitchen, a private entrance, private bath, wifi, use of a bicycle, and a little hedgehog in the gorgeous garden outside my window. The couple that live here are local doctors who themselves love to travel and have been lovely hosts. All this away from the tourist hordes in town this time of year for a third of the price of a hotel. In my many experiences, the key to a good fit with AirBnB is the review system. Read them carefully, and the same with the responses to your inquiries (and a good host is doing the same for you). It's a people thing.
30
I am really surprised by all the negative comments about Airbnb. Let me make full disclosure and say that I am a host with Airbnb (and no, the host is under no obligation to provide breakfast) and have had an amazing experience. Have there been guests that were awful? There have been 2. I currently rent out the bedroom of my tiny, 600sq ft apartment. I sleep on the couch in the main room. If you are going to use Airbnb read the description of the space very carefully. Mine is very specific about how small the space is and that the person needs to have somewhere to go during the day. I have had amazing, incredible people stay with me. Mostly students, my guests have been fantastic. It has taught me a lot about human nature, and that people worldwide suffer from the same thing-loneliness. I have stayed in contact with several of my guests and have become friends with them. Give it a chance.
13
Wow. Someone renting a room thinks they can use it all day when they pay for it. Its remarkable that you have to read fine print to understand what you are getting. And to call an arrangement like this hospitality is beyond me! Maybe you should rent your air b.n.b room by the hour like a place to do tricks. Amazing!
4
Although we have had some good, and even excellent, experiences via VRBO, I prefer hotels, inns and B&B's. On trips, I have no interest in cooking or cleaning up after myself. Travel for me is about pleasure, relaxation, and enjoying local experiences. It helps that we can afford the costs, and the times we opted for a short rental was for cost, either because we had less money, or because hotels seemed to offer little for their high costs. Respectively, once on our honeymoon to Italy where we rented an entire house for a week on the Italian Riviera, and another a flat in Amsterdam, situated within the canals and near a university.
I am not a big fan of such services, but what gets me annoyed is the illegality and the exposure to risk that these services create. We own our condo in a doorman building, and have entertained the idea of subletting for a year or more so we can enjoy the country and/or cities abroad. We understand the rules, that we need board approval and notification to do sublet, and both the board and we would strictly vet our tenants, but we have two illegal AirBnB sublets in our 1100 unit complex, that have essentially jumped the queue and exposed us to a variety of risks the board would never agree to. There is no such approval or vetting, no recourse if these people commit crimes or harm the building, and although the risk is low, the laxity of these services expose our communities to issues we carefully avoid.
I am not a big fan of such services, but what gets me annoyed is the illegality and the exposure to risk that these services create. We own our condo in a doorman building, and have entertained the idea of subletting for a year or more so we can enjoy the country and/or cities abroad. We understand the rules, that we need board approval and notification to do sublet, and both the board and we would strictly vet our tenants, but we have two illegal AirBnB sublets in our 1100 unit complex, that have essentially jumped the queue and exposed us to a variety of risks the board would never agree to. There is no such approval or vetting, no recourse if these people commit crimes or harm the building, and although the risk is low, the laxity of these services expose our communities to issues we carefully avoid.
31
Have you reported these tenants using Airbnb to your board? If you have a serious safety or privacy concern then it sounds like your building has a system in place to assess and respond to the situation.
2
Yes, I notified them 3 weeks ago, then a week after that, and just recently. I clarified the policy with them, and that does not allow any form of short-term rental, and they said they had notified counsel, and also notified AirBnB. As with other board we have had, they are borderline useless, although it might be too early to say...
2
Just got back from a month's stay at an airbnb in Stockholm. I scrutinized the pictures. The place was darker than expected and the under the counter refrigerator had no freezer, nor was there an oven but overall it was a solid 8 and offered more room and a kitchen that was less costly than a hotel. On the other hand on VRBO, employing the same scrutiny, I rented, well in advance a 2 bedroom place in Charlestown Mass. Reservation accepted and paid for, plane reservations made. Then two months later, I abruptly received a cancellation notice with no reason given (found out later she had a better offer). Not only would VRBO intercede but they also refused to post my review alerting other travelers that in this case just because they have your money does not mean they will honor your reservation. Ended up costing me an additional $500 for a much smaller place.
A hotel will likely honor your reservation and provide a standard that is appropriate for the class and location of the hotel. With these other non hotel types such as Airbnb and VRBO, my advice is to carefully scrutinize the pictures, use streetview on a map program and make sure you choose a place that has lots of reviews. And be careful if the places are required to pay taxes and don't, or you see evidence that you are to say "you are a friend of the family" which is code for condo rules do not permit a revolving door rental.
A hotel will likely honor your reservation and provide a standard that is appropriate for the class and location of the hotel. With these other non hotel types such as Airbnb and VRBO, my advice is to carefully scrutinize the pictures, use streetview on a map program and make sure you choose a place that has lots of reviews. And be careful if the places are required to pay taxes and don't, or you see evidence that you are to say "you are a friend of the family" which is code for condo rules do not permit a revolving door rental.
39
I agree. While I've used airbnb successfully many times, my recent experience has soured me on this approach. I spent a long time researching and choosing an apartment in Amsterdam for a recent family vacation. The day before we were leaving I received an email from the "host" telling me she changed her mind and I couldn't have the rental. While she refunded my money, I was left frantically scrambling for a place to stay with less than 24 hours before our flight. We ended up in a hotel. In the next city, we had an airbnb apartment, however we couldn't get the two keys we were promised (there were several couples who wanted to go out separately) because previous renters had taken the keys with them. At least with a hotel, there is some kind of recourse. They don't cancel with almost no notice and no help. They make another key if you need one. I don't need that kind of stress on my vacations! I'm back to hotels.
14
Very good points some travelers may not have considered. As the owner of 2 properties rented as vacation rentals for 8 yrs. in Calif. it has given me & family members the flexibility to live elsewhere 1/2 the year & guests have all loved their stays. Its been a true win-win.
But don't book too far ahead: There is little safeguard that private property will be available in a year's time (unlike a hotel).
Keeping the property in good shape for each new renter is the goal, but each 'standard' is different. I at times stay in hotels for the quality of mattress alone.
A new 'vacation rental' issue I hadn't considered: Staying at a lovely top (6ht) floor Airbnb apt. in Prague w/ my family Dec. '15 we were robbed -- they came in from the roof, onto the balcony, jimmied the locked balcony door, stole our cameras, laptops & 4 US passports -- ALL WHILE WE SLEPT. The Airbnb management company (important to have in a foreign country) moved us to a hotel & though still quite shook-up, we felt much safer. I'd later heard it can be an issue in Paris too.
So renter beware: Often the people in the area are fully aware there are travellers coming & going, with cash & valuables. Later that same trip I was alone, opted to stay in a lovely little hotel in Venice -- it was frankly a relief to feel safe.
But don't book too far ahead: There is little safeguard that private property will be available in a year's time (unlike a hotel).
Keeping the property in good shape for each new renter is the goal, but each 'standard' is different. I at times stay in hotels for the quality of mattress alone.
A new 'vacation rental' issue I hadn't considered: Staying at a lovely top (6ht) floor Airbnb apt. in Prague w/ my family Dec. '15 we were robbed -- they came in from the roof, onto the balcony, jimmied the locked balcony door, stole our cameras, laptops & 4 US passports -- ALL WHILE WE SLEPT. The Airbnb management company (important to have in a foreign country) moved us to a hotel & though still quite shook-up, we felt much safer. I'd later heard it can be an issue in Paris too.
So renter beware: Often the people in the area are fully aware there are travellers coming & going, with cash & valuables. Later that same trip I was alone, opted to stay in a lovely little hotel in Venice -- it was frankly a relief to feel safe.
13
If companies pay a per diem, everybody will choose AirBNB. If companies pay whatever is charged, business travelers will stay where they earn points.
9
30 year old 'Millennial' here. The 'experts' have it all wrong.
I prefer my rooms to be uniform regardless of city, I like my high end mattress, room service and cherish my member status.
Please stop categorizing us 'millennials' into wrong assumptions.
I prefer my rooms to be uniform regardless of city, I like my high end mattress, room service and cherish my member status.
Please stop categorizing us 'millennials' into wrong assumptions.
40
What a great article. I am an airbnb hostess and so far (doing it about 6 years), I've only had two (somewhat) negative reviews. One guest was allowed to use my personal bathroom because the guest bathroom was not available and she complained that there was lotion on the bathroom floor. Another guest refused breakfast and then wrote that I did not provide any when my listing stated that breakfast would be provided. Then I had a guest whom I invited to share my dinner. I had leftovers for work the next day and when I went to bed, they ate my left overs. Overall my experiences have been very positive and frankly I enjoy hosting. I've also stayed at an airbnb host while visiting Sweden a few years ago and plan to use one when I travel to Spain next year. Three cheers for Airbnb. May the company live a long and fruitful life!
10
That's what you get for "sharing" dinner with a lodger. They feel like everything is theirs. Not surprised you lost your lunch. That you'd complain about it amazes me. Air b.n.b blurs boundaries. I am sure the same guest would not waltz into a hotel kitchen and help himself the rest of the rib roast that was being carved on the trolley and went unsold. Either be a true host in a home stay situation, or get out of the business. You profit from a lack of boundaries (e.g., getting a license, health inspections, food handling certification for serving meals), so don't complain when your customers don't always understand the boundaries between your place and granny's spare bedroom.
2
I couldn't agree more with the assertion that today's travellers want real interactions. The conventional homogenisation offered by large chains has become a negative. Guests want experiential travel - something that will look cool on social media - ‘Instagram-chic’. For hotels this means a departure from what has gone before. Therefore we're seeing a trend towards the large hotel chains breaking up their existing portfolios into a raft of smaller brands to appeal to a more boutique audience.
But multiple brands means that portfolios are becoming increasingly complex and significantly more expensive to manage. However, the better defined the brand architecture the easier it is to manage the brand assets. Furthermore, a strong brand architecture is proven to build brand equity which drives shareholder value. Consequently moving forwards branding decisions are going to be absolutely key to hoteliers.
But multiple brands means that portfolios are becoming increasingly complex and significantly more expensive to manage. However, the better defined the brand architecture the easier it is to manage the brand assets. Furthermore, a strong brand architecture is proven to build brand equity which drives shareholder value. Consequently moving forwards branding decisions are going to be absolutely key to hoteliers.
Despite what the mainstream hospitality industry is saying in this article the ONLY reason people choose AirBNB is PRICE! Avoiding hotel rooms where you pay for amenities you never use, like the business center! Kitchen so you can SAVE MONEY! Central locations that COST LESS ( would you believe a room in a major budget chain in central Columbus Ohio cost $200 last summer?)! It ain't about local color (everyone goes on line to find that) or pretend friendliness, it's about the cost of the conventional hotel room.
46
Price, yes, and *experience*. I am about as far from milennial-age as you can get, and I use Airbnb for my leisure travel all the time. (5 countries so far). Airbnb's lower prices means I can travel more with the same budget (yay!) but I also love getting to know a 'local' wherever I am, and now I have new friends in 5 countries. Imagine someone who visits your town or city and stays at a downtown hotel. Then imagine that person staying with YOU and how much more they'd learn about your area (customs, slang, etc.). Horses for courses: Airbnb is not for everyone, that's for sure, but I am a happy customer.
7
Oh, puleez. In one year AirBnB will be O-V-ER. I am currently touring Europe, and it is the first trip I've tried AirB. What a scam. I'm sorry, NYT moderators, this has been my experience with all three properties I have stayed at -- each for one week. I eloped from one of them early on. They have been a various assortment of playing the AirB system. At this point, I will NEVER do AirB ever again. Give me professional hoteliers every time. This comment board isn't long enough for me to go into details. But mark my words, my attitude will be common by mid-2017.
45
I gave them a chance and had the same experience. Scam artists running de facto hotels with none of the perks of an actual hotel.
6
What are you willing to bet?
1
Why is Airbnb so successful? They're cheaper than a hotel and most come with kitchens, so visitors can save even more by not always going out to eat.
30
AirBnB is not just for younger people. As one who has spent years traveling on business and attaining platinum and/or gold level status with one major hotel brand's rewards program, I've also found it increasing difficult to find affordable hotels in large cities when we travel on vacation or long weekends. Hotel chains used to give great discounts, especially on weekends -- especially within their "value" brands. I believe that demand pricing, particularly through Internet reservations, has ended that.
So we've opted at times for Airbnb (which is a misnomer, by the way -- I've not stayed at an Airbnb location that actually offers "breakfast," which I believe is supposed to be the second "b" in the name).
Case in point -- four day weekend in Seattle last week, Thursday through Monday. We plan early, so perhaps looking for rooms in four months ahead of time isn't the best way of doing things, but I don't enjoy waiting until the last minute. Couldn't find anything in the price range I was seeking.
Checked Airbnb and got a very nicely appointed apartment about 10 minutes from downtown for just over $100. And by the way, many of the Airbnb rooms available for our July weekend were already booked in March. Was it a platinum-level status accommodation? No. But it also did not cost over $250 per night.
Despite the name issue, Airbnb is a viable option. Do your homework before booking, check ratings and reviews and save a few dollars.
So we've opted at times for Airbnb (which is a misnomer, by the way -- I've not stayed at an Airbnb location that actually offers "breakfast," which I believe is supposed to be the second "b" in the name).
Case in point -- four day weekend in Seattle last week, Thursday through Monday. We plan early, so perhaps looking for rooms in four months ahead of time isn't the best way of doing things, but I don't enjoy waiting until the last minute. Couldn't find anything in the price range I was seeking.
Checked Airbnb and got a very nicely appointed apartment about 10 minutes from downtown for just over $100. And by the way, many of the Airbnb rooms available for our July weekend were already booked in March. Was it a platinum-level status accommodation? No. But it also did not cost over $250 per night.
Despite the name issue, Airbnb is a viable option. Do your homework before booking, check ratings and reviews and save a few dollars.
16
The misnomer of AirBnB is more than the second B (breakfast). AirB refers to airbeds. I expect very few AirBnB spaces feature airbeds anymore.
I've been an AirBnB host (guest bedroom/bathroom suite in my house) for nearly a year and have enjoyed meeting almost all my guests. Judging from the reviews they feel the same. The experience of staying in my house is so different from any hotel, it's hard to think that we are competing for the same business. When the guests want to be left alone, they are. When they want to talk, we talk.
I pay all taxes due, by the way. My neighbors are completely cool with AirBnB rentals. AirBnB is filling a previously unfilled need here.
I've been an AirBnB host (guest bedroom/bathroom suite in my house) for nearly a year and have enjoyed meeting almost all my guests. Judging from the reviews they feel the same. The experience of staying in my house is so different from any hotel, it's hard to think that we are competing for the same business. When the guests want to be left alone, they are. When they want to talk, we talk.
I pay all taxes due, by the way. My neighbors are completely cool with AirBnB rentals. AirBnB is filling a previously unfilled need here.
3
Air BnB offers more locations than any hotel chain so I can find one close to my meeting place.
Many hotel chains are located in the anti-pedestrian commercial districts outside of town. So I have to rent a car - not that it costs much, but is a huge PITA.
Many hotel chains are located in the anti-pedestrian commercial districts outside of town. So I have to rent a car - not that it costs much, but is a huge PITA.
13
Hotels with small kitchenettes are possible to find - we found one in Berlin, very near downtown, and had the fun of shopping in a local grocery (all labels in German - no idea what was in the cans or boxes so dinner for a couple of nights was 'wonder-what'). I would never use AirBnB nor Uber - you have no idea who is the owner or driver, you have no local support network if things go badly, you can end up being ripped off with no recourse. Big chains may have some drawbacks, but they provide some level of certainty. And when traveling in countries or regions of your own country where you don't know the area or language, you may need some help.
24
Uber shows you who the driver is and you will be rating him/her at the finish of your ride. BTW, Uber drivers rate the passengers too! If you have any problem with an Uber driver you can complain immediately. I trust an Uber driver more than a Taxi driver.
10
I'm with you. When I travel, I expect some guarantees for my money; regulations in the health and food arenas are there for very good reasons. But more than that, I know just how livid I'd be if my next-door neighbors started renting out their house to travelers and partiers. I'm unwilling to patronize a system I would never want my neighbors to engage in. Same with Uber. I can't call them because it's not possible for me to just disregard the fact that what they're doing is trying to undercut people who spent a good deal of time and money on efforts to own/drive a taxi. The "gig economy" relies on selfishness, lack of consideration for others, and utter disregard for the broader notion of fairness in the society as a whole. A pox on both AirBnB and Uber's houses.
38
I totally agree with Uber's complete disinterest toward the wellbeing of its passengers and for any compensation on behalf of its passengers should an issue arise I had a horrible experience with them and my only 'communication' with them was to 'tweet' at them via Twitter and hope for a response.
For AirBnB however, I was fully supported with an issue. I walked into the Airbnb apartment that was grossly misrepresented, snapped photos, messaged the host my issues and said I was vacating the apartment, emailed Airbnb the issue, and found an Instant Book that was a few blocks away. By the time I was settled in the new Airbnb, the cost reimbursement had been refunded to my credit card. I felt fully supported in that instance and it was the first bad issue I've had in the 5 years I've used Airbnb.
For AirBnB however, I was fully supported with an issue. I walked into the Airbnb apartment that was grossly misrepresented, snapped photos, messaged the host my issues and said I was vacating the apartment, emailed Airbnb the issue, and found an Instant Book that was a few blocks away. By the time I was settled in the new Airbnb, the cost reimbursement had been refunded to my credit card. I felt fully supported in that instance and it was the first bad issue I've had in the 5 years I've used Airbnb.
2
We haven't stayed in a hotel for our leisure travel...ever, I think. Not since AirBnB and VRBO started up, anyway. It has nothing to do with the experience. We'd actually prefer a hotel. But hotels are always more expensive for poorer quality rooms, and they never come with kitchens. Eating out for every meal adds up fast, especially when you have kids. The first thing we do when we arrive at a rental is check out the nearest Costco or grocery store and stock up for the week. We usually eat out about three times.
I live in a place where the local economy is almost entirely dependent on tourism. I've seen how rents have escalated in some areas, almost certainly as a result of AirBnB and VRBO (which have dubious legal status here). In theory, I dislike the business model. But darned if we don't always end up using them, because if we had to rely on hotels we'd never be able to afford travel.
I live in a place where the local economy is almost entirely dependent on tourism. I've seen how rents have escalated in some areas, almost certainly as a result of AirBnB and VRBO (which have dubious legal status here). In theory, I dislike the business model. But darned if we don't always end up using them, because if we had to rely on hotels we'd never be able to afford travel.
33
How unique an experience is this person seeking if the first thing they do is go to Costco?
7
Not seeking a unique experience! Seeking a cheap place with a kitchen!
10
In "theory" you dislike the business model, but you use it anyway...so how can you expect change to occur? I , too, am a budget minded traveler. I use a credit card that reimburses travel expenses, even if it means waiting 2-3 years between vacations. I use travel guides, both print and on line ( Rick Steves is a favorite of mine: I borrow from the local library) to scout out good 2 star hotels (my priorities are central location and a/c), almost always travel in the "off season", use local public transportation. You CAN travel AND avoid the business practice you dislike, but it does take planning and patience.
1
We're not really interested in regular B&Bs, so the idea of AirBnB -- where a host can "grade" you on friendliness -- makes this introvert shudder.
I spend plenty of time cooking (and cleaning up after cooking) when I'm home, so I'm really not that interested in doing so while on vacation.
The thought of having to be friendly to strangers before we've had coffee in the morning is anathema to us. I can usually manage a smile and a bit of chit-chat about the day with the person who brings breakfast (whether to the room or to a table in a restaurant), but interacting with a "host?" Yuck.
Please, give us a hotel room in a well-recommended facility, where we know what we're getting. I'd prefer to save any surprises for the actual experience of being out and about in a new place, knowing what I've got at the end of the day and being able to focus on the one person I want to spend time with while on vacation -- my husband.
I spend plenty of time cooking (and cleaning up after cooking) when I'm home, so I'm really not that interested in doing so while on vacation.
The thought of having to be friendly to strangers before we've had coffee in the morning is anathema to us. I can usually manage a smile and a bit of chit-chat about the day with the person who brings breakfast (whether to the room or to a table in a restaurant), but interacting with a "host?" Yuck.
Please, give us a hotel room in a well-recommended facility, where we know what we're getting. I'd prefer to save any surprises for the actual experience of being out and about in a new place, knowing what I've got at the end of the day and being able to focus on the one person I want to spend time with while on vacation -- my husband.
91
One is not required to write a review. If the host reviews you but you decide not to submit a review, no reviews are published. All the apartments I've rented through Airbnb were purchased for the purpose of renting and were not people's homes. I met property managers, not owners and there were absolutely no personal effects in any of the apartments. It was just like a hotel room but much much larger and with the possibility to cook. So far I've had wonderful experiences in London, Milan, Paris and Nice.
3
My experience is similar to Andrea's. I have stayed in 3 AirBnB places and each one was clearly purchased to rent out. I would never stay with someone, including the host. If I am there for fewer than 3 nights, I like hotels. But when it is family travel for a week, then I need a kitchen. We just can't eat out every night. A flat gives us some space and there is usually a washing machine.
2
Much of what is being offered up here are non-needs invented by people who work in marketing and must justify their salaries.
When I travel, I look for location, a kitchen, price, cleanliness, safety, done.
When I travel, I look for location, a kitchen, price, cleanliness, safety, done.
55
I feel like this article barely mentions AirBnB's big selling point - price. The few times I've used AirBnB (all for leisure travel), I've done so because renting a private studio apartment or condo has cost half as much as staying in a hotel. I'd actually prefer a hotel - there's more safety and recourse if something goes wrong - but as a young person with less disposable income than I'd like, I can't justify paying an extra $150/night. I couldn't care less about the "intimacy," "uniqueness," or "customer experience" factors mentioned in this article.
57
Exactly, Emily! I love the idea of staying in a hotel with all the amenities and security it offers, but it can be cost prohibitive. We are planning a trip to Europe in the fall and the hotel for four nights in one city is twice as much as an apartment for six nights in another.
13
I agree Emily, although I'm on the opposite end of the age spectrum from you. I've retired with much less income than what I had with a corporate job. I no longer earn hotel points. I still love to travel, but can't afford to stay in hotels that charge $200 to $300 a night.
10
Cost is only one factor in vacation travel. Sure, Airbnb-type operations can save you money. You can reduce costs even more by hitchhiking to your destination instead of paying for transportation. Any industry or enterprise that exists virtually without operating expenses or regulation is both a financial and safety risk for the consumer.
5
While I understand Airbnb is "good for the consumer", there are some issues to consider. For instance, cities may limit (or expand) the number of hotels rooms to meet the capacity of its resources (transportation, waste management, security, etc.). However, when you throw an unknown amount of additional shared residences into the mix, as Airbnb can do, it can overload the ability of a city to effectively manage that number of additional visitors.
Steve
www.travelingprofessor.com
Steve
www.travelingprofessor.com
10
It's too bad that NYC government wants the governor to approve a bill that makes it illegal to advertise shared spaces used for less than 30 days. Air BNB has been a godsend for families who need to stretch that travel dollars when visiting NYC. It's a win-win for the guests and the Air BNB host living in one of the most expensive cities in the US. I think NYC needs to weed out illegal hotels and stop picking on the middle class hosts trying to supplement their income. Governor Cuomo should not approve this bill that has been aggressively lobbied by the hotel industry.
6
Except that Airbnb is a horrible thing for the people who actually have to live here. You can still find budget hotels in NYC to 'stretch your travel dollars' and you don't have to break the law.
I hope the Governor signs the bill. You shouldn't be able to advertise your illegal activity without consequences.
I hope the Governor signs the bill. You shouldn't be able to advertise your illegal activity without consequences.
60
As a shareholder in a well-located co-op, I absolutely DO hope that Governor Cuomo will approve the anti-AirB&B bill. My neighbors and I do NOT want strangers in our building, having been given keys and access to all the places we pay to keep secure! If a few of my neighbors would like to make extra money by renting out rooms or indeed their entire apartments, they had better move and do it somewhere else. In my building it is forbidden by our co-op rules and rightly so. It's dangerous both for the residents and for the traveler and should remain illegal. I also like to travel but I stay in hotels, where I can depend on the safety, security, and all the legal guarantees given by hotels. Looking for something cheaper? If you do your homework you will find a cheaper hotel where you are not committing an illegal act by staying there!
35
The hotel industry is lobbying because they want a level playing field. AIrbnb and its "shared spaces/hosts" do not go through all the rules and regulations that hotels have to. No health/hygiene checks, no fire/safety checks and definitely no checks on legality of the shared space (a whole lot of them are professional landlords trying to make money illegally). And no recourse if something goes wrong. Yes, I've tried to save a buck a couple of times but the trouble was not worth any amount of money saved.
11
I've recently sworn off Airbnb for good after learning that the Airbnb host/hostess can literally blackball a guest for the cardinal sin of being "non-friendly." And I thought that my explicit or implied contract with the Airbnb host/hostess only required me to:
a. pay the requested price timely,
b. not do any damage to the property, and
c. not disturb the host/hostess, other guests or neighbors.
Little did I know that I had somehow agreed, without it being mentioned to me, to be all warm and fuzzy and friendly to the Airbnb host/hostess. When I complained to Airbnb customer service about this subjective treatment, I was told that this does not violate Airbnb's guidelines to which I responded that it is then way past time that these guidelines be modified to bring a measure of sanity to them and that until that is done, I will never again avail myself of Airbnb's services.
On another occasion, a Los Angeles Airbnb host who was in Thailand during our one-night stay in his hovel in L.A. and whom I never met wrote in his review that he wouldn't have me back because he didn't like the tone of one of my emails. No specifics given of course. Frankly, I did this guy a big favor by not reviewing his place because the sole redeeming feature of his Airbnb was that it was in a good location. Otherwise, it was a disaster area.
a. pay the requested price timely,
b. not do any damage to the property, and
c. not disturb the host/hostess, other guests or neighbors.
Little did I know that I had somehow agreed, without it being mentioned to me, to be all warm and fuzzy and friendly to the Airbnb host/hostess. When I complained to Airbnb customer service about this subjective treatment, I was told that this does not violate Airbnb's guidelines to which I responded that it is then way past time that these guidelines be modified to bring a measure of sanity to them and that until that is done, I will never again avail myself of Airbnb's services.
On another occasion, a Los Angeles Airbnb host who was in Thailand during our one-night stay in his hovel in L.A. and whom I never met wrote in his review that he wouldn't have me back because he didn't like the tone of one of my emails. No specifics given of course. Frankly, I did this guy a big favor by not reviewing his place because the sole redeeming feature of his Airbnb was that it was in a good location. Otherwise, it was a disaster area.
53
I am sorry about the whiner of a host you had. The rating goes both ways. I totally agree with your 3 minimum tenets. If you do that, you are good guest. If you want to interact and are nice, you are also a good guest. That's up to you.
I think you should have reviewed the LA location, honestly. Location good, property bad. 3 stars. You get a few of those, and your airbnb career is over.
I think you should have reviewed the LA location, honestly. Location good, property bad. 3 stars. You get a few of those, and your airbnb career is over.
8
These are the questions airbnb asks hosts about guests. (Nothing about friendliness.)
1. Did the guests leave your space clean?
2. How clearly did the guests communicate their plans, questions, and concerns?
3. Did the guests observe the house rules you provided?
One feature of airbnb is the diversity of options; different hosts provide very different environments. Hosts are asked to specify in their listing the level of interaction they expect/provide, and anyone should be able to find one that is compatible with their needs.
1. Did the guests leave your space clean?
2. How clearly did the guests communicate their plans, questions, and concerns?
3. Did the guests observe the house rules you provided?
One feature of airbnb is the diversity of options; different hosts provide very different environments. Hosts are asked to specify in their listing the level of interaction they expect/provide, and anyone should be able to find one that is compatible with their needs.
6
Some of these approaches by companies in the hospitality industry are a welcome and positive move. Air B&B and like businesses promote rentals of personal apartments, houses and rooms as a way to supposedly experience and get close to the 'community', yet the irony is that in many U.S. cities, such as Francisco where I live, each new Air B&B lodging represents the removal of an existing rental unit from the market, severely reducing available housing stock, increasing the cost of housing and perhaps most important, changing the fabric of the very communities touted by these online lodging apps, as providing 'authentic' experiences of place.
One of the most rewarding aspects of staying at a lodging with other travelers is to the ability to meet and get to know people from all over the world, and to appreciate places that reflect and contribute to the local community, without devastating it. There is nothing inauthentic about this kind of lodging. Whether you stay in a modest B&B or a boutique hotel, the opportunity to connect with others in the lobby, public rooms, gardens, bar and/or restaurant is about gaining an 'authentic experience' away from home and what many people value in traveling. In my mind, these type of personal experiences are worth a great deal more than the isolation of a large flat in a cool neighborhood.
One of the most rewarding aspects of staying at a lodging with other travelers is to the ability to meet and get to know people from all over the world, and to appreciate places that reflect and contribute to the local community, without devastating it. There is nothing inauthentic about this kind of lodging. Whether you stay in a modest B&B or a boutique hotel, the opportunity to connect with others in the lobby, public rooms, gardens, bar and/or restaurant is about gaining an 'authentic experience' away from home and what many people value in traveling. In my mind, these type of personal experiences are worth a great deal more than the isolation of a large flat in a cool neighborhood.
27
I buy the removal of the rental unit when landlords get some protections against people who trash your place and don't pay. Learned my lesson the hard way. Airbnb guests go home after a week or so. If they don't behave, you throw them out. The landlord doesn't behave? You will hear about in the reviews, and your airbnb is over faster than you can say pop.
I am not saying that all renters are bad, I had many good ones. But the one bad one took me a year to get out of my own house, at an incredible cost. No protection whatsoever.
I am not saying that all renters are bad, I had many good ones. But the one bad one took me a year to get out of my own house, at an incredible cost. No protection whatsoever.
6
The premise that the "home sharing" industry leads the hotel industry in anything is bogus. I've been traveling for business for about 15 years, before there was any "home sharing" for profit - and hotels are different in different cities. The W chain has celebrated the home city in their hotels for all that time, as one example. And the idea that hotel chains cater to the so-called "millenials" - a marketing term- is also bogus. Hotels cater to those who will pay the most, and who will buy the most in their establishment. I won't stay in a "home sharing" for profit situation because there is no safety checks - no fire marshal, no guarantee of privacy, no surety of being able to avoid sexual harassment or creepy peeping toms - no where to go if the place has bed bugs, no fall back at all. No way. The heavy advertising campaign in NYC media pushing this completely unregulated and uninspected industry on an already accommodation-stressed city shows how much money is at stake - but where is the focus on safety? On hygiene? Nope, not buying any of this, literally or figuratively. No excuse, no marketing term, no slick media campaign makes any of this safe or LEGAL in NYC - and that is for the protection of everyone.
84
LuckyDog,
Do not read Gay Talese's new book!
Do not read Gay Talese's new book!
1
One direction hotels seem to be ignoring is in-room facilities that don't require guests to eat out all the time. This may be because so many hotels have restaurants attached. But as a regular leisure traveler who prefers to stay in apartments, the number one seller for me is cooking at home. Hotel rooms with cooking facilities in places like New York and Paris are scarce.
21
I find it next to impossible to cook in a hotel or apart hotel kitchen - never the right utensils, spices, condiments. sub par dishes and glasses and stemware. It's very depressing.
4
'social interactions "can't happen when you rent a room in someone else's flat" '?
haw haw - nice try - but no cigar - having stayed with many hotels and couchsurfing - and about to try my first airbnb in Japan, I'll say one reason I chose airbnb (apart from being - ahem - about half the price of a similar hotel) is that our host kindly offered to show us around favourite local places to eat
oh - it also includes an actual kitchen - stove, sink, fridge, utensils and crockery - (and laundry/washing machine) - so we can buy food, bring it back, store it and cook it when we like and eat it relaxed at our at-home dining table - can't do that in most hotels I've paid top dollar for ... !
haw haw - nice try - but no cigar - having stayed with many hotels and couchsurfing - and about to try my first airbnb in Japan, I'll say one reason I chose airbnb (apart from being - ahem - about half the price of a similar hotel) is that our host kindly offered to show us around favourite local places to eat
oh - it also includes an actual kitchen - stove, sink, fridge, utensils and crockery - (and laundry/washing machine) - so we can buy food, bring it back, store it and cook it when we like and eat it relaxed at our at-home dining table - can't do that in most hotels I've paid top dollar for ... !
14
Once those young people have kids in tow, they will want a traditional Hotel and someone to help carry the bags. Once they get into their 50's and 60's with worn out knees and ankles they will want elevators and bell hops.
Sure, today they like the new shared economy. But just wait 25 years and see wha they want...