3 ms·

I find that Airbnb is most attractive when (a) travelling in a small group, because it can be cheaper to get a place that fits three adults and a kid on airbnb

I find that Airbnb is most attractive when (a) travelling in a small group, because it can be cheaper to get a place that fits three adults and a kid on airbnb than at a hotel, and (b) when visiting people that live somewhere, since it's frequently hard to find a hotel in the residential suburbs where they live, but you can often find an airbnb nearby or (c) when I'm staying somewhere long enough that I want to be able to cook my own food. In specific cities (like Dublin) it also turned out to be much cheaper than an equivalent hotel.

p4wnc6 10y ago
For me, (c) is not really a pro for Airbnb. I'm vegan and cooking is a passion of mine, so I almost always want to cook for myself if I can. I'll even pre-cook meals that can be sealed and go through bag check at the airport just to avoid dining at restaurants. If it weren't for the social aspect, mostly appeasing others, I think I would never eat at a restaurant. But I've always found that even in dense urban areas (and especially in suburban areas) it's always very easy to find an extended-stay suite sort of place that has an adequate kitchen. The huge benefit for me is also that I'm in control of the kitchen, instead of having to deal with someone else's haphazard stuff, personal ticks, etc. In terms of (a) I've rented a lot of cabins and houses for small group hiking vacations, but never used Airbnb for it. I can't say anything about how it works on Airbnb, but on other travel sites and one-off sites like Craigslist, I've always had easy, positive experiences and never found the prices to be anything but reasonable. Obviously (b) depends on exactly who you're visiting. When I visit my family in small town southern Ohio, Airbnb is not an option (too few listings, and I would not trust the safety in that region anyway), so hotels are necessary. I've never had trouble getting cost-effective and nice hotel rooms in suburbia, but perhaps some cities are just much worse than others.

p4wnc6 10y ago

For me, (c) is not really a pro for Airbnb. I'm vegan and cooking is a passion of mine, so I almost always want to cook for myself if I can. I'll even pre-cook meals that can be sealed and go through bag check at the airport just to avoid dining at restaurants. If it weren't for the social aspect, mostly appeasing others, I think I would never eat at a restaurant. But I've always found that even in dense urban areas (and especially in suburban areas) it's always very easy to find an extended-stay suite sort of place that has an adequate kitchen. The huge benefit for me is also that I'm in control of the kitchen, instead of having to deal with someone else's haphazard stuff, personal ticks, etc. In terms of (a) I've rented a lot of cabins and houses for small group hiking vacations, but never used Airbnb for it. I can't say anything about how it works on Airbnb, but on other travel sites and one-off sites like Craigslist, I've always had easy, positive experiences and never found the prices to be anything but reasonable. Obviously (b) depends on exactly who you're visiting. When I visit my family in small town southern Ohio, Airbnb is not an option (too few listings, and I would not trust the safety in that region anyway), so hotels are necessary. I've never had trouble getting cost-effective and nice hotel rooms in suburbia, but perhaps some cities are just much worse than others.