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I feel like I'm supposed to be somewhat embarrassed to admit, as someone working in tech, that I prefer hotels to Airbnb. Unless hotels are completely booked, o

I feel like I'm supposed to be somewhat embarrassed to admit, as someone working in tech, that I prefer hotels to Airbnb. Unless hotels are completely booked, overly expensive, or it's a location with few hotels to begin with, I highly value the consistency and reliability of being able to check-in at anytime, knowing there's a baseline of security that a hotel offers, having access to basic amenities like a gym, having access to generally English-speaking staff if it's international, and having flexible cancellation policies depending on the rate. With Airbnb, you really have no idea what you're going to get until you get there. The platform skews heavily in favor of hosts, and most listings I see have stricter cancellation policies than your average hotel and zero recourse if the host decides they want to cancel on you last minute.

baby 9y ago
> I prefer hotels to Airbnb I really don't get this kind of opinion, just because it is so binary. Hotels are great when you need to quickly check-in and check-out, although the experience vary grandly and they can get pretty bad and pretty expensive. On the other hand if I want to feel "at home", if I want something cheaper, if I want a kitchen and if I want something well located. Airbnb is always the answer. There's something really impersonal about staying in a hotel that you don't get with an Airbnb (although some airbnbs are pretty bad as well). I remember almost all the airbnbs I've stayed at. I usually forget about how a hotel room looks a few days after checking out. Try to think about this, you'll be surprised ;)
- ghaff 9y ago
  I'm the same way as the parent. Especially traveling on business, I want something straightforward and reliable even if my flight is delayed. Especially outside of cities on vacation, I may well stay in "official" B&Bs (which are increasingly listed on Airbnb although I almost always book direct) assuming it's not somewhere like a national park where I likely don't have that option.
  - Consultant32452 9y ago
    I can't imagine a scenario in which I'd prefer an AirBnB for business travel. But here's a scenario that AirBnB was a perfect fit. My daughter is a cheerleader and we sometimes have traveling competitions. There are some families on her team which we're friends with. Rather than everyone getting a hotel room we rented an entire house on AirBnB. Each family got their own room, the kids got to enjoy being together, and we had a default location to just waste time watching TV or whatever all together between competition events. We ended up cooking out at our AirBnB location. It was really great for this more casual travel experience.
    - ghaff 9y ago
      Absolutely. And, as I said in another comment, the marketplaces for renting vacation homes, houses, etc. was very fragmented and generally not very good until AirBnB came along. A lot of their business still depends on sketchy host behavior but there was clearly a legitimate need for a better service. Also, in cities, I'm not sure I even want to spend enough time in wherever I'm staying to have a memorable experience. The city is the experience, not the place I'm staying. Not that I hang around where I'm staying most places but definitely not in cities. Or if I do, it's because I'm working :-/
      - Consultant32452 9y ago
        With regards to non-business stays in cities, I'm more than happy to use AirBnB if I can simultaneously save money and support a small business. I've used AirBnB for beach vacations before and it worked out great for that as well, equally a scenario where hanging out at the house wasn't desired. We were at the beach all day.
    - baby 9y ago
      It really boils down to how long you're staying, and how convenient you need your check-in/check-out experience. I did get Airbnbs when I was going to conferences for work and it was awesome (one of them was in an amazing house in the middle of Zurich with two other crypto homies).
- noobermin 9y ago
  I've stayed at Airbnb's where I wasn't allowed to use their kitchen. Ergo, Airbnb isn't always the answer, it does vary.
  - eropple 9y ago
    And I pretty regularly stay, for roughly the same price, at "extended stay" hotels (where I am not staying for an extended stay) with a kitchen, albeit a small one.
    - ghaff 9y ago
      Ditto. I don't usually use anything except the refrigerator--and even many "regular" hotels these days seem to have emptied the minibar and left the mini-fridge--but they usually also have sofas, etc. and generally room to stretch out. I often find it preferable to usual hotel amenities that I mostly don't use.
- conanbatt 9y ago
  Hotels are also so expensive, airbnb is really a lot cheaper..and you have way more choices location wise. It is almost always a worse experience than a hotel. Also hotels get screwed on taxes in a way airbnb doesn't.
- bogomipz 9y ago
  >"On the other hand if I want to feel "at home", ..." Really? How "at home" can you feel when you are in a total stranger's home? >"If I want something cheaper, ..." This is certainly not always the case. >"if I want something well located." Right, because all hotels are always in some completely undesirable part of town, far away from anything and everything. >"Airbnb is always the answer." No, it is not.
  - baby 9y ago
    > Really? How "at home" can you feel when you are in a total stranger's home? Have you tried it? I've heard that argument before but I do feel "at home" when I'm travelling and airbnb'ing. When you're coming back to a hotel after a dinner or a night drinking it just doesn't have this feeling. As I said I still remember the Airbnbs I've been to just because I felt like I "lived" there for a while. > This is certainly not always the case. It is constantly the case in my experience. I've airbnb'ed in France, HongKong, Japan, the US, the UK, China, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, ... > Right, because all hotels are always in some completely undesirable part of town, far away from anything and everything. For the same price, yes. > No, it is not. I'll still recommend you to give it one more try!
    - bogomipz 9y ago
      >"Have you tried it?" Yes I've stayed at people's houses whom I didn't know very well. I don't think paying for the experience would have made me feel any more "at home." >"When you're coming back to a hotel after a dinner or a night drinking it just doesn't have this feeling." Exactly but it has the feeling of "wow someone came in and cleaned, there's fresh towels, toiletries, water and the bed is made." And I don't have worry about playing games with reviewing people or being reviewed. Lots of people just go home when they want to feel at home.
      - baby 9y ago
        I’ll argue that there are two ways to visit a city/country. You can be a tourist, or you can live there. The second option is always better imo (I lived in quite some places myself). Of course most of the time you’ll only be able to visit, that’s when Airbnb makes you feel like you’re “living” in the city. You’re not going back to a hotel, you’re going back to a home. Say what you will but in my own anecdotic experience (I travel a lot) I do feel like I’ve lived in these cities for a bit when I airbnb there. And I still remember all these airbnbs even after many years.
jdanp 9y ago
I'm with you, hotels are instant to book while airbnbs you have to correspond and have this whole personal experience, no thanks. Also I can't in good conscious support them after having to buzz in a drunk airbnber at 2AM who was ringing every single apartment in my building because they lost their key. Likewise, Cabs are much cheaper and faster to grab than Ubers in my NYC neighborhood (east village). Don't believe the hype...
- TomMarius 9y ago
  This drunk guy could've been anybody, Airbnb has nothing to do with the fact that people act shitty.
  - lotsofpulp 9y ago
    That kind of behavior is not common at people's homes, unless they're being rented out like a hotel, which is Airbnb's business. It's not about airbnb directly, but the effects of its business.
    - TomMarius 9y ago
      No, it's effect of people acting in a way they wouldn't normally do at their homes because there are no consequences. Let's fix that and stop blaming Airbnb.
      - lotsofpulp 9y ago
        That does not sound like a realistic solution. Separating a building for residence from one of temporary lodging, however, is a workable solution. Everything in the world could be solved by fixing how people act, but obviously the world doesn't work that way so societies resort to other means.
        TomMarius 9y ago
        Actually it's way easier than enforcing a ban on Airbnb and similar services (don't forget that a decentralized alternative would be created, etc). If you're going to spend a night in jail for disturbing other people, you'll think twice before you do it.
postit 9y ago
I've always balanced my usage between Abnb and hotels. As hotels fulfilling the role of resort vacation or business trip overnight stay. Weekend trips or city crawling vacation I usually stay with Airbnb. I relate to your statement that you never know what expects you. There's also something that no one talks about this short term sublets is that the hosts' neighbors are the ones who have to deal with most of the annoyance of having a new tenet every week or so.
almiron10 9y ago
When doing extended traveling mixing hotels and AirBNBs is great because you can get laundry done and make your own meals when you want. Also, AirBNBs are great because they usually go the extra mile for you while looking for a good rating. That can look like a bottle of family wine and a homemade pie, or the host walking you around the town to orient you.
calbear81 9y ago
I don't think that's an unreasonable preference (I work for Airbnb) and it's not for everyone. There is however, consequences, for hosts who do cancel on our guests last minute and we take those types of violations seriously unless it was an extenuating circumstance. Hosts can be penalized with financial penalties, they lose their Superhost status and eligibility, and this information is posted to their review section. Repeated violations also will result in suspension from the platform.
- dawhizkid 9y ago
  Anecdotally I've heard of many cases where hosts, especially for conferences/events when demand is extremely high, cancel on guests last minute in hopes of rebooking at a higher rate. Unless there's a preventative mechanism in place to stop that it leaves attendees in a really bad spot.
  - milkshakes 9y ago
    there is a preventative mechanism in place: cancellation by host for a given night blocks that night from the host's calendar, preventing them from rebooking it at a higher price: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/990/i-m-a-host--what-penalties-apply-if-i-need-to-cancel-a-reservation https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/990/i-m-a-host--what-pen...
    - dawhizkid 9y ago
      That doesn't apply to instant book bookings. Seems like a pretty big loophole to me.
      - calbear81 9y ago
        Only if they attest that they are "uncomfortable with the guest" as their reason for canceling. Abuse of any type of cancellation in general on the host side will trigger thresholds for follow up action. This type of cancellation is not the norm.
bogomipz 9y ago
>"I feel like I'm supposed to be somewhat embarrassed to admit, as someone working in tech, that I prefer hotels to Airbnb." I don't know why you would be embarrassed to admit that. I prefer hotels as well. I also don't think there is any connection that working in tech means you are automatically prefer Airbnb. I agree with all of the reasons you listed. And when you add in all the fees now I think hotels are actually more compelling now. Problem with your room? You generally get a new room just by picking up the phone.
vvanders 9y ago
Count me in this camp as well. Had a really bad experience with AirBnB where PUD showed up to shut off the power to the place we were staying with no notice that left us scrambling.
- milesokeefe 9y ago
  Public Utility District, for those wondering. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_utility_district https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_utility_district
fooblitzky 9y ago
I prefer hotels too, for much the same reasons you mention. I've had a couple of bad experiences with AirBnBs, including one with no smoke detectors and the wall opposite the fuse box feeling hot to the touch. Hotels are a more consistent experience and there is a baseline of quality and service that you can rely on. Refunds or room exchanges are easier when there are problems (the AirBnB resolution process is stressful when there is the potential for conflict with the host), plus you get charged when you checkout, not having to pay the full amount in advance when you book.
bane 9y ago
I've found the Airbnb experience in the U.S. to be much more uneven than overseas. I don't know quite what it is, but I've gotten more places in the U.S. that just weren't quite what was advertised, and most of the places outside the U.S. are at least as good as advertised...even right across the border in Canada.
freyir 9y ago
I usually prefer hotels, especially when traveling alone. But I’ve found that Airbnb is great when traveling in a small group — hanging out in a home with communal rooms is awesome.

baby 9y ago

> I prefer hotels to Airbnb I really don't get this kind of opinion, just because it is so binary. Hotels are great when you need to quickly check-in and check-out, although the experience vary grandly and they can get pretty bad and pretty expensive. On the other hand if I want to feel "at home", if I want something cheaper, if I want a kitchen and if I want something well located. Airbnb is always the answer. There's something really impersonal about staying in a hotel that you don't get with an Airbnb (although some airbnbs are pretty bad as well). I remember almost all the airbnbs I've stayed at. I usually forget about how a hotel room looks a few days after checking out. Try to think about this, you'll be surprised ;)

ghaff 9y ago
I'm the same way as the parent. Especially traveling on business, I want something straightforward and reliable even if my flight is delayed. Especially outside of cities on vacation, I may well stay in "official" B&Bs (which are increasingly listed on Airbnb although I almost always book direct) assuming it's not somewhere like a national park where I likely don't have that option.
- Consultant32452 9y ago
  I can't imagine a scenario in which I'd prefer an AirBnB for business travel. But here's a scenario that AirBnB was a perfect fit. My daughter is a cheerleader and we sometimes have traveling competitions. There are some families on her team which we're friends with. Rather than everyone getting a hotel room we rented an entire house on AirBnB. Each family got their own room, the kids got to enjoy being together, and we had a default location to just waste time watching TV or whatever all together between competition events. We ended up cooking out at our AirBnB location. It was really great for this more casual travel experience.
  - ghaff 9y ago
    Absolutely. And, as I said in another comment, the marketplaces for renting vacation homes, houses, etc. was very fragmented and generally not very good until AirBnB came along. A lot of their business still depends on sketchy host behavior but there was clearly a legitimate need for a better service. Also, in cities, I'm not sure I even want to spend enough time in wherever I'm staying to have a memorable experience. The city is the experience, not the place I'm staying. Not that I hang around where I'm staying most places but definitely not in cities. Or if I do, it's because I'm working :-/
    - Consultant32452 9y ago
      With regards to non-business stays in cities, I'm more than happy to use AirBnB if I can simultaneously save money and support a small business. I've used AirBnB for beach vacations before and it worked out great for that as well, equally a scenario where hanging out at the house wasn't desired. We were at the beach all day.
  - baby 9y ago
    It really boils down to how long you're staying, and how convenient you need your check-in/check-out experience. I did get Airbnbs when I was going to conferences for work and it was awesome (one of them was in an amazing house in the middle of Zurich with two other crypto homies).
noobermin 9y ago
I've stayed at Airbnb's where I wasn't allowed to use their kitchen. Ergo, Airbnb isn't always the answer, it does vary.
- eropple 9y ago
  And I pretty regularly stay, for roughly the same price, at "extended stay" hotels (where I am not staying for an extended stay) with a kitchen, albeit a small one.
  - ghaff 9y ago
    Ditto. I don't usually use anything except the refrigerator--and even many "regular" hotels these days seem to have emptied the minibar and left the mini-fridge--but they usually also have sofas, etc. and generally room to stretch out. I often find it preferable to usual hotel amenities that I mostly don't use.
conanbatt 9y ago
Hotels are also so expensive, airbnb is really a lot cheaper..and you have way more choices location wise. It is almost always a worse experience than a hotel. Also hotels get screwed on taxes in a way airbnb doesn't.
bogomipz 9y ago
>"On the other hand if I want to feel "at home", ..." Really? How "at home" can you feel when you are in a total stranger's home? >"If I want something cheaper, ..." This is certainly not always the case. >"if I want something well located." Right, because all hotels are always in some completely undesirable part of town, far away from anything and everything. >"Airbnb is always the answer." No, it is not.
- baby 9y ago
  > Really? How "at home" can you feel when you are in a total stranger's home? Have you tried it? I've heard that argument before but I do feel "at home" when I'm travelling and airbnb'ing. When you're coming back to a hotel after a dinner or a night drinking it just doesn't have this feeling. As I said I still remember the Airbnbs I've been to just because I felt like I "lived" there for a while. > This is certainly not always the case. It is constantly the case in my experience. I've airbnb'ed in France, HongKong, Japan, the US, the UK, China, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, ... > Right, because all hotels are always in some completely undesirable part of town, far away from anything and everything. For the same price, yes. > No, it is not. I'll still recommend you to give it one more try!
  - bogomipz 9y ago
    >"Have you tried it?" Yes I've stayed at people's houses whom I didn't know very well. I don't think paying for the experience would have made me feel any more "at home." >"When you're coming back to a hotel after a dinner or a night drinking it just doesn't have this feeling." Exactly but it has the feeling of "wow someone came in and cleaned, there's fresh towels, toiletries, water and the bed is made." And I don't have worry about playing games with reviewing people or being reviewed. Lots of people just go home when they want to feel at home.
    - baby 9y ago
      I’ll argue that there are two ways to visit a city/country. You can be a tourist, or you can live there. The second option is always better imo (I lived in quite some places myself). Of course most of the time you’ll only be able to visit, that’s when Airbnb makes you feel like you’re “living” in the city. You’re not going back to a hotel, you’re going back to a home. Say what you will but in my own anecdotic experience (I travel a lot) I do feel like I’ve lived in these cities for a bit when I airbnb there. And I still remember all these airbnbs even after many years.

jdanp 9y ago

I'm with you, hotels are instant to book while airbnbs you have to correspond and have this whole personal experience, no thanks. Also I can't in good conscious support them after having to buzz in a drunk airbnber at 2AM who was ringing every single apartment in my building because they lost their key. Likewise, Cabs are much cheaper and faster to grab than Ubers in my NYC neighborhood (east village). Don't believe the hype...

TomMarius 9y ago
This drunk guy could've been anybody, Airbnb has nothing to do with the fact that people act shitty.
- lotsofpulp 9y ago
  That kind of behavior is not common at people's homes, unless they're being rented out like a hotel, which is Airbnb's business. It's not about airbnb directly, but the effects of its business.
  - TomMarius 9y ago
    No, it's effect of people acting in a way they wouldn't normally do at their homes because there are no consequences. Let's fix that and stop blaming Airbnb.
    - lotsofpulp 9y ago
      That does not sound like a realistic solution. Separating a building for residence from one of temporary lodging, however, is a workable solution. Everything in the world could be solved by fixing how people act, but obviously the world doesn't work that way so societies resort to other means.
      - TomMarius 9y ago
        Actually it's way easier than enforcing a ban on Airbnb and similar services (don't forget that a decentralized alternative would be created, etc). If you're going to spend a night in jail for disturbing other people, you'll think twice before you do it.

postit 9y ago

I've always balanced my usage between Abnb and hotels. As hotels fulfilling the role of resort vacation or business trip overnight stay. Weekend trips or city crawling vacation I usually stay with Airbnb. I relate to your statement that you never know what expects you. There's also something that no one talks about this short term sublets is that the hosts' neighbors are the ones who have to deal with most of the annoyance of having a new tenet every week or so.

almiron10 9y ago

When doing extended traveling mixing hotels and AirBNBs is great because you can get laundry done and make your own meals when you want. Also, AirBNBs are great because they usually go the extra mile for you while looking for a good rating. That can look like a bottle of family wine and a homemade pie, or the host walking you around the town to orient you.

calbear81 9y ago

I don't think that's an unreasonable preference (I work for Airbnb) and it's not for everyone. There is however, consequences, for hosts who do cancel on our guests last minute and we take those types of violations seriously unless it was an extenuating circumstance. Hosts can be penalized with financial penalties, they lose their Superhost status and eligibility, and this information is posted to their review section. Repeated violations also will result in suspension from the platform.

dawhizkid 9y ago
Anecdotally I've heard of many cases where hosts, especially for conferences/events when demand is extremely high, cancel on guests last minute in hopes of rebooking at a higher rate. Unless there's a preventative mechanism in place to stop that it leaves attendees in a really bad spot.
- milkshakes 9y ago
  there is a preventative mechanism in place: cancellation by host for a given night blocks that night from the host's calendar, preventing them from rebooking it at a higher price: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/990/i-m-a-host--what-penalties-apply-if-i-need-to-cancel-a-reservation https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/990/i-m-a-host--what-pen...
  - dawhizkid 9y ago
    That doesn't apply to instant book bookings. Seems like a pretty big loophole to me.
    - calbear81 9y ago
      Only if they attest that they are "uncomfortable with the guest" as their reason for canceling. Abuse of any type of cancellation in general on the host side will trigger thresholds for follow up action. This type of cancellation is not the norm.

bogomipz 9y ago

>"I feel like I'm supposed to be somewhat embarrassed to admit, as someone working in tech, that I prefer hotels to Airbnb." I don't know why you would be embarrassed to admit that. I prefer hotels as well. I also don't think there is any connection that working in tech means you are automatically prefer Airbnb. I agree with all of the reasons you listed. And when you add in all the fees now I think hotels are actually more compelling now. Problem with your room? You generally get a new room just by picking up the phone.

vvanders 9y ago

Count me in this camp as well. Had a really bad experience with AirBnB where PUD showed up to shut off the power to the place we were staying with no notice that left us scrambling.

milesokeefe 9y ago
Public Utility District, for those wondering. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_utility_district https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_utility_district

fooblitzky 9y ago

I prefer hotels too, for much the same reasons you mention. I've had a couple of bad experiences with AirBnBs, including one with no smoke detectors and the wall opposite the fuse box feeling hot to the touch. Hotels are a more consistent experience and there is a baseline of quality and service that you can rely on. Refunds or room exchanges are easier when there are problems (the AirBnB resolution process is stressful when there is the potential for conflict with the host), plus you get charged when you checkout, not having to pay the full amount in advance when you book.

bane 9y ago

I've found the Airbnb experience in the U.S. to be much more uneven than overseas. I don't know quite what it is, but I've gotten more places in the U.S. that just weren't quite what was advertised, and most of the places outside the U.S. are at least as good as advertised...even right across the border in Canada.

freyir 9y ago

I usually prefer hotels, especially when traveling alone. But I’ve found that Airbnb is great when traveling in a small group — hanging out in a home with communal rooms is awesome.