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I disagree. Perhaps there’s a case for Uber… having a decent app-based way to summon a ride is a net positive. But the experience is even better in European ci

by lukev 3y ago

I disagree. Perhaps there’s a case for Uber… having a decent app-based way to summon a ride is a net positive. But the experience is even better in European cities where Uber has successfully integrated with the local taxi system rather than competing with it. Hotels have always been a better experience than AirBnb, and in the last few years at least, a much better price too. And I’m glad shopping apps exist for when I’m sick or whatever, but for the common case the extra cost and hassle is strictly worse than just swinging by the store on my way home.

ramblenode 3y ago
> Hotels have always been a better experience than AirBnb, and in the last few years at least, a much better price too. I find AirBnb to have far more options, generally better prices, usually better rooms, almost always more amenities, often better locations, and frequently better/more personable hosts. It's completely changed travel for me. Before AirBnb I was shoehorning my travel plans into the limitations of the hotel, but now I can have a common private space for my entire travel group, cook my own meals in a real kitchen, and have dinner on a patio or a backyard. The hotel charges me a premium for unneeded housekeeping, bland continental breakfast, and valet parking that I won't use--this model was ripe for disruption, regulatory arbitrage aside.
- lukev 3y ago
  I guess it depends what you're looking for. I travel mostly for work, and I want something above all easy and reliable. I'm expensing all my meals so restaurants aren't a problem. I hate the uncertainty of AirBNBs. They have greatly increased probability for booking issues, not being as described, weird dynamics with neighbors, and arbitrary cleanup/checkout processes. If I was staying with others, on my own dime, for more than a few days, then yes, the calculus does change.
roarcher 3y ago
> But the experience is even better in European cities where Uber has successfully integrated with the local taxi system rather than competing with it. In my very limited experience, this may also be because Uber faces far more competition in Europe. I lived in Lisbon for several months a few years ago and there were several relatively local ridesharing apps, for various definitions of "local".
marssaxman 3y ago
> Hotels have always been a better experience than AirBnb That is for sure not my experience - I would always rather stay in an AirBnB than some sterile, corporate hotel room.
dmode 3y ago
Try staying in a hotel with two kids
midoridensha 3y ago
>Perhaps there’s a case for Uber… having a decent app-based way to summon a ride is a net positive. But the experience is even better in European cities where Uber has successfully integrated with the local taxi system rather than competing with it. You'll get very different answers about Uber depending on who you ask, and in what country they live. I think all this really points to the regulation of taxis being a complete and utter failure in much of the US, especially certain large cities there.
_8j50 3y ago
> Hotels have always been a better experience than AirBnb, and in the last few years at least, a much better price too. I won't repeat what I said in a sibling comment but Hotels still suck with location, appliances/furniture, square space and experience. Booking them, figuring out costs,etc... is still horrible. And most hotels nickle and dime you on so many things. Plus having to interact and deal with noisy neighbors, bad concierge, queues,key cards,etc... is horrible. If you do this with frequency I promise all this is noticable. > And I’m glad shopping apps exist for when I’m sick or whatever, but for the common case the extra cost and hassle is strictly worse than just swinging by the store on my way home. This is a personal thing but I hate having to go to stores. Before all these apps, that hassle alone was a big reason I was eating fastfood all the time. Bottom line is: these apps make available experiences that are otherwise inaccessible to many people. I am afraid I would be willing to pay more to them if needed and support them with legislation/ordinance. Next to rent, these apps take mostlf my pay check now to put it in perspective. So while your experience maybe different, I promise you, the value they have created is bigger than what even amazon and walmart have created.

by lukev 3y ago

ramblenode 3y ago

> Hotels have always been a better experience than AirBnb, and in the last few years at least, a much better price too. I find AirBnb to have far more options, generally better prices, usually better rooms, almost always more amenities, often better locations, and frequently better/more personable hosts. It's completely changed travel for me. Before AirBnb I was shoehorning my travel plans into the limitations of the hotel, but now I can have a common private space for my entire travel group, cook my own meals in a real kitchen, and have dinner on a patio or a backyard. The hotel charges me a premium for unneeded housekeeping, bland continental breakfast, and valet parking that I won't use--this model was ripe for disruption, regulatory arbitrage aside.

lukev 3y ago
I guess it depends what you're looking for. I travel mostly for work, and I want something above all easy and reliable. I'm expensing all my meals so restaurants aren't a problem. I hate the uncertainty of AirBNBs. They have greatly increased probability for booking issues, not being as described, weird dynamics with neighbors, and arbitrary cleanup/checkout processes. If I was staying with others, on my own dime, for more than a few days, then yes, the calculus does change.

roarcher 3y ago

> But the experience is even better in European cities where Uber has successfully integrated with the local taxi system rather than competing with it. In my very limited experience, this may also be because Uber faces far more competition in Europe. I lived in Lisbon for several months a few years ago and there were several relatively local ridesharing apps, for various definitions of "local".

marssaxman 3y ago

> Hotels have always been a better experience than AirBnb That is for sure not my experience - I would always rather stay in an AirBnB than some sterile, corporate hotel room.

dmode 3y ago

Try staying in a hotel with two kids

midoridensha 3y ago

>Perhaps there’s a case for Uber… having a decent app-based way to summon a ride is a net positive. But the experience is even better in European cities where Uber has successfully integrated with the local taxi system rather than competing with it. You'll get very different answers about Uber depending on who you ask, and in what country they live. I think all this really points to the regulation of taxis being a complete and utter failure in much of the US, especially certain large cities there.

_8j50 3y ago

> Hotels have always been a better experience than AirBnb, and in the last few years at least, a much better price too. I won't repeat what I said in a sibling comment but Hotels still suck with location, appliances/furniture, square space and experience. Booking them, figuring out costs,etc... is still horrible. And most hotels nickle and dime you on so many things. Plus having to interact and deal with noisy neighbors, bad concierge, queues,key cards,etc... is horrible. If you do this with frequency I promise all this is noticable. > And I’m glad shopping apps exist for when I’m sick or whatever, but for the common case the extra cost and hassle is strictly worse than just swinging by the store on my way home. This is a personal thing but I hate having to go to stores. Before all these apps, that hassle alone was a big reason I was eating fastfood all the time. Bottom line is: these apps make available experiences that are otherwise inaccessible to many people. I am afraid I would be willing to pay more to them if needed and support them with legislation/ordinance. Next to rent, these apps take mostlf my pay check now to put it in perspective. So while your experience maybe different, I promise you, the value they have created is bigger than what even amazon and walmart have created.