6 ms·

If only we could build some really dense buildings just for tourists to rent with just individual rooms (with bathrooms), a little fridge maybe, and some amenit

If only we could build some really dense buildings just for tourists to rent with just individual rooms (with bathrooms), a little fridge maybe, and some amenities like pools and gyms. Imagine how much of this problem that would solve.

sickofparadox 3y ago
If only we could build anything at all! Texas is going to grow to be the largest population state in the Union because every other one in contention decided they didn't want to build anything at all!
digging 3y ago
(more?) hotel rooms need kitchenettes, or at least an option for rooms with them. That's something you typically get in an AirBNB and typically don't get in a hotel, and it makes a big difference if you're not planning to eat out for every meal.
- sbarre 3y ago
  This is a good point. When we travelled in Europe last summer 2 out of our 4 hotels (one in France and one in Switzerland) had kitchens in them, and it made a huge difference for a 5-6 day stay.. I've only seen this on rare occasions in North America
JoshTriplett 3y ago
If only we had a range of options for people to choose from, rather than assuming one solution will satisfy everyone.
- sbarre 3y ago
  If only some of those options weren't wrecking communities and driving up housing costs for the locals!
- angmarsbane 3y ago
  I like this idea, break up and segment demand. We build 55+ communities with rules about who can buy and live there. Why can't we build housing that only available to people with on-site local jobs? Or housing that you can only buy into if you have children (so families can live near other families)?
  - JoshTriplett 3y ago
    > Why can't we build housing that only available to people with on-site local jobs? Have to be careful about that one to avoid "company towns", but otherwise that seems like a good idea.
visarga 3y ago
That's a revolutionary idea! But unfortunately it's not good enough. I am using Airbnb purposefully to avoid hotels and enjoy the authentic locations. I like to experience for a week how it feels to be part of that neighborhood. Hotels are all alike, no matter where you go. I would use hotels when I travel for work, but when I am with my wife I prefer a cozy AirBnb with a terrace and view. At one point I was in Amsterdam and rented an apartment in one of those 3-window wide tall houses, they had a flight of stairs going straight up for 3 floors in a line at 45% angle. Interesting experience pulling my suitcase to the attic. Another time I was in Tokyo in the Roppongi district. My flat was at ground level. An old lady (the proverbial "obaasan") was watering the flowers from the outside and took care to splash us with some water while we were sitting in the balcony. I also had to learn their garbage sorting rules. That's what I am looking for, and I am not turning back to using hotels.
- clutchdude 3y ago
  > how it feels to be part of that neighborhood. Here's the thing - you aren't. You don't contribute anything other than a modest payment, you enjoy the "culture and views." And because the apartment you are staying in isn't regularly occupied, it's not really part of the neighborhood anymore than a bench would be.
  - visarga 3y ago
    I am not imagining myself part of the local population. Of course I am just a tourist staying there for a few days, I am talking about how it "feels to me". If you want all your travel to be based on hotels, your choice, I prefer homes. Hotels are cold, impersonal places. Anyway, I never rented AirBnb in US, only in large cities in other countries across EU and in Japan.
    - clutchdude 3y ago
      What you imagine or feel is irrelevant - if the housing you were in wasn't an Airbnb, it'd likely be occupied by a permanent resident. That person, for better or worse, would be part of a community and contribute to it. At some point, a community resembles swiss-cheese because so many people who would otherwise be in the community are absent because the housing they'd live in is absent. AirBNB's are just one part of this equation though.

sickofparadox 3y ago

If only we could build anything at all! Texas is going to grow to be the largest population state in the Union because every other one in contention decided they didn't want to build anything at all!

digging 3y ago

(more?) hotel rooms need kitchenettes, or at least an option for rooms with them. That's something you typically get in an AirBNB and typically don't get in a hotel, and it makes a big difference if you're not planning to eat out for every meal.

sbarre 3y ago
This is a good point. When we travelled in Europe last summer 2 out of our 4 hotels (one in France and one in Switzerland) had kitchens in them, and it made a huge difference for a 5-6 day stay.. I've only seen this on rare occasions in North America

JoshTriplett 3y ago

If only we had a range of options for people to choose from, rather than assuming one solution will satisfy everyone.

sbarre 3y ago
If only some of those options weren't wrecking communities and driving up housing costs for the locals!
angmarsbane 3y ago
I like this idea, break up and segment demand. We build 55+ communities with rules about who can buy and live there. Why can't we build housing that only available to people with on-site local jobs? Or housing that you can only buy into if you have children (so families can live near other families)?
- JoshTriplett 3y ago
  > Why can't we build housing that only available to people with on-site local jobs? Have to be careful about that one to avoid "company towns", but otherwise that seems like a good idea.

visarga 3y ago

That's a revolutionary idea! But unfortunately it's not good enough. I am using Airbnb purposefully to avoid hotels and enjoy the authentic locations. I like to experience for a week how it feels to be part of that neighborhood. Hotels are all alike, no matter where you go. I would use hotels when I travel for work, but when I am with my wife I prefer a cozy AirBnb with a terrace and view. At one point I was in Amsterdam and rented an apartment in one of those 3-window wide tall houses, they had a flight of stairs going straight up for 3 floors in a line at 45% angle. Interesting experience pulling my suitcase to the attic. Another time I was in Tokyo in the Roppongi district. My flat was at ground level. An old lady (the proverbial "obaasan") was watering the flowers from the outside and took care to splash us with some water while we were sitting in the balcony. I also had to learn their garbage sorting rules. That's what I am looking for, and I am not turning back to using hotels.

clutchdude 3y ago
> how it feels to be part of that neighborhood. Here's the thing - you aren't. You don't contribute anything other than a modest payment, you enjoy the "culture and views." And because the apartment you are staying in isn't regularly occupied, it's not really part of the neighborhood anymore than a bench would be.
- visarga 3y ago
  I am not imagining myself part of the local population. Of course I am just a tourist staying there for a few days, I am talking about how it "feels to me". If you want all your travel to be based on hotels, your choice, I prefer homes. Hotels are cold, impersonal places. Anyway, I never rented AirBnb in US, only in large cities in other countries across EU and in Japan.
  - clutchdude 3y ago
    What you imagine or feel is irrelevant - if the housing you were in wasn't an Airbnb, it'd likely be occupied by a permanent resident. That person, for better or worse, would be part of a community and contribute to it. At some point, a community resembles swiss-cheese because so many people who would otherwise be in the community are absent because the housing they'd live in is absent. AirBNB's are just one part of this equation though.