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I frankly don't know why people keep using Airbnb now. It's costly, and the service is worse than a hotel. My worst vacations have happened in Airbnbs. Even for

by fsndz 2y ago

I frankly don't know why people keep using Airbnb now. It's costly, and the service is worse than a hotel. My worst vacations have happened in Airbnbs. Even for group vacations with friends, we now choose hotels. The good Airbnbs seem to be only the luxury or high-end types, suitable for very high-income or rich people.

SOLAR_FIELDS 2y ago
If you want to go to a group location with several friends and have 1. Privacy 2. Your own kitchen Hotels still don’t cut it. Usually a stay needs to exceed some length of time needs (due to the cleaning fee typically being flat in Airbnb’s) before it becomes worthwhile. But if you’re in that camp (4+ people, 4+ days) it becomes pretty worthwhile. The cost savings on food alone makes it back up pretty quick, plus there are other savings usually related to parking being included etc.
- csa 2y ago
  > But if you’re in that camp (4+ people, 4+ days) Have you tried Residence Inn 2-bedroom suites? There aren’t many of them in any given location, but they are absolutely amazing for 4 people when you can get one. My experience has been positive, and my friends and family who have tried it were also impressed.
  - SOLAR_FIELDS 2y ago
    I haven’t stayed out of a kitchenette suite but yeah that does sound like a good option if you have the right amount of people who are cool with the sleeping arrangements as described. Gets rid of most of the drawbacks I mentioned above around kitchens. Still not ideal for a lot of scenarios but at least a good option in certain circumstances.
xandrius 2y ago
It really depends on the country and what you're looking for. In your description, you might be doing it only for a short holiday but when you travel long term, living only in hotels is truly awful. Airbnb is the only way to consistently be able to rent a full place without having to go through traditional renting agencies which require oh so much paperwork, even for just a month. The alternative is finding privates on Facebook but with that you just can never be sure.
- fsndz 2y ago
  I get it. But how many people travel long-term every year? I usually get 4 weeks and split that between 2-3 locations, both in and out of the country. And I don't necessarily want to cook a lot on vacation (I guess I am not alone?), so the kitchen argument doesn't really work for me. But I guess I'm not the ideal customer for Airbnb. It's just that recently, almost all the feedback I get from people using Airbnbs is negative. Maybe Airbnb has just become something of a cultural phenomenon, so it will continue to exist because of that and for serving a narrow base of medium- to high-income people who travel for long stays and want a home during their trips for various reasons.
  - xandrius 2y ago
    For me I only hear great things. I never Airbnb'd in the US but literally everywhere else and I personally just had amazing experiences. If a country doesn't seem to have good Airbnb options, booking.com can provide similar-ish experiences (kitchen + homey vibes). And if I had kids, I think Airbnb/homestay would make even more sense to me than hotels. Together with that, I really don't like having to "fight off" cleaners wanting to clean my room every single day. Even putting up the do not disturb sign doesn't always work.

by fsndz 2y ago

SOLAR_FIELDS 2y ago

If you want to go to a group location with several friends and have 1. Privacy 2. Your own kitchen Hotels still don’t cut it. Usually a stay needs to exceed some length of time needs (due to the cleaning fee typically being flat in Airbnb’s) before it becomes worthwhile. But if you’re in that camp (4+ people, 4+ days) it becomes pretty worthwhile. The cost savings on food alone makes it back up pretty quick, plus there are other savings usually related to parking being included etc.

csa 2y ago
> But if you’re in that camp (4+ people, 4+ days) Have you tried Residence Inn 2-bedroom suites? There aren’t many of them in any given location, but they are absolutely amazing for 4 people when you can get one. My experience has been positive, and my friends and family who have tried it were also impressed.
- SOLAR_FIELDS 2y ago
  I haven’t stayed out of a kitchenette suite but yeah that does sound like a good option if you have the right amount of people who are cool with the sleeping arrangements as described. Gets rid of most of the drawbacks I mentioned above around kitchens. Still not ideal for a lot of scenarios but at least a good option in certain circumstances.

xandrius 2y ago

It really depends on the country and what you're looking for. In your description, you might be doing it only for a short holiday but when you travel long term, living only in hotels is truly awful. Airbnb is the only way to consistently be able to rent a full place without having to go through traditional renting agencies which require oh so much paperwork, even for just a month. The alternative is finding privates on Facebook but with that you just can never be sure.

fsndz 2y ago
I get it. But how many people travel long-term every year? I usually get 4 weeks and split that between 2-3 locations, both in and out of the country. And I don't necessarily want to cook a lot on vacation (I guess I am not alone?), so the kitchen argument doesn't really work for me. But I guess I'm not the ideal customer for Airbnb. It's just that recently, almost all the feedback I get from people using Airbnbs is negative. Maybe Airbnb has just become something of a cultural phenomenon, so it will continue to exist because of that and for serving a narrow base of medium- to high-income people who travel for long stays and want a home during their trips for various reasons.
- xandrius 2y ago
  For me I only hear great things. I never Airbnb'd in the US but literally everywhere else and I personally just had amazing experiences. If a country doesn't seem to have good Airbnb options, booking.com can provide similar-ish experiences (kitchen + homey vibes). And if I had kids, I think Airbnb/homestay would make even more sense to me than hotels. Together with that, I really don't like having to "fight off" cleaners wanting to clean my room every single day. Even putting up the do not disturb sign doesn't always work.