[ar15saveslives]

Do they really need to combat airbnb? I travel a lot (relatively), but I can't get the idea of this service. It's a bit cheaper, but a) I can't cancel it b) I can't book it without interaction with a host c) I can't move in without interaction with a host d) it ends up even more expensive after cleaning/service/whatever fees.

I've just checked [1]: NYC, a shitty "private" room with shared bathroom for a weekday is $150, with crazy "strict" cancelation policy, that literally says "Cancel up to 7 days before your trip and get a 50% refund plus service fees back."

What's the point and why is airbnb still alive?

[1] https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/14165373?checkin=2017-05-18&chec...

[ctdonath]

A subset of a set isn't necessarily representative of the set.

I just AirBnB-rented a house for a week, $75/night plus $150 cleaning, 2 bedrooms + living room + kitchen + private screened-in outdoor pool. Loved it. Will seriously consider not doing hotels any more.

A friend likewise did a week-long vacation via ABB, different house each night. Stayed in a yurt, farmhouse, log cabin, etc - nifty places, interesting or isolated locations, which hotels absolutely cannot replicate without unattainable pricing.

AirBnB exists to connect you to people renting what you want. That's it. Hotels exist to provide a dense collection of cozy rooms with rapid comprehensive service. That's it. They exist for different purposes. Like many industries, the rise of a non-sequitur competitor pushes the longstanding players to revisit their core purpose - and fighting to destroy that competition often serves only to undercut their own real talents.

The options are there. Choose what fits you. Don't try to close down options for others just because those options don't fit your needs. ABB doesn't work for you in NYC? then just get a hotel. Don't deal with it by slashing my options to get unique/exotic housing which can't be replicated by hotel chains.

[metaphorm]

you're ignoring the situations where ABB is problematic and discussing only the situations where it is working well. nobody has a problem with ABB working well. the problem is the impact it has on residential areas in already housing-crunched cities. a secondary problem is health and safety regulation disparities.

if we're going to be discussing ABB let's actually discuss the reasons why it is controversial. there are very good reasons why ABB ought to be more strictly regulated in certain areas. The yurt, farmhouse, and log cabin rentals that your friend enjoyed aren't really the issue here and I haven't seen any significant effort to shut down those types of ABB rentals.

So please, focus on what matters here. There is a narrow but important subset of ABB rentals that is problematic and that is what the regulatory debate is focused on.

[ctdonath]

Zoning laws and renting contracts apply. Prosecute accordingly.

Parent post was complaining about customer-hostile rental agreements, and high prices. I focused on that.

My read on the OP is that hotels are just trying to crush the competition period, using/abusing whatever laws to squeeze ABB out of the area, if not ban 'em entirely, solely for monopolistic intentions.

I have little sympathy for housing-crunched cities. Supply of square footage is limited, demand becomes extremely high, and the only "friction" available to limit occupancy is price. Let the price drive creation of new [sub]urban areas, relieving pressure on prior areas and attracting new viable productivity.

Most areas have suitable health & safety regulations; adjust accordingly to enhance health & safety, not as an excuse to drive out competition.

[brookside]

Because not everywhere is NYC. I've found the economics and potential extra hassle of booking of airbnb work our best for slightly longer stays. The premium of two weeks of hotel over two weeks of airbnb is often significant.

[ar15saveslives]

> Because not everywhere is NYC.

Do I really need to attach links to rooms in all major cities in the world?

But I got the idea: airbnb may be better for longer trips.

[reverend_gonzo]

> What's the point and why is airbnb still alive?

Because sometimes people have an extended trip that they plan out ahead of time. So, communicating with a host and meeting the host is not a huge deal since they'll be staying there for a few days or more. On the other hand, getting input from the host about local favorites would be desirable.

If I'm going somewhere for one or two days, I would definitely book a hotel. If I'm going somewhere for a week or so, especially if its somewhere remote, I'd try for an AirBNB. Costs are cheaper, hotels are usually substandard, and host's insights are valued.

[collyw]

Have you never tried asking a hotel reception for local recommendations? It works the same as asking a host and they are usually around 24 / 7.

[Mediterraneo10]

> Have you never tried asking a hotel reception for local recommendations?

Hotel receptions are generally trained to only present you the major tourist attractions. An AirBnB host, or a host from a hospitality-exchange community, that you have chosen due to common interests or lifestyles is more likely to be able to recommend niche-interest things like live music, art galleries, or second-hand bookshops. In one Middle Eastern country I got to attend a local wedding celebration over two days because my AirBnB host was one of the relatives and it would be fine for him to bring a couple of foreign guests, but the same opportunity probably wouldn’t have come if I had stayed in a hotel.

[xapata]

Depending on the city, there are a good number of hosts that offer instant booking, keyless entry, flexible cancellation, rates that are 1/4 the cost of a hotel, and most importantly a far better location than any hotel provides.

How else am I going to live 2 blocks from the Notre Dame for a month?

[jacquesc]

Did you read the article? NY state has cracked down on Airbnb hosts (as a result of hotel industry lobbying) to the point where most people don't even bother. So what's left is overpriced and poor quality.