[dazc]

I've stayed in an AirBnB maybe a dozen times and always had some problem or other that I've been expected just to accept - because it's AirBnB and not an hotel?

I've stayed in lots more hotels and experienced fewer problems. The times I've had resulted in either a sincere apology or full refund (the last time for the 2 days stay rather than the one night I complained about).

I can see the advantage of AirBnB for a group of people who are willing to compromise in return for a cost saving but not much else.

[exergy]

You make it sound like cost saving is a throwaway matter, an afterthought. I'm a grad student. Before Airbnb, I could only stay in hostels, which are worse than both hotels and airbnbs. Airbnb is awesome if I don't want to spend my holidays staying woken up by idiotic frat boys.

[collyw]

Some friends here are complaining that Airbnb apartments in their block mean that they are getting woken up by frat boy parties.

[exergy]

Haha, and so the cycle continues. Down with frat boys!

[zip1234]

A hotel is also less authentic. I stayed in AirBnB and hotels both when traveling through Europe and the AirBnB gives you a bit more local flavor vs hotels, which tend to be very standardized. I also was traveling with kids and AirBnB allows you to rent out an entire apartment for the price of a single hotel room. Much better. Hotels should lower their prices and increase their options and then maybe they would compete? Instead of anti-competitive legislation...