[RcouF1uZ4gsC]

There is a saying that goes something like: when you play with snakes, don't be surprised if you get bitten.

When you book AirBnb vs a hotel you are signalling that you value cost over predictability and oversight. Those hotel fees and regulations are there for a reason. With AirBnb, one of the reasons they can offer stuff cheaply is that they are arbitraging regulation and oversight.

If you really need to work, book a hotel that serves business clients.

I view this complaint in the same manner I view people who book travel on RyanAir and complain about poor service. The whole point of RyanAir is about seeing how much misery people will tolerate in exchange for a cheap airfare.

[atombender]

This assumes you're okay with the "hotel experience".

Personally, I dislike hotels. I don't like carpets or elevators or garish faux-marble baths. I don't like being in the middle of a city next to tourist traps or some busy downtown. I don't like being on the 23th floor, shut away from nature. I don't like staying in a place that is just a bedroom and this weird tiny desk that has a big TV on it so it's not usable for anything. I find most hotels clinical, synthetic and alienating. There are exceptions, of course; there are some great boutique hotels out there. But they are far apart and usually out of my price range.

When booking a trip, I choose Airbnb because I can pick a place that was made for living in. You know, the way you do at home. Multiple rooms, a kitchen, maybe some outdoor space, all in a practical location. Airbnb also allows me to pick features I could never get at a hotel, such as a private pool or private parking. And it allows me to scale it up and rent a whole place for a family or group of friends.

People make the mistake of thinking that Airbnb is about competing with hotels by offering lower prices on the same service and that somehow the lower price is because "it's just someone's home", but it really isn't the same service at all. If a hotel could offer what I could get with Airbnb, I'd be all over it.

[ASalazarMX]

Then ending up with a room that is conditioned for the locals, and not hotel-grade, should be perfectly acceptable too, and Airbnb and their partners are doing it right. Nothing to see here.

[atombender]

But with hotels, too, you can end up with something that isn't to your satisfaction, contrary to how it's presented in the listing and contrary to your expectations. Hotels are likely to be more consistent here, but there's never any guarantee.

One difference is in the ability to rectify such issues. Since Airbnb is a middleman who doesn't own the property, and the host is potentially not able to be physically present (e.g. it's a short-term sublet while the host is on a trip, as opposed to a permanent Airbnb), the blame may technically lie with the host, but Airbnb's platform is also responsible. Airbnb can't pretend they're merely a passive hosting platform for hosts, and needs to tread more carefully in handling such disputes.

[augstein]

I don‘t know if there are exact numbers regarding your statement, but booking a house or flat vs booking a hotel

a) is not necessarily cheaper and in many cities like berlin can actually be more expensive, especially regarding the top class flats

b) is more a matter of personal taste in my experience, as renting a vacation apartment tends to be a more diverse and self reliant experience than booking a hotel room

[privateSFacct]

I've booked $1,000+/night AirBnB's. You almost always get a more neighborhood feel, more interesting experience.

However, when I am working, I ALWAYS book a hotel. I just want a place to work and sleep, etc. AirBnB's are less predictable, and when you are on the road and only in the room for the night and up early - no sense is even dealing with the various check in / out procedures etc. And yes, there are some hosts who don't get it, but most do.

[JauntyHatAngle]

I agree on some senses, but AirBnB often resembles hotels more than renting out a spare room nowadays.

Sure if you're booking an unknown, new, cheapo listing you could get anything. But large amounts of the high rating offerings are essentially hotels without a reception desk nowadays.

AirBnB had changed drastically in that regard.

[jfaat]

The version I've heard is: you mess with the bull, you get the horns

[jbverschoor]

I will only ever book an Airbnb again if: - very long stays - stays with a huge group

My experiences with Airbnb are 90% bad and it keeps getting worse. Also, hotels are usually cheaper, esoeyif you stay 4 or less days