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One of the most important pieces of a travel experience is your lodging selection. These days, there are a plethora of platforms to search on and choose when it comes to accommodation, and it can be difficult to decipher the best option of where to stay.

There exists a lot of conflicting advice about choosing an Airbnb or a hotel for your stay when on a trip. While some say that Airbnbs are more affordable, more authentic, and more convenient, many other travelers will vouch for hotels.

Here are the factors travelers have in mind as they search for lodging for an upcoming trip:

Convenience
Affordability
Location
Amenities
Atmosphere
Comfortability

The truth is: Both Airbnbs and hotels can provide all of the above.

However, it is entirely dependent on your trip preferences and what kind of atmosphere you would like to vacation in. You can find each and all of these factors in both lodging options; however, both options have their slight advantages over the other.

Ask yourself: Is the focus of the vacation on the quality of your accommodation’s comfort and amenities, or is your lodging just overnight convenience and a home base while you enthusiastically explore your new surroundings?

Depending on the kind of trip experience you are wanting to create for yourself and your companions, here are some factors to consider before making a decision:

bed overlooking the city with white sheets

Choosing a Hotel Experience

Overall consensus: Hotels are better for shorter trips and smaller groups. Hotels are often the safer choice, offering more guarantees and fewer unknowns, and they are more likely to provide the basics, predictability, and streamlined convenience.

Pros of Hotels

Convenience: Hotels can have a slight advantage over Airbnbs when it comes to predictability and convenience; you know exactly what you are getting into. There is a streamlined check-in and check-out process, and there is less room for error since it is a place of business (as opposed to a privately owned residence).

Availability of customer service: If there is an issue, there is hotel staff on hand around the clock to address and resolve the issue for you. In an Airbnb, an issue is not guaranteed to be addressed immediately (or at all). A hotel has more support, staff, and resources on supply for your disposal.

brightly colored hotel in the desert with blue pool

Amenities: Hotels normally offer more amenities on property than Airbnbs. There could be a pool, hot tub, breakfast, a bar and/or restaurant, a concierge, room service—while Airbnbs don’t have these options. What kind of amenities do you want to be guaranteed at your lodging?

Financial deals: Oftentimes, you can get credit card points or deals; there are loyalty programs with certain hotel chains; you can get the AAA discount; you can find discounts or coupons online with certain websites or email subscriptions. Such deals don’t really exist with Airbnb.

Check-in: No time constraints on check-in. You can arrive in the dead of night if you so choose without a private owner checking in and inquiring when you are getting there.

Experience: Airbnbs are not the only lodging options with character! Sometimes your accommodations are your vacation experience, especially if you choose a resort or all-inclusive hotel with wonderful amenities. You can find historically significant, quaint, and personality-filled hotels in older, bigger cities that can be a charming cornerstone to your travel experience.

Meals: Many hotel chains offer free breakfast buffets as a perk when you stay with them.

Cons of Hotels

Lack of atmosphere: Many newer hotel chains are mainstream and lack any sort of unique personality and charm. If you are looking for just a roof over your head and a place to lay your head down at night, you simply may not care! Some travelers don’t mind this, because the focus of their travel lies elsewhere. It is entirely up to you.

Lack of space: Hotel rooms can feel very crammed if you are traveling with kids or with a big group. It often feels like you are stepping over one another, or stepping into suitcases around every corner.

Lack of privacy: You are sharing the property with other travelers, and you have to offer them the respect that (hopefully) they are extending to you. The space is not entirely your own.

Choosing an Airbnb Experience

Overall consensus: Airbnbs are better for extended stays and bigger groups. They are more likely to provide an experience, space, privacy, and personal flair. These short term rentals typically make up more of your vacation experience than a hotel—which may or may not be what you are looking for.

Airbnbs are great for hosting events, family vacations, and group stays, like bachelorette parties.

Pros of Airbnbs

Privacy: You are able to rent an entire home or property with Airbnb, making for a great potential for privacy and isolation (if that is what you are seeking on your trip). You may feel more at ease letting the kids out of sight when they play outside, rather than at a hotel pool where there are other travelers also using the amenities. You don’t have social interactions with the other hotel visitors when departing or arriving at your accommodation, either.

Personal experience: Some Airbnb owners go above and beyond to make sure that their guests enjoy their short term rental by leaving out snacks, cozy touches, extra towels, and other supplies. Many Airbnb owners are also highly responsive to communication with their guests, while still respecting a professional distance. They are invested in their property and business.

Authenticity of local culture: If you put stock in the personality of your accommodation, Airbnb is normally the recommended way to go. Airbnbs offer a diverse variety of choices that can vary from bizarre to amusing to homey to beautiful, and can often give you a real taste for how locals live. You can find amazing gems in a wide variety of places, as well as search for any and all vibes: quirky, luxurious, quaint, rustic, or simple.

couch and dining room table bohemian mid century modern

Offers more space than a hotel room: You and your travel group can sprawl out over the space and property. One great perk about Airbnbs is that you can find rentals with multiple rooms, outdoor patios, lawn space, a driveway, just more space to spread!

Accessibility to a kitchen: This is oftentimes a big factor when choosing between a hotel or Airbnb—do you want to eat out most of the time on your travels?

Financial distribution: If it is a big group splitting the cost of accommodation, it is often very affordable to get an Airbnb.

Cons of Airbnbs

No guarantee of customer service, and fewer points of contact if there is an issue. Some Airbnb owners are not communicative or responsive, or may not be entirely truthful about the quality of amenities offered at their property.

Less predictability and more unknown factors: You never know exactly what to expect (which could also be part of the fun). But if you are looking for something super easy and basic, then staying in an Airbnb may introduce a number of unknowns that you don’t want to think about.

Limited parking: An Airbnb may not provide parking if the property is centrally-located or extremely urban. On the other hand, an Airbnb may also be harder to get to or find, as opposed to hotels, which are usually built with location in mind.

Less convenient for short stays: For one night stays, Airbnbs are less convenient and more expensive than hotels. One-time fees can add up for Airbnbs, and there are more unpredictable factors when checking in and settling in to the property. Many times, it may not be worth it to choose an Airbnb if you are only staying one night.

orange building in tropical island airbnb

Less check-in flexibility: Not great for late check-ins and late-night arrivals. There is more possibility that the check-in will not go as smoothly or quickly as you would like. Since they are private residences, they may not be labeled or as easily searchable on a map as a hotel. The owner may also need to be contacted (or want to be contacted) when you arrive.

Can be less budget-friendly: Airbnbs have the potential to be more expensive if you are traveling alone or with only one other person. Those additional fees, on top of price-per-night costs can add up, and you may end up paying significantly more for an Airbnb stay versus a hotel stay, if solo or in a small group.

More factors to consider

Contact information: If you choose an Airbnb, verify a point of contact and have their phone number handy, if possible.

Space requirements: If you are planning a family vacation, an Airbnb could provide a much more comfortable, homey, and private environment for the entire family to spread out. You can rent an entire house or property for yourself, and make it your home away from home while you spend quality time with loved ones, without worrying about other travelers.

Reviews: Read the reviews, for both hotels and Airbnbs. It is important to read about how many stars a property received and why. Know what you are getting into! It is best to choose an option that has more reviews than less, so that your fantastic travel plans are not marred by an unforeseen, dramatic lodging issue.

Alternative accommodations: VRBO is also a very popular accommodation choice, and offers many similar options to Airbnbs. If you are leaning towards booking a privately-owned stay, instead of a hotel, give VRBO a try as well!

Hotel or Airbnb? Where You Should Stay On Your Next Trip