When traveling
should you choose a hotel or Airbnb? In many respects, such as price, the two are almost
evenly matched. And as with most decisions, where you stay totally depends on
your personal situation. But from my own experience let me share the positives
and negatives of each. I will keep it
short and sweet, but feel free to email me with questions.
The hotel: My kids love swimming pools! Usually the pools are indoors so the weather is
not a factor and often there is a hot tub for the adults as well. Both feel great after a long day of traveling
(and especially after camping). The
pillows in most newer hotels are so comfortable, often down feathers, and four
to six per bed. Blackout shades keep
light out and often the continental breakfast is filling with both healthy and
unhealthy choices.
Hotels also
provide services as well. Besides the
basics in the rooms like cable TV, Wi-Fi, coffee and usually a small fridge, a
person can ask favors from the front desk if necessary. Need something printed? Laundry cleaned? Directions?
Most hotels offer several services that the average person doesn’t even
think about when staying the night.
Notice I am not
speaking about a hole in the wall road side motel, but there are plenty of
options out there for around a $100 per night, depending on location. I go with
the Choice Hotels program. Like any reward program you build points and
it may take several stays before you earn enough to get a free night. But there are other perks: a late checkout
when requested, easy booking with an app that comes in very helpful while on
the road, and, from my experience, cheaper rates than other hotel search
engines.
Now Airbnb:
It always depends on what we are looking for, but this is our go to for
longer stays. Most Airbnb rentals are
people’s homes and apartments. If I can
find a decently priced home in a good location then I can skip the pool and hot
tub. No matter how much I like trying
the local cuisine (pizza shops and breweries), there is nothing like a home
cooked meal. Plus, it saves dinero in
the long run. Also, sometimes the host can be obliging when it comes to
discovering and exploring an area. No
one really knows a town better than a local.
If you are staying
for any significant amount of time, then even a home away from home can begin
to feel comfortable. Book 28 nights or
more, and most hosts will give you a significant discount. Be sure to always ask the host plenty of
questions before you book. Some rentals do
not have amenities that we take for granted, like a TV, but we have yet to rent
a bad place.
So in
a nut shell, for a few nights or less, especially if I am jumping from city to
city, I would go with a hotel room. I
like the comfort and ease of relaxing, getting breakfast, and being able to
leave without much packing. Otherwise,
for the long-term it’s Airbnb. Give me a place I can make comfy and homelike,
cook a delicious meal, and stock the fridge.
