Airbnb vs. Hotels Comparison [Atmosphere, Price, Safety, Amenities]

AirbnbHotels
Written By Taz Zaidi

Airbnb vs. Hotels

Hotels are the most popular accommodation choice.

But Airbnb is quickly rising up the ranks. With its diversity of lodging options, numerous features and a strong community of users, Airbnb has grown into a reliable place to book travel accommodation online.

In this guide, we’ll compare Airbnb and hotels.

We’ll address Airbnb’s impact on the hotel industry, then compare Airbnb and hotels by atmosphere, price, safety, privacy and amenities. I’ll conclude with whether Airbnb is worth trying if you’re accustomed to hotels, and briefly compare Airbnb to hostels and all-inclusive resorts.

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*Agoda.com provides a wide selection of steeply-discounted hotel rooms. To see today’s deals on hotels in any destination, click here.

Definition Of An Airbnb

Airbnb.com is a marketplace where hosts list their places for rent, then guests book those places. What differentiates Airbnb from other major booking sites, is Airbnb hosts can list practically any type of space - from an extra bed in their bedroom to a private mansion, or even a small island.

Airbnb offers users (arguably) the widest range of lodging options of any booking site. And while you can find hotel rooms on Airbnb, when someone says they’re “renting an Airbnb” they’re usually referring to a private or shared apartment or house rental (hosted by an individual, not by a business).

Definition Of A Hotel

Hotels tend to be more standardized.

As a hotel guest, you can expect a few things, like a basic check-in process (present your ID to get a room key), certain amenities (breakfast, common area, gym, lobby - depending on the hotel type) and the standard checkout hours (sometime between 9 am and 12 pm).

While processes in hotels are usually similar, there are different types of hotels, from budget to mid-tier to 7-star. Hotel rooms can range from compact studios to spacious luxury suites, and from secluded jungle bungalows to modern, urban high-rises.

*To see today’s deals on hotels in any destination, click here.

Airbnb’s Impact On Hotels

(Airbnb vs. Hotel Industry)

There have been many debates regarding Airbnb’s impact on the hotel industry. In truth, Airbnb and hotels aren’t necessarily adversarial, as travelers who use Airbnb often aren’t even considering hotels as an option. But Airbnb was the first mainstream home sharing and alternative accommodation site, so you could say it “took” its initial customers from hotels.

If we assume travelers choose the best option available to them, then Airbnb serves a segment of the market that prefers its product over another (traditional hotel experience). So, asking “is Airbnb hurting/killing the hotel industry?” is like asking “do hostels hurt hotels?” or “do budget hotels hurt luxury resorts?”. Each serve a different segment of the market. Many travelers who prefer Airbnb do so because of its reasonable prices, the independence it allows, many unique stays, and the residential feel you can experience in a property.

Lastly, and importantly, Airbnb allows traditional lodging (hotels, extended stays, hostels, timeshares, bed and breakfasts, etc.) to list their rooms on its marketplace. In this way, Airbnb doesn’t hinder hotels, but rather it’s an additional avenue hotels can leverage to reach more potential customers.

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To learn about how Airbnb affects the travel industry as a whole, click here.

*To see today’s deals on hotels in any destination, click here.

Airbnb vs. Hotels Comparison

As mentioned above, you’ll see hotel rooms listed on Airbnb, but that’s not why most guests use it. So, in this guide, we’ll assume “booking an Airbnb” means you’re renting a private or shared apartment or house, hosted by an individual, not by a business.

Below, we’ll compare Airbnb to hotels in 5 key categories:

  • Atmosphere

  • Price

  • Safety

  • Privacy

  • Amenities

Atmosphere Comparison

Airbnb: Better for unique lodging and “residential” feel

Hostels: Better for standard lodging and “professional” feel

Airbnb has played a major role in the shift towards alternative accommodation (along with social media apps, like Instagram). More than ever, travelers want unique experiences, including their choice of lodging.

Alternative accommodation includes themed hotels or lodging distinct or relevant to a specific destination, like yurts in Central Asia, casas particulares in Cuba and cave homes in Cappadocia. For more on Airbnb’s unique stays (including examples of each), click here.

If you’re seeking a more standard lodging experience, whether for comfort, familiarity or amenities, you’re likely better off booking a hotel (check Agoda.com for quality hotel rooms at great prices).

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Airbnb rentals are often apartments or private houses. Being in a residential environment (like an apartment building within a neighborhood) lets you experience a local, “residential feel”. But in a hotel, you’ll typically be in a property that offers a more “professional” feel, alongside tourists in other hotels.

For this reason, Airbnb rentals can make an ideal base if you’ll be in a destination for a week or longer, and a great choice for long-term stays (28 days or longer). For more on short-term vs. long-term Airbnb stays (as well as how to find percentage discounts), click here.

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In terms of a social atmosphere, an Airbnb apartment or house usually lacks a common area or lobby where you can meet other travelers, but it’s a great option if you’re seeking privacy for you or a group. If you want a lobby or in-house bar/cafe in the property you’ll be staying in, book a hotel. Consider hostels if you’d like to meet other travelers. For everything you need to know about hostel accommodation, click here.

*To see today’s deals on hotels in any destination, click here.

Price Comparison

Airbnb: Usually cost less (but expect less amenities)

Hotels: Usually cost more (but expect more amenities)

Is Airbnb cheaper or more expensive than hotels?

In my experience staying in short-term and long-term hotel rooms and Airbnbs, I’ve found that booking an Airbnb apartment typically costs more than renting that same apartment at the local nightly rate (what a local resident would pay on a monthly lease), but less than hotel rooms of similar location and amenities. Here’s a basic graph to demonstrate this concept (the numbers included are arbitrary).

Nightly Rate Comparison

This price tier especially make sense if you consider the way that many Airbnb hosts earn their income. Many sign a lease for a local apartment, then rent out that place to travelers looking for a great nightly rate (compared to most local hotel rates). This subletting model is sometimes called “rental arbitrage”.

This is also why, if you plan to stay in a destination for longer than a few months, renting through the local market usually saves you money compared to staying in an Airbnb, as the nightly rate for a local resident would usually cost much less than booking that same place through Airbnb. For more on short-term vs. long-term Airbnb rentals, click here.

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Airbnb rentals typically cost less than hotel rooms with similar features, as hotels typically have greater overhead (registered businesses with full-time staff) and offer more amenities (breakfast, room service, etc.). Partly due to this, it’s easy to find Airbnb rentals larger than hotel rooms in the same price range.

If you want a cheaper option in your destination, it usually will not be a hotel or Airbnb, but rather a guest house (many guest houses list on Airbnb). To learn about guest house accommodation, click here.

*To see today’s deals on hotels in any destination, click here.

Safety Comparison

Hotels are (generally) safer than Airbnbs.

From the guest’s perspective, there’s often an extra safety element at play when checking into a lodging business, as compared to checking into someone’s personal home. This is why, on Airbnb, you should know how to spot quality listings and trustworthy hosts PRIOR to booking! For new users, follow the guidelines in this section of our Airbnb Booking Guide. Also, read the Airbnb Safety Guide.

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Still, booking a hotel doesn’t ensure the safety of you and your belongings. When considering any hotel, always research the local neighborhood, read recent guest reviews, and browse photos of the specific room you want. If you use Agoda.com for discounted hotel rooms, follow the booking guidelines covered here.

*To see today’s deals on hotels in any destination, click here.

Privacy Comparison

Privacy in an Airbnb or hotel depends on the type of place you book.

With hotels, you’ll typically be staying in a private room (some hotels also offer shared rooms). However, shared space listings are common on Airbnb. In fact, as a company, Airbnb began with its founders renting out air mattresses to travelers visiting San Francisco.

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The level of privacy you’ll have during an Airbnb stay will depend on the type of place you book. The four types of places on Airbnb are: entire place, private room, hotel room and shared room listings.

  • Entire place: You’ll have the whole space to yourself

  • Private room: You’ll have a room in a house, apartment or business

  • Hotel room: You’re renting a room in a hotel

  • Shared room: You’ll have a bed within a room in a home or business

For more on these four types of places, read this section of the Airbnb Booking Guide. If it will be your first time staying in a shared space, also read the Airbnb Etiquette Guide.

*To see today’s deals on hotels in any destination, click here.

Amenities Comparison

Amenities vary in Airbnbs and hotels.

Airbnb hosts provide 5 essential amenities to their guests: toilet paper, soap, linens, one towel (per guest) and one pillow (per guest). Airbnb hosts aren’t required to replace or refill these items during a stay (some will if it’s requested), while hotels replace these items on a daily basis during a guest’s stay.

You’ll find amenities such as a kitchen, laundry, on-site bar/restaurant and parking in Airbnbs and hotels, but none are standard in either. For help finding the specific amenities you want in an Airbnb, click here. For help finding specific amenities in a hotel, click here. For the 15 amenities Airbnb users commonly seek out (including a pool, gym and view), click here.

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Many private Airbnb rentals are apartments or houses without reception - with no place for guests to store bags if they arrive early, or to pick up after checkout. This may be an issue if you arrive to your destination in the very early morning or if you’re on a short trip and don’t want to carry bags with you on the last day.

In such cases, you’re better off booking a hotel (with a reception desk). Hotels typically allow guests to leave their bags with reception until check-in, or after they check out to be picked up later that day. To learn how check-in and checkout work on Airbnb, click here.

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As mentioned in the price comparison, one reason Airbnbs often cost less than hotel rooms is that they provide fewer amenities. For independent travelers who don’t mind “small things”, like eating breakfast out rather than in, this may not be an issue. Many travelers choose hotels over Airbnb rentals because of the service that mid to upper-tier hotels can provide (pool, gym, tours, etc.) - which are especially desirable for large groups, families and the elderly.

It’s fairly easy to find an Airbnb with a washer inside the unit, so you can do laundry on your schedule. Airbnb hosts are not required to change guests’ bed sheets during a stay, but you can request it - especially if you’ll be staying more than a few days. Many pet owners choose Airbnb due to its abundance of pet-friendly listings. For help on how to filter, find and choose a pet-friendly Airbnb listing, click here.

*For the 5 things you should bring to an Airbnb stay, click here.

So, Is Airbnb Worth It?

So if you’re already accustomed to staying in hotels, is trying Airbnb worth the hassle?

This depends on the experience you’re seeking out of a trip. If you book an apartment or house via Airbnb, you’ll likely have more independence during the stay, from check-in to checkout. Self check-in is common. Many hosts send all important information to guests up-front. In many cases, you will not meet your host.

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This independence is not a big deal for some guests, but a dealbreaker for others. Stick to a hotel if you prefer to be “serviced” during your stay - even if that just means breakfast included. Consider Airbnb if you enjoy doing things on your own (like eating breakfast at a local restaurant), or prefer to stay in a residential setting and/or trendy or interesting neighborhood.

So, yes, Airbnb is worth trying at least once.

It’s a viable option no matter your tastes or budget, and is easy and intuitive to use. It’s designed so users can book in 3 clicks. For help booking on Airbnb, use our Airbnb Booking Guide. And while you can find hotels on Airbnb, I recommend you use “traditional” hotel booking sites, like Agoda.com, because they specifically cater to the needs of hotel-seekers.

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*To see today’s deals on hotels in any destination, click here.

Airbnb vs. Hostels

Some hostels list their beds on Airbnb.

The primary difference between a hostel and a hotel is that hotels sell entire rooms, while hostels sell single beds within a room (some hostels also offer private rooms). Nowadays, hostels are ubiquitous - no longer just popular in Europe and Asia. To learn about hostel accommodation, click here.

Hostel beds are some of the lowest-priced options you can find on Airbnb, regardless of destination. To find a bed, filter your search by selecting “Private room” and/or “Shared room” under the “Type of place” tab. To see deals on hostels in your destination, click here.

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Airbnb vs. Resorts

While some resorts list on Airbnb, you’ll typically see better luck via hotel booking sites, like Agoda.com. Also, consider booking directly on a resort’s website, as many offer a rewards or membership program to guests who book direct.

Keep in mind that many resorts and higher-tier hotel brands (like Hilton, Ritz-Carlton and Disney) do not list their rooms on Airbnb, perhaps since their brand name attracts enough customers on their own.

*To see today’s deals on hotels in any destination, click here.

Conclusion

Hopefully you found this guide helpful.

We compared Airbnb and hotels through 5 categories: atmosphere, price, safety, privacy and amenities. As someone who stays in hotels and Airbnbs, I don’t feel that one is better than the other. The choice depends on what you’re seeking. To learn more about Airbnb, hotels or hostels, explore our other guides below.

Enjoy your travels!

Learn More About Airbnb

Introduction To Airbnb

Understand Your Options

Get Started With Airbnb

Know Before You Go

Specific Types Of Bookings

Cancellations, Refunds And Changes

Airbnb’s Other Listing Categories

Airbnb’s Other Features

Help With Your Account

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Taz Zaidi [Author]
Taz Zaidi [Author]

Taz Zaidi is an American travel writer and the founder/creator of TRVLGUIDES.com. Connect with him on Instagram (@tazzaidi) or on his personal website, at tazzaidi.com.

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Taz Zaidi
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