Is Airbnb the cheapest way to travel?

Airbnbs are usually cheaper than hotels for longer stays and large groups, but they don't offer the same services. Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020.



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Airbnbs are usually cheaper than hotels for longer stays and large groups, but they don't offer the same services. Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020. She previously wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.

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YOU COULD BE FINED $1,000 OR MORE OR SLEEP ON THE STREET The biggest problem with Airbnb is hosts cancelling on you last minute. Most short-term rentals are not licensed and thus illegal. At the time of writing almost 80% of online listings were not licensed. You and the owner could be fined.

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Airbnb properties were shown to generate a rental income of $2,548 per month, while long term rentals brought in $2,261 per month. It's safe to say that Airbnb can certainly still be a profitable investing strategy, with hosts earning around $13,800 annually.

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The most significant disadvantage of Airbnbs is that there is no daily cleaning service. Because of this, you're charged an extra cleaning fee at the end of your stay, which can sometimes be unreasonable. This could make or break your decision to ever book an Airbnb.

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The main downside of using Airbnb for short-term rentals is that the platform charges its hosts a commission for each booking. This can eat into your profits, depending on the length and scale of your rental offerings.

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Tourists are mostly motivated to book Airbnb accommodation because of its low cost, convenient location, and household amenities.

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Airbnb prohibits security cameras or recording devices that are in or that observe private spaces like bedrooms, bathrooms, or sleeping areas.

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Cleaning Regulations and Guidelines for Airbnbs Unlike a hotel room, Airbnbs are not usually cleaned daily. In many ways, it's up to you as the host to decide how cleaning tasks will get done during a guest's stay. Some hosts provide guests with cleaning products for everyday spills and messes.

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Airbnb rentals are generally cheaper when booked four weeks in advance. For this analysis, we only included properties with availability across all time frames. This means the same properties were lowering their prices about a month out compared to last-minute bookings or those made well in advance.

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The average Airbnb for six was 33% cheaper than booking three hotel rooms, but the average hotel room was 29% cheaper than booking an Airbnb for two, Nerdwallet found. Here for a short stay? Home rentals typically cost more for short stays, due to cleaning fees and lack of multiday-stay discounts.

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If you're looking for a more unique or extended stay with more facilities, Airbnb will give you plenty more attractive options than most hotel chains. However, hotels are a safer bet when it comes to quality and the ability to save money in the long run. The final call is up to you and what you want out of your stay.

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150 million people use Airbnb to book vacation stays or experiences. Over 1 billion guests have stayed at Airbnbs. Airbnb has listings in over 220 countries and regions. Roughly 60% of Airbnb's user base are millennials.

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Airbnbs provide guests with access to full kitchens, larger living spaces, and a unique experience. Often, these rentals come at a much cheaper cost than similar services provided by the hotel industry. Perhaps because of the price and experience, millennials favor Airbnbs over hotels.

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Extras guests appreciate:
  • Extra toilet paper, linens, and towels.
  • Basic toiletries like shampoo and conditioner.
  • Dish soap and cleaning supplies.
  • Dining basics like a coffee maker, cooking utensils, dishes, and silverware.
  • Wine glasses.
  • Basic cooking supplies like salt, pepper, and oil.
  • Coffee, tea.
  • Light breakfast or snacks.


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Many hosts charge an Airbnb extra guest fee as part of their pricing strategy. The extra guest fee applies to each guest beyond their standard occupancy, up to the maximum number of people they allow in their space.

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Some localities have outlawed or put restrictions on Airbnb hosting for several reasons. One is that it takes away tax revenues normally paid to lodgers (although now Airbnb works with cities to collect such taxes), or takes away business from traditional hotels or bed-and-breakfast inns.

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Safety measures to protect hosts Safety issues can happen at any form of lodging, and Airbnb is generally considered safe. Just be aware that problems can arise, so be aware of scams, unethical practices and physical issues with properties.

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An Airbnb is not a bed and breakfast. Interestingly, the Airbnb concept chose the name because of all benefits and positive images that B&Bs conjure up. Yet, beyond the name, there are few similarities between a B&B and an Airbnb.

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