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Is it cheaper to stay at Airbnb or hotel?

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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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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When we compared the prices of a “private room” Airbnb to hotels, Airbnb was cheaper in every city. Among the cities with the highest cost difference were Las Vegas ($269 cheaper), Boston ($206.30 cheaper), and Milwaukee ($180.20 cheaper) for a 1-night stay for 2 adult guests.

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The biggest benefit of staying at an Airbnb is the amount of space. You can rent an entire house to yourself! It's much more enjoyable to hang out in a dedicated living room than on the bed you'll be sleeping on in a hotel room. And of course, this makes it easy to stay with or host more people.

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The pros of Airbnb include affordability, local experience, more amenities than a standard hotel room, access to unique spaces, and the ability to connect with helpful hosts. The cons of Airbnb include a lack of standards, risky situations, no hotel services, paying in advance, and varying cancellation policies.

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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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A 2021 study of more than 125,000 Airbnb complaints on Twitter found that 72% of the issues were related to poor customer service and 22% were related to scams.

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Airbnb doesn't allow for hidden cameras or any other types of concealed recording devices.

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The pros of Airbnb include affordability, local experience, more amenities than a standard hotel room, access to unique spaces, and the ability to connect with helpful hosts. The cons of Airbnb include a lack of standards, risky situations, no hotel services, paying in advance, and varying cancellation policies.

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Of the 75 readers polled, 73% said they prefer hotels, 16% said it depends on the trip they have planned, and 11% said Airbnb. Hotels are preferred for shorter, solo trips and Airbnbs are best for longer stays with family, friends, and pets, according to our readers.

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On average, the nightly rate for a seven-night Airbnb stay turns out to be 32% cheaper than the nightly rate for a one-night stay. Stick around for a month to bring your nightly rate even lower — a 46% discount for committing to 30 days versus just one. Some cities offer even bigger discounts for long-term stays.

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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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While factors such as price, reviews and availability of parking were determinants of choice for both hotel and Airbnb consumers, hotel users valued attributes like housekeeping and security more so than Airbnb users, for whom attributes such as location and amenities were more important.

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According to the survey, 60 percent of leisure travelers who use both hotels and Airbnb prefer the home rental platform versus hotels. However, 68 percent of business travelers prefer hotels and have negative experiences using Airbnb for work.

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The country with the most Airbnb demand is the United States, with 99.5 million nights booked in 2021. They also had an increase of about 33 million nights booked from 2020 to 2021.

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What do quiet hours mean on Airbnb? Airbnb quiet hours are hours specified by hosts as times during which guests cannot be notably loud or rowdy.

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What are the benefits of staying in an Airbnb vs a hotel
  • Low(er) cost. The first (and most obvious) benefit of staying in an Airbnb is that it's usually cheaper than a hotel. ...
  • Live like a local. Another great benefit of Airbnb is that it's a more personal experience than a hotel. ...
  • Flexibility. ...
  • Book at-home services.


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In everywhere but India, if the Host accepts your request, you'll be charged for the reservation. If they decline or don't respond within 24 hours, there's no charge and you'll be free to book a different stay instead. For guests paying in Indian rupees, you'll be charged for the reservation when you request to book.

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Airbnb automatically collects from guests 1 month upfront and at the beginning of each 30 day period. Learn more about payouts for monthly stays. Stays longer than 28 nights and longer are subject to your chosen long-term cancellation policy.

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