There is really no right answer here, but there are many things to consider. I think about this a lot when I am traveling to different destinations and wanted to share some points that I consider when booking in any given place. Hopefully this will help you with decision making in planning your future travels.
Safety: hotel
As far as safety, I have to say that in most locations I would consider a hotel to be safer than an airbnb. Hotels are staffed and you know you have someone looking out for you. Another thing I consider is, honestly, the way a door locks. In an airbnb, you know that someone else has a key to the place you’re staying. In a hotel, although staff will have this type of access, you usually have a bolt or latch that you can close when you are in the room or space. Hotels also have accountability if something goes wrong, airbnb can be a lot more difficult to figure out in a compromising situation. You may not be able to get through to airbnb, it may be your word against an owners, etc.
Experience: airbnb
Airbnb can sometimes provide an experience that a hotel just can’t. For example, we stayed in a fisherman’s house in a remote village on the island of Milos in Greece. If a hotel had even been in the village, it would have ruined the experience. We stayed in a home with a water-door on a canal in Venice, and felt like locals sitting and enjoying the experience with nobody else around. Hotels just can’t provide this kind of experience.
Amenities: hotel
It’s hard to argue this one in favor of anything but hotels. Hotels provide fitness centers, wellness, breakfast, saunas, concierge, early and late check in, rooftop bars, restaurants, the list goes on and on and in this area airbnb just can not compete.
Location: both
Location is hard to choose. Both hotels and airbnb’s can be in VERY prime and wonderful locations.
Customer support: hotel
Since you have to go through airbnb or a host for support on that platform, it can be much more challenging than communication with hotel staff. Hotels generally have someone on site as well as someone you can reach to solve problems, answer questions, provide support, etc. When something goes wrong, you are more likely to have the situation handled.
Group travel : airbnb
When we travel with friends, it is fun to all be in the same place. Renting homes is a great way to spend your common time together instead of being in separate hotel rooms. It makes the experience more communal, you can also cook together, chill together during down time, etc.
Price : both
At this point in time, I don’t find that hotels or airbnb are more affordable than one another.
Cancellation policies: both
I also don’t find much difference here. As long as you read policies in advance for anywhere you are booking, you should be fine.
Rewards programs: hotels
If airbnb has a rewards program that I don’t know, please about let me know. But, as of now, having loyalty to a certain hotel chain has benefits that airbnb just can not compete with.
Feeling like a local: airbnb
Airbnb definitely wins here, if you want to immerse yourself in a town, feel like a local by staying in the same area, an airbnb is the best way to do this. You can also meet and stay with really great hosts who introduce you to things you may have missed otherwise.
Long term stays: airbnb
Staying long term in an airbnb would likely be much more comfortable. You can book a place to do your own laundry, cook your own food, have more space, etc. You can likely also find better deals on a long term Airbnb than a long term hotel stay.
Connectivity: hotels
This might not always be true, but if wifi is important to you, you should inquire about this before you stay. Hotels may also have easier access to fixing wifi issues should they arise.
If you’re interested in some of my favorite place we’ve stayed throughout our years of travel you can check out the “Where to Stay” tab on my blog. You can find it by clicking here —–> “Where to Stay”