Going on vacations are one of the highlights of my year. For the past few years, my family have opted for staying on an AirBNB instead of a traditional hotel or resort. Although I do not consider myself an “expert”, I have stayed enough to develop several take aways. These are my pros and cons of renting an AirBNB.

Pros

More Bang For Your AirBNB Buck

Renting an AirBNB can actually less expensive than staying in a traditional hotel. For less than the cost of a one room hotel, you can rent an entire house. This option is very needed when traveling with your entire family. Having multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, living spaces, a back yard, garage, laundry room, etc. may be something you need for your entire family. I’ve stayed in a four bedroom house for half of the cost of a two bedroom hotel suite. This is a perfect option for a longer trip.

Many Living Options

AirBNB has many options for your vacation rentals. Personally, I have stayed in a studio apartment, condominium, single family house, and a mobile home. All options were perfect for each occasion. I’ve never stayed in an individual room in someone’s home, but I have seen it’s availability.

More Comfort in an AirBNB

When staying in an AirBNB, you have more comfort than a traditional hotel. You can actually relax and feel as if you are in the comfort of your own home. In most cases, you don’t have to worry about the people in the room next door or the guests above or below you. If you have children, they may be able to run and play at their leisure.

No Parking or Resort Fees

During my recent vacation to Hawaii, I knew I wanted to stay in downtown Waikiki. Each and every hotel came with a parking and resort fee. At some resorts, those fees were as high as an additional $75 a night. Some of the hotels parking lots were not on the hotel’s property. For this reason alone, I decided to opt for an AirBNB. Not only did my AirBNB have no resort fee, I also my own assigned parking spot. This was a win-win situation. When deciding on your vacation accommodations, always take the parking and resort fees into consideration.

Extras Included

For my last four beach vacations, I’ve stayed at an AirBNB. Beach supplies were always provided. Me and my family were able to take beach chairs, an umbrella, cooler, sand toys, and other beach supplies to the beach. It was great to not have to purchase these items.

The AirBNBs often have other extras. When I stayed in a condo in New Smyrna Beach, the condo included a fully stocked kitchen with food and drinks, soap, lotions, and anything we could have asked for. Although all AirBNBs don’t come fully stocked with everything, it is really nice when things are included.

The AirBNB Host

Having an AirBNB host is like having your own personal concierge. They are available to provide you with information about the property, area, and suggestions for activities. The host is typically only a brief message away via the app. I’ve only had great experiences with my host. But having a host can be a pro and a con. See the con information below.

Less Distractions

My ultimate goal is relaxation when I’m on vacation. I’ve discovered that staying in an AirBNB has less distractions than a typical hotel or resort. I’ve never had to deal with maintenance crews working in the hotel suite next door, children running up and down the hallway, or being disturbed by housekeeping who disregarded the “do not disturb” sign on the door. Ultimately, I am able to relax and unwind more.

Cons

No Housekeeping

Typically, your AirBNB will not come with housekeepers to provide fresh towels and to make up your bed each morning. By having to “take care” of yourself, you may not feel as if you are on vacation. As a mom of four, I had to make sure I wash towels in the provided washer and dryer if we wanted fresh towels. We had to take out the trash ourselves. Of course, we didn’t want to keep the poopy pampers in our space.

More Rules in an AirBNB

When you are staying in an AirBNB, you are technically staying in another person’s home. You will have to adhere to more rules than you would when staying in a hotel. Typically the rules aren’t to the extreme. I feel you should just show the property the same respect as you would to your own property.

When I stayed in Myrtle Beach, there were signs all around the property with the “dos and don’ts.” I also had to pay an additional $295 security deposit to be used in case I accidentally left makeup on a towel or damaged any of their property. Although the cleanings rules weren’t that bad, there were other rules. My family wasn’t allowed to have any company at the property at any time during our 8 day stay. I had to provide the owner with a list of the names of everyone in my family and their ages. I’m surprised I didn’t have to send a picture to them. We were not expecting guests, but to be told we couldn’t have any visitors seemed a bit extreme. What do you think about that? Would this rule deter you from staying at the property?

The Neighbors

Neighbors typically do not like AirBNB renters. It is understandable. They do not like random people as neighbors all of the time. I completely understand it. I just don’t like the bad looks or complaints you may receive. Don’t take any complaints personally. I heard about a neighbor that complained about a tenet driving 2 miles over the speed limit or complained that a baby cried after “quiet” hours.

You May Lose the “Vacation” Vibe

You may not feel you are on vacation when you’re staying in an AirBNB. Without the luxuries of the traditional hotel services, you may feel that you’re still at home. If you think that will be a problem, you can always hire a chef, housekeeper, or other professional to assist you during your vacation.

The AirBNB Host

Hopefully you will never have an issue with your host. During my trip to Hawaii, the host was supposed to have the property manager meet me with the key of the property. I don’t know what happened, but the property manager didn’t arrive with the key until over an hour later. After a 12 hour flight, the last thing I wanted to do was wait over an hour to unpack and relax. I’ve also heard stories of the host being too talkative when checking in.

The Property is Not Available

Thankfully I have never had to experience my property not being available when I’m ready to check in. However, I have heard of the horror stories of people who have arrived to check in, but were never given the address, the home was not as expected, or the opportunity to check in was not available. This would be a nightmare for me. Unlike a traditional hotel, the AirBNB has already been paid and the company may not find you another place to say. You would have to go through the while dispute process to get a refund and also responsible for finding another location. This is not something anyone would want to do when traveling.

The Booking Process is Longer

Booking your stay through AirBNB will take a little longer than a traditional hotel or resort. You will need to create an account on the website. Once you find the property you want to stay in, you’ll need to reserve it though the property owner. The property owner will need to approve your reservation. Before approval, they may contact you for additional information. The process doesn’t always take a long time, however, its not instant like a traditional hotel.

I hope you enjoyed reading the pros and cons of staying in an AirBNB. Please share your experiences below.

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