Who stays in airbnbs when you travel?

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
We never stay in hotels. We prefer to Airbnb. We’re heading to Minnesota for a nephew’s wedding end of August. As is typical, a block of hotel rooms has been booked for out of town guests. We were told it was a great deal, great discount, and I’m sure it was compared to the regular price. Still, if we’d gotten a room, it was $181 a night. This would be our room:
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Compare that to our Airbnb at $87 a night with a 5 star review from dozens of guests. I know some prefer the conveniences of a hotel, but our preference has always been these unique and different places to stay every time we travel. And you can’t beat the price!
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We have our own fire pit area too. Not shown but in the same area is a grill if we wanted to cook out.
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I try to arrange VRBO or Airbnbs for most times when we're staying for more than a couple of nights (and not bringing the RV).
Mostly it because we prefer not eating in restaurants for every. single. meal. Ugh...

It's not always possible though. When in Mississauga (Toronto suburb) last summer we couldn't find a well-located, reasonable Airbnb so booked a hotel that offered a pretty good breakfast. Since our trip was primarily to visit family, we ate most lunches and dinners with them anyway. Plus there was a Tim Horton's and some other quick eateries within a mile walk of the hotel, so we weren't trapped.

A notable advantage to hotels: Nearly all offer full refunds (or at least only make you pay for the first night) if you need to cancel late-minute. With Airbnbs and VRBOs you pay for the full stay in advance and can't get your money back.
 
StarSong said:
A notable advantage to hotels: Nearly all offer full refunds (or at least only make you pay for the first night) if you need to cancel late-minute. With Airbnbs and VRBOs you pay for the full stay in advance and can't get your money back.
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That’s not been our experience @StarSong. Here’s the cancellation policy for the Airbnb we booked in august. It’s pretty standard for all that we’ve stayed at over the years. Perhaps things have changed since the last time you booked one? Or maybe for your area it’s a different policy.
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Ronni said:
That’s not been our experience @StarSong. Here’s the cancellation policy for the Airbnb we booked in august. It’s pretty standard for all that we’ve stayed at over the years. Perhaps things have changed since the last time you booked one? Or maybe for your area it’s a different policy.
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I just booked one for Maui. Virtually all VRBO and Airbnbs can't be cancelled without losing at least 50%. When it's closer than a month or two before the trip, nothing is refunded.

It might be because Hawaii accommodations are probably in much higher demand than Minnesota's.
 
I'm still on the old ones just called B&Bs. Those were fun, you'd stay with a family. You always enjoyed great food, comfortable beds. The prices were very affordable and they were leaving you feeling safe and secure.

Sorry, I've heard of these new AirB&Bs via Moe Sargi on his YouTube channel. He uses them frequently on his travels...
 
I am actually thinking of doing it full time. I am selling my home, and I just want a simpler life. I have considered an RV, but not sure I want to do that (Cost of the RV, towing it, maintenance, leveling, hitching up, hookups with water, sewer, electricity, finding campgrounds, cost of campgrounds, license, insurance, dumping tanks, can't park just anywhere when traveling, cramped bathrooms, more wear & tear on tow vehicle and reduced gas mileage). An alternative is to stay at Air B&B long term stays (reduced rates for monthly stays). I can go wherever I want with none of the hassles, stay for a month, and then move on.
 
StarSong said:
I just booked one for Maui. Virtually all VRBO and Airbnbs can't be cancelled without losing at least 50%. When it's closer than a month or two before the trip, nothing is refunded.

It might be because Hawaii accommodations are probably in much higher demand than Minnesota's.
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We’ve stayed in Airbnb’s across the nation over the years and there. A cellar job policies are much the same, only varying by maybe a day either way.

But yeah I’m sure Hawaii airbnbs and VRBOs (and other tourist spots) must have more stringent policies. That makes total sense.
 
bobcat48 said:
I am actually thinking of doing it full time. I am selling my home, and I just want a simpler life. I have considered an RV, but not sure I want to do that (Cost of the RV, towing it, maintenance, leveling, hitching up, hookups with water, sewer, electricity, finding campgrounds, cost of campgrounds, license, insurance, dumping tanks, can't park just anywhere when traveling, cramped bathrooms, more wear & tear on tow vehicle and reduced gas mileage). An alternative is to stay at Air B&B long term stays (reduced rates for monthly stays). I can go wherever I want with none of the hassles, stay for a month, and then move on.
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I stayed in airbnb’s for 3 months after selling my home in 2019. It was a very cool experience on numerous levels. I will say tho that by the time i found & closed on a new house 3 months down the line, it was great to settle into my own place again. Different strokes for different folks, tho….safe travels & happy trails if you decide to give it a go!
 
@bobcat, that seems like a good way to test out locations. Put your prized possessions in a storage place and travel about. You may accidentally find someplace you love.
 
Airbnbs are taking the blame here for the lack of regular long term rentals. Rental vacancies run about 1% and the population is growing. It seems like the only ones being offered for rent are overpriced dumpy suites that aren’t good enough for Airbnb. I can understand the owners’ point of view too.
 
Lizzie00 said:
I stayed in airbnb’s for 3 months after selling my home in 2019. It was a very cool experience on numerous levels. I will say tho that by the time i found & closed on a new house 3 months down the line, it was great to settle into my own place again. Different strokes for different folks, tho….safe travels & happy trails if you decide to give it a go!
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I have wondered about that, if I might miss having my own place, but I know it's a tradeoff. You sacrifice one thing to get another.
 
Jules said:
Airbnbs are taking the blame here for the lack of regular long term rentals. Rental vacancies run about 1% and the population is growing. It seems like the only ones being offered for rent are overpriced dumpy suites that aren’t good enough for Airbnb. I can understand the owners’ point of view too.
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Completely agree.

For that reason among others, starting July 2019, the City of Los Angeles drastically curtailed Airbnb type rentals and the practice of investment property used for short term rentals.
From https://www.mashvisor.com/blog/airbnb-los-angeles-laws/
  • As a Los Angeles Airbnb host, you can only rent out your primary residence, provided that you live on site for a minimum of six months per year.
  • The total number of booking days is limited to 120 days a year, with some exceptions. If a host wants to exceed this number, he/she can register for extended home-sharing and pay an $850 fee.
  • A host can register and operate only one vacation rental unit at a time.
  • Los Angeles vacation rental homes need to be registered at the Planning Department and pay an $89 fee.
  • Only Los Angeles real estate properties approved for residential use can be rented out on short term basis. These exclude cars, sheds, trailers, and others.
  • Home-sharing of long term rental units by the renters is allowed, provided that they have approval from the landlord.
  • Airbnb LA hosts must provide guests with a Code of Conduct including safety and security requirements as hosts are fully responsible for the actions of their guests.
  • Owners of Airbnb Los Angeles rental properties are obliged to pay taxes. In case they advertise their home on a short term rental platform which does not have an agreement with the City of Los Angeles to collect and remit taxes, hosts must obtain a Transient Occupancy (Tax) Registration Certificate from the Office of Finance.
 
Has anyone found the cleaning and admin fees bring the prices up to the same as a hotel? This doesn’t stop me if the location is better and I’ll have kitchen facilities. I

Once my DD was insisting she could find me an AirBnB for a better rate than the hotel I’d booked. What she didn’t know was the noise and steady party activity in this area, also the safety factor. Caveat emptor.
 
Jules said:
Has anyone found the cleaning and admin fees bring the prices up to the same as a hotel? This doesn’t stop me if the location is better and I’ll have kitchen facilities. I

Once my DD was insisting she could find me an AirBnB for a better rate than the hotel I’d booked. What she didn’t know was the noise and steady party activity in this area, also the safety factor. Caveat emptor.
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I've found that, too. Before getting too excited about a low price I recalculate it with all the taxes and fees.
 
Jules said:
@bobcat, that seems like a good way to test out locations. Put your prized possessions in a storage place and travel about. You may accidentally find someplace you love.
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I guess I am mainly thinking of the freedom aspect and the travel (Seeing new sites). When the weather gets hot, I will head north, and vice versa, who knows, maybe you will be right. I may find somewhere else I love and take up residence. At this point, I just want to be rid of a place that's way too big for me, and too much upkeep.
 
Sometimes the booking and cleaning fees eat up the price advantage. I tried to book a studio condo near the beach last year that was advertised at $105 a night. When I plugged in for 3 days, it came to over $600. The fees were ridiculous AND I had to strip the bed, start a load of sheets and towels, load and start the dishwasher, take out the garbage and be out by 10 a.m.
 
I will be staying in one for the first time in October when I travel to Dublin for a wedding. I have heard some scary things about them and am more than a little apprehensive about it all. I have tried to keep the stay as short as possible, but nonetheless, I am dreading it.
 
Jules said:
Has anyone found the cleaning and admin fees bring the prices up to the same as a hotel? This doesn’t stop me if the location is better and I’ll have kitchen facilities. I

Once my DD was insisting she could find me an AirBnB for a better rate than the hotel I’d booked. What she didn’t know was the noise and steady party activity in this area, also the safety factor. Caveat emptor.
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I've found that too... and it's a PITA to have to pay high cleaning fees on top of the price of the rental because I always leave the place very clean... but the reason I choose Air BnB's over Hotels is that I hate to have people scraping furniture across the floor noisily over my head.. and they always do that in Hotels.. at 7am or past midnight.. why do people start rearranging furniture in hotel rooms.... and the worst of all.. is the cleaning crew at 8am when you've had a late night, and they're calling to each other loudly all along the hallways.. :eek:

The last twice we stayed in a Hotel.. we had someone ring from reception at 4am... 4am!!! to ask if we'd provided our passport details.. we were in a dead sleep after a long journey.... and they rang again 10 minutes later...

The other hotel had a Fire alarm go off at 3.30 am.. and everyone had to bundle out into the city street... dreadful..
 
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bobcat48 said:
I am actually thinking of doing it full time. I am selling my home, and I just want a simpler life. I have considered an RV, but not sure I want to do that (Cost of the RV, towing it, maintenance, leveling, hitching up, hookups with water, sewer, electricity, finding campgrounds, cost of campgrounds, license, insurance, dumping tanks, can't park just anywhere when traveling, cramped bathrooms, more wear & tear on tow vehicle and reduced gas mileage). An alternative is to stay at Air B&B long term stays (reduced rates for monthly stays). I can go wherever I want with none of the hassles, stay for a month, and then move on.
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You are right about them RV travel. Very expensive and plain hard work. Air B&B is much better. I have used them for decades all over the world. Forget those trailer parks with their crowds. Not "Kool" at all!
 
Packerjohn said:
You are right about them RV travel. Very expensive and plain hard work. Air B&B is much better. I have used them for decades all over the world. Forget those trailer parks with their crowds. Not "Kool" at all!
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Thank you for that PJ, it's nice having a second or third opinion from people who have done both. I will seriously consider that advice.
 
Jules said:
Has anyone found the cleaning and admin fees bring the prices up to the same as a hotel? This doesn’t stop me if the location is better and I’ll have kitchen facilities. I
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@Jules even with cleaning and service fees we’ve found it cheaper across the boards to stay in an Airbnb.

The Airbnb pictured in my OP has a $25 cleaning fee and then an Airbnb service fee (that’s how the Airbnb business makes their money) plus taxes plus the actual cost of the rental for the 3 night stay. Here’s a screen shot of our receipt.
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Compare that to the hotel costs if we’d decided to go that route $181 a night x 3, plus Minnesota has a 3% hotel tax, so we’d be looking at $559.29…not quite two hundred bucks more expensive!

Granted we could have booked at a less expensive hotel than the Raddison, but the Raddison is hardly luxury accommodations, it’s a bit less than middle of the road, and even if we had, my experience is that Airbnb is still less expensive/more bang for the buck! Plus more ambience and amenities other than room service which we would never use anyway because it’s always outrageously expensive.
 

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