In our travel business, we hear opinions about vacation rentals (Airbnb, HomeAway, etc.) vs hotels all the time. Some people think vacation rentals are always a better value. Others would not give up the convenience and reliability of hotels.
Of course, the truth is never black and white. That’s why I find this analysis by Money Magazine so intriguing. By comparing hotels with Airbnb in specific markets, the staff provides a good overview of how the lodging types fare differently in different places.
WHERE AIRBNB WILL SAVE YOU MONEY AND WHERE IT WON’T
Of course, these may not be the places you are going. So how do you compare in your destination? Fortunately, my company’s acquisition of HomeAway and VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) and integration of their listings into the search engine enables all of us to make a good comparison wherever we are headed.
In a recent conversation with clients seeking lodging in Amsterdam after their river cruise, I shared how we can compare hotels and vacation rentals on multiple factors including price and location. A vacation rental’s price may be lower than a hotel’s, but if its less central location causes you to spend extra money or precious vacation time on getting the the places you want to see, it may actually be more expensive. Similarly, if coordinating with the owner or finding the location becomes cumbersome, it could erode any advantage.
This is not to say that vacation rentals can’t be great in some circumstances. When we took three generations of our family to the mountains, a cabin was much better and cost-effective than a hotel as we all were able to share a large living space, playing games and watching movies But if a couple is are stopping into a city for a quick day or two, simply checking into a well-located hotel may be the ticket.
Click this link if you want to check it out for yourself. You can compare lodging types side by side or even filter to isolate vacation rentals
These are some of the issues Expedia travel advisors work through with you to help pinpoint the exact right experience for you. In one circumstance it may be a vacation rental. In another, a hotel room.