- Airbnb
Airbnb
Based out of San Francisco, Airbnb burst onto the scene in 2008. It was founded as an accommodations site which allows travelers to book unique temporary visits all across the world. The Airbnb community made it possible for travelers to book apartments, homes, villas, and even castles in over 191 countries at a reasonable rate.
Over 60 million people have booked their travel accommodations using Airbnb to date and they have over 2 million listings worldwide. It is important to note, however, that the only travel booking that can really take place on the Airbnb platform are lodging reservations.
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The Good
- Unique Experience
- Booking Options
- Filtering
- Reviews and Ratings
Unique Experience
Unlike traditional booking sites, Airbnb doesn't simply list prices and star ratings of the large hotel brands and chains. Instead, Airbnb offers a unique experience to those looking to stray from the typical hotel perspective of traveling. A network of "hosts" must qualify to list their properties on Airbnb. These hosts can be found in the U.S. and internationally. The ability to stay in the middle of a big city or off in a small, rural town is something that makes Airbnb stand out from traditional booking bureaus.
The listings on Airbnb cannot be found with any other travel agency. The accommodations they have for travelers are specific to their network which means they open up a whole new world to booking living quarters. For those interested in staying in the typical run-of-the-mill hotel chains, Airbnb will likely not be the best platform to use.
Booking Options
With Airbnb, travelers can book for just a night, a week, or even a month depending on the listing and location. One of the benefits to using Airbnb is that travelers can experience a unique side to their travel destination not otherwise available in a hotel. For instance, travelers can book the following:
- Apartments
- Townhomes
- Condos
- Homes
- Villas
- Castles
Customer Review: Brayden from Texas
"I like the creative options and less touristy places to stay....sailboats! I also find that the owners are friendly and accommodating. the prices are usually better than national sites."
Filtering
Rather than spend time sorting through thousands of possible accommodations, Airbnb users can quickly filter through search results to find their desired accommodation. A prospective traveler who uses Airbnb will be able to sort based on price, listing type, and even number of travelers. Another beneficial aspect to using Airbnb is that larger groups, for instance, can book a home for one low nightly cost. When split between the traveling party, the Airbnb option becomes much more affordable and often times provides a more comfortable living situation.
Reviews and Ratings
Another feature that benefits is travelers are the reviews and ratings. The rating system is also a helpful took to prospective travelers and even for Airbnb hosts. At the end of each stay, the host will rate the guests (based on how their property was treated) and the guests will rate the listing/host. These ratings help those who are looking to book using Airbnb and keeps guests from booking who find it difficult to treat the properties with respect.
The Bad
- Limitations
- Pricing
Limitations
Airbnb is included in the "travel booking" industry because of the ability to book lodging; however, there are some services missing. While Airbnb does provide an entirely original traveling experience, it only takes care of one aspect of the booking process. Most traveling agencies allow their travelers to book a number of their accommodations through their platform, but Airbnb focuses solely on where the traveler will stay throughout their trip. That means the following cannot be booked using Airbnb:
- Flights
- Travel Activities
- Cruises
- Vacation Packages
There are also some limitations as to where a traveler can visit and stay as well. Airbnb is a bit different from traditional hotel systems, so there are varying regulations placed on where they can operate. While they do operate in nearly 200 countries, there are some cities that do not allow Airbnb listings. So, if a traveler is set on one of those cities, they will need to book a traditional hotel.
Pricing
Travelers looking to save on lodging will most likely want to try a different platform (unless traveling in a large group). Since some of the listings are rather lavish, the prices may seem to be more expensive than if a traveler were to simply book a hotel. There are deals and discounts available through Airbnb and prices per night will fluctuate depending on season, length of stay, demand, and size of the traveling party.
The Bottom Line
Airbnb is designed for the millennial traveler. Accommodations are found in unique areas and varying circumstances. Travelers interested in staying in places that would not be available to them otherwise would most likely enjoy using the Airbnb service. However, those looking for a more comprehensive way to book their travel may want to use another resource. Travelers who book their accommodations through Airbnb can expect the following:
- Sorting tool - quickly filter through hundreds or even thousands of lodging options
- Unique travel accommodations - stay in properties that would not otherwise be available
- Cut costs on large groups - split the costs per night to save money
- Varied Locations - Airbnb has listings both in the U.S. and internationally
- Extra booking efforts required - travelers will need to book their flights and other travel necessities elsewhere
User Reviews
Star Rating
305 Reviews
Review Breakdown
Sentiment Criteria
Hannah McGuire
I love Airbnb! I have used it internationally and in the US, and have found it to be a great tool. I love reading the reviews on different places and seeing other ppls experiences- that has been the most helpful to me in finding a good place to stay.
Carlee Burt
We love using Airbnb for vacations! Great if you have kids and need separate rooms
Marniwho
It has been a fun adventure every time we use airBnB. We have stayed in California and Costa Rica and each time, I'm pleased with The accuracy and quality of the places
Mason Allen
Airbnb is easy to navigate when looking for vacation rentals because the filters are unique to what kind of experience you want and so you are able to more easily find what you are looking for. I like that the site captures the travel aspect of renting a place, not just your requirements for how many bathrooms.
Jake Mecham
Airbnb is everyone and the cheapest option out of all. I love being able to look at the pictures of fun places I want to stay at. Much cheaper than a hotel and much more fun.
Kira Macdonald
I use airbnb to book more unique stays in the places I visit. I find the site easy to use, safe and reliable. It has given me access to some amazing hosts and I will continue to use it for future trips.
Blake Hirschi
A better way to travel! So much more efficient and cheaper than standard hotel/motel stays. Getting and airbnb is often more more pleasant than going to a big chain hotel. I travel quite a bit and airbnb takes all the hassle away!
Lizzie Billings
I used Airbnb my entire time traveling in Europe. It was an amazing way to meet locals and find great deals!
Landon Badoni
Airbnb is a great platform for finding a place to stay while out of town! Their support is incredible and does a fantastic job of following up with their customers to ensure their satisfaction!
Chandler Beaman
Used this to plan our trip to Belize and it was great! Seeing reviews is the most helpful part.
Brooke Moser
I have only had good experiences with Airbnb. Super convenient and simple. I would rather stay in an Airbnb than a hotel these days.
Corbin Short
What I like the most about Airbnb is the novel business idea of home-sharing. And it works so much better than hotels in a lot of different scenarios. Airbnb has definitely upgraded my travel plans. It's hard to plan financially though because you cant anticipate how much a maintenance fee will be until you're ready to buy, which is annoying since it is often 50% of the total cost to rent.
David Glauser
Great service for guests. As a host you can make good money but Airbnb does not do a good job taking care of their hosts.
Shalese Evertsen
Very easy to use and i have used it several times including putting up rentals for reservation on Airbnb.
McKaela Evertsen
I’ve always had a good experience with Airbnb. It has helped me find safe and the best places available in the area I want to stay
Emma Simpson
Airbnb is amazingly convenient and has many good locations. I have stayed in one before, and we had 6 people total. It accommodated for all of us. I really appreciate that we can find places that will support a large group like that.
Jared
The few times I have used Airbnb have been positive experiences! I stayed at two different places during a multi-day trip and was pleased with the people. The app also has a nice user interface. I've heard of people having negative experiences with it, but I never have myself.
Kyle Johnson
Airbnb has been fun to use for vacations with our family. It is a great resource. Sometimes the extra fees make weekend trips a little too expensive however.
Karli
Airbnb has a very wide selection of wonderful properties in places all over the world. We especially had a great experience when we traveled to Italy. The language barrier was never an issue and every place we've ever stayed from Airbnb has been clean and very accurate to the description on the site. The one downside is that there are quite a bit of extra fees on top, so the price ends up going up quite a lot from the original listing.
Jennifer Ashby
I had a great stay with Airbnb. Everything was clean and organized. Early last year we had to cancel a trip because of covid. We weren’t able to get money back, but they gave us credit to use another time.
Morgan Knight
We have used Airbnb many times now and have had very positive experiences! Our hosts have been really communicative and the interface on the app and website is very easy to use! The one thing is that I have noticed is prices are listed much lower and then the cleaning and host fees add on more to the total, so just something to be aware of.
Carol Knight
Airbnb is a fantastic site. I have had great experience in booking and cancelling. Very easy to use and such a fun site to visit when searching for the best place to stay anywhere in the world!
Mary Alice M.
Our location was very convenient which was nice, but the pictures looked a lot nicer than the actual place. We sacrificed location for quality, but our trip was still very enjoyable.
Kellie Payne
Love the unique experiences that you get from NOT staying in a generic hotel. I’ve had awesome experiences in every air bnb I’ve stayed in!
Amy McCarlie
Our experience with Airbnb was amazing! So easy to find places everwhere! We found a great Airbnb in St. George and my kids loved it so much! We have used this for a lot of the places we vacation at
Michael Ewing
I love this service. So nice to find place to stay that has a more homie feel than a hotel that a million people stay at.
Maria Sena Torres
I love Airbnb! Anytime I travel it’s the first site I check for places to stay. There are so many options and great places to stay!
Maddison Vela
The Air Bnb was very convenient to stay in. It was also much cheaper than a hotel, and this added to the appeal! The hosts were very kind and checked in nicely.
Emily Grossman
The cleaning fee is a little pricey and should be already included with the nightly fee
Rhyia Emeri Reyes
Airbnb is an easy app to use to book your travel essentials. I have used Airbnb a handful have times and it has helped me save money.
jaci finch
I used air BnB to find a super cool Tipi in Arizona to camp at. The views were amazing; there was so much privacy. I would say your experience will depend on the hosts of your stay, but for me it was super easy to find such a unique stay and I would recommend it to anyone.
Alejandro Perez
For single bedrooms and not renting a whole place, it is a much better value than a hotel if you are traveling alone as I had to do for covid.
Debora Paez
Most of my experiences with Airbnb have been so great. Always provides a place to stay when hotels are booked. Even better places for your money than hotels.
Summer Meadors
I absolutely love Airbnb. I have used it in the United States, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. All the reviews are trustworthy and the wishlist is so helpful to keep track of my trips.
Sarah
AirBnB has made searching for vacation rentals SO EASY. The app is so easy to use, and I love that you can organize the stays / experiences into different categories while planning different trips. Seriously has changed the game for traveling!
Ashley
My absolute favorite way to travel. SO much cheaper than hotels and very flexible!!
Ashton Rogers
I love Airbnb and i think its a great alternative to hotels for people looking to have a more homey get-away experience. My Airbnbs are always clean and are great for their money value. The hosts I have rented from are always nice and respond to messages quickly. I think it is best to rent from a "super host" if possible because they have the most experience.
Nathan Justis
Love it! I love the concept, love the user interface. It's all great. I like renting from Superhosts and knowing they have a good track record. Sometimes the map view of available spots loads a little slowly, but not too bad.
Davis Johnson
Loved my trip to California using Airbnb, made finding a place to stay super easy, and stress free.
Teah Garner
Airbnb has been such an amazing alternative to staying in hotels. The coolest thing about it is being able to meet really cool people I otherwise wouldn’t!
Julia Justis
If it weren’t for Airbnb, I would’ve slept in the streets many a night. But thanks to them, I found comfortable and affordable housing. Such a blessing to have this company around.
Jen
We stayed at a lovely townhome in St. George. It was clean, a great size and had a fully equipped kitchen. It was exactly what we needed for our stay.
Saranie Wahlen
Airbnb is a great way to save money while traveling but also have the amenities of a home. We’ve loved staying in Airbnb’s.
Quinn Odom
I have always booked vacation homes through Airbnb and I have never been disappointed. The homes are always clean and well kept. The booking process is easy and most of the home owners are very well at communicating. It is very comforting to always walk into a clean home!
Grant Conrady
I booked a trip to New York City a couple of years back. Some friends and I wanted a place to stay in the city that was close to a subway station, food, activities, etc. I used the Airbnb app and put in my dates, how many people were coming, and our desired location...the app did the room finding for me! I was able to directly communicate with the landlord and book our stay. We had no issues with our stay and were able to coordinate arrival time(s) and departure right through the app. I have been looking for other vacations to book and my first stop is always Airbnb!
Amy Barrus
I enjoy using Airbnb for family vacation planning. It is a user-friendly site. We have a family of eight so it is difficult to find options that work in the hotel setting. Airbnb has changed that restricting factor when we go on vacation. I have viewed homes for rent inside and outside the US and have been mostly satisfied with everything at my stays. One thing that I would like to see improved at properties like this is a minimum amount of necessities like dishes, toilet paper, laundry supplies etc. I have noticed that sometimes a stay will accommodate 10 people, but there are only 4 bowls. (Not very practical) On the whole we have had great experiences. In February 2020 we celebrated our 20th anniversary on a hilltop in Iceland in an Airbnb that had historic significance, was one of 3 homes in a fjord, and had really fun additions including an inground trampoline. We want to take our children back in the summer and enjoy the opposite season there as well.
Jordyn Kerner
Always a go to option when traveling and trying to find a place to stay. Prices are sometimes better than a hotel, and the website/app is very user friendly and provides lots of details about the Airbnb.
Ikumi Flammer
We're happy for most of the places we stayed. I like the ones that are clean and organized
Lilly
I love this service. It really helps when traveling to a foreign country. And it saves a lot of money rather than staying in hotels. I’ve only been disappointed once when a place we stayed at looked far different than the pictures they showed.
ML
This is my favorite place to look for places to stay when I travel. Very user friendly.