Airbnb vs VRBO vs Hotels

[disneysteve]

Since this was brought back to the top, feels worth mentioning that while it may not be for everyone, airbnb really started out as a way to rent a room and have shared accommodations. These listings still exist and are still substantially cheaper than hotels. We had a great experience in an airbnb in Chicago a couple weeks ago. Hotels were running $400-600 per night due to a convention in town. I found a UofI PHd student with a 3 bedroom near campus in Hyde Park who rents by the bedroom. DD and I booked 3 nights for $400. We had the place to ourselves for most of our stay. Location was great and the house was well stocked with fruit, breakfast items, coffee, snacks, toiletries, etc. While we didn't cook while we were there, it was nice to have access to a full sized fridge for leftovers and generally to be in a neighborhood instead of in the hustle and bustle of a hotel zone. Free parking too, which in chicago saved us an additional $40+/night. Its not the stay I want every time I travel but for this trip it was perfect!

AirBnB was actually started by a couple of guys who rented space in their San Francisco home to sleep on air mattresses, which is where the name came from.

With AirBnB or VRBO, it's very important to do your research and ask questions before booking so you know exactly what you're getting. We rented a condo in Richmond, VA about 8 years ago. The place was nice but the guy had just started renting it out. It was his personal residence. When he got a renter, he would stay at a friend's house, but he did NOTHING to make the place ready for strangers to come in. Every dresser and closet was filled with his clothing so we had to live out of our suitcases. He left all of his toiletry items in the bathroom - open soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. Some of the furniture was very worn. One kitchen chair was broken. He must have been well over 6-feet tall because the pots and pans were on a hanging rack that I could just barely reach and my wife couldn't even get close to. The whole place just wasn't set up as a rental. I gave him some detailed comments after we left which he really appreciated. If he continued renting it out, I hope he took some of my advice.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

That and the fees they are charging now is outragous. The cleaning fees are more than the stays

[riverwed070707]

That and the fees they are charging now is outragous. The cleaning fees are more than the stays

There typically are not cleaning fees on shared accommodations. I'm not going to dispute the airbnb/taxes weren't high on our chicago rental but the host didn't assess anything above what airbnb + the city/state charge.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

cleaning fees are so high for entire homes

[anhtuvp]

Choosing between Airbnb, VRBO, and hotels depends on the trip I'm taking. For shorter stays, hotels are often more economical for me, too. I've noticed that Airbnb and VRBO prices can sometimes be higher, especially in popular tourist spots. Worries about safety and regulations, like the one you mentioned, can also influence my decision. Regarding property investments in short-term rentals (STRs), the potential for making a lot of money can be tempting. I recently found a hotel called Westgate Resorts online while looking for places to stay in Branson, Missouri. I've stayed there before, and it was nice with lots of things to enjoy during my visit. So, I can say that you can find good hotels online without having to access Airbnb or VRBO.