I have not been paid by any entity in any way (financially, benefits) to write this opinion on Airbnb.
Intro
The year was 2018. As an undergrad studying abroad, I was excited to explore Europe with classmates, hitting up Prague, Amsterdam, and Paris. As a kid that grew up traveling with his dad, I am used to staying at hotels, given the fact that my parents were more inclined to seek comfort.
When we finished our semester abroad and started looking for places to stay, the group decided to book an Airbnb. Since it’s introduction, I’ve always been skeptical of the home-sharing model. While others praised the supposed charm of staying in a residential neighborhood, I always saw these short-term rentals as an unpredictable gamble that varies from property to property.
Now, as I see a post of Airbnb hosts complaining about bookings being down, I am happy to see that the traveling public seems to be losing the illusion of whatever they thought made an Airbnb “attractive.”
Origin Story
After our stay in Prague, I looked at my Airbnb app and saw that I had been charged a cleaning fee because we “left a mess,” and the picture provided indicated that we had placed the trash bags in the incorrect area (there was no instruction on where to leave said trash bags).
As a bunch of college kids that were entirely on scholarship from one of the poorest areas in the U.S., we were not in the business of taking on unforced financial errors, so we cleaned the apartment immaculately. Despite an appeal, we lost and were forced to pay on top of having my rating as a guest docked. Most upsetting part of this was that we had spent our last morning in Prague cleaning instead of exploring. Ultimately, the stay felt like an “experience” that forces you to pay a premium to do your own chores.
Rant
Now call me crazy, but you shouldn’t have to act as a housekeeper just to avoid a retaliatory bad rating, especially now that the final price includes a cleaning fee that can cost a night’s stay. My singular Airbnb experience permanently cemented my whole-hearted aversion to the platform, and I’m happy to say that I’ve never paid for a single Airbnb since. Now, on top of the sky-high predatory cleaning fees, there are horror stories of hidden cameras invading guests’ privacy, strict rules on the stay (air conditioning limits and “unauthorized” visitor violations because God forbid you have a friend visit), slow or non-existent stay support, and the price is no longer competitive compared to traditional hotels.
Why I choose hotels
This is exactly why I avoid Airbnb like the plague. You know where you won’t find these charges? At a hotel. There is an unmatched peace of mind that comes with the consistency of a hotel stay. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of terrible hotels and people have terrible experiences all the time. But when I book a hotel I know there is a front desk staffed by actual professionals ready to hand over a keycard or provide support as needed. There are no lockbox scavenger hunts in the dark, no laminated house rules lecturing me on how to take out the trash, and if the Wi-Fi drops, someone fixes it. If I need extra towels, they appear (depending on the property, of course).
More importantly, loyalty actually means something in the hotel world. As an elite status holder with a major brands, I get tangible, reliable perks that fundamentally improve my travel experience. Hilton Gold benefits, Bonvoy Titanium perks, IHG Platinum goodies, these all go a long way in my book. Ranging from early check-in, guaranteed late check-out, room upgrades, lounge access, and reward stays. Hotels reward you for your business, whereas a short-term rental hosts treats you like a nuisance for using the amenities you paid for.
Travel should be an escape from the daily grind, not an extension of it. Nothing puts a damper on a stay like having to be meticulous and careful not to upset the all-mighty host. Now I understand this post may seem like a straight-up hit piece on behalf of hotels, but the reality is that Airbnb has getting a lot of flack recently and I finally feel vindicated for my years-long anti-Airbnb stance.
Conclusion
Hotels understand that their core job is to host you, manage the logistics, and clean the room after you leave without making you feel guilty about it. This of course means you should show your appreciation and be clean enough to make housekeeping’s life as easy as possible. But these are the reasons why I’ve always preferred the reliable comfort of a hotel, and I’ll happily take it every single time.
What are your thoughts? Have you stayed at an Airbnb? What was your experience Let me know on Instagram, Threads, Twitter, or BlueSky!
As always, Live Life One Trip at a Time!
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