11 Reasons Why Hotels Are Better Option Than Airbnbs

Are you trying to find the right accommodation for your next getaway?

There’s a chance you’ve considered a vacation rental, but are they worth the hype?

There are many reasons to stay in a vacation rental. From more privacy to bigger room size and a kitchen where you can cook your meals, vacation rentals are perfect for bigger groups like families and friends. They often have laundry rooms, bigger backyards, and on-site amenities like pools and spas. 

When you stay in a vacation rental, you don’t need to follow a strict schedule with specific hours for breakfast, check-out, and quiet time. While amenities and rules differ based on property and location, vacation rentals usually have fewer restrictions than hotels.

If you want “a home away from home” experience, vacation rentals are popular among many travelers. Although vacation rentals will never be the same as hotels, they come with several bells and whistles that might want to make you think twice about booking them. 

Let’s take a look at why hotels sometimes could be better than vacation rentals 

1. Cleaning Fees

Vacation rentals usually charge cleaning fees and you could spend hundreds of dollars depending on property size and your group.

Property owners apply cleaning fees regardless just in case guests leave their place in disarray. However, if the place doesn’t require extensive cleaning, a host puts extra money in his or her pocket.

The median cleaning fee at an Airbnb is $75, per NerdWallet. Depending on the destination, it could be the equivalent of a daily hotel rate.

Hotels usually don’t charge cleaning fees. Boutique hotels, and chains managed by corporations, have a cleaning staff that takes care of all housekeeping, so you won’t be charged for cleaning at the end of your stay.

2. Some Hotels Now Have Kitchenettes

With the rise of platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, hotels had to get creative to retain customers. Now it’s not uncommon for hotels to have kitchenettes with fridges, microwaves, and coffee makers.

Additionally, vacation rentals don’t always have amenities, while hotels normally have at least free parking, daily housekeeping, and better security measures like camera surveillance and staff. 

3. No Bonus Points For AirBnbs 

You can score plenty of bonus points, discounts, and free nights on Hotels.com, HostelWorld, and Booking.com, which have thousands of properties in different countries. 

In addition, many hotel chains including Marriott, Best Western, and Hilton have loyalty programs with extra incentives for guests to keep booking their properties.

Airbnbs still have no bonus point system, which gives customers little incentive to stay loyal to this platform.

4. Higher Rates

Convenience is the biggest selling point of vacation rentals. But, it comes with a high price tag.

While you can save money by cooking your meals at home, enjoying the pool, and having more space for Fido, the price of these amenities is built into your daily rate. 

Airbnb prices increased 36 percent from 2019 to 2023, as many people sought to avoid hotels during the pandemic. While rates have come down since then, they’re still higher than they were a few years back.

5. Hotels Have No Hidden Fees 

While Airbnb and VRBOs are sometimes cheaper than hotels, it’s not uncommon for them to tack on hidden fees for cleaning, damage protection, and reservation. Combined, they could take a chunk out of your vacation budget.

The cost of vacation rentals has been on the rise in recent years, and many travelers say the cost of an Airbnb is now comparable to the cost of hotels, or even higher. 

6. Not Having to Deal With Negative Feedback From Landlords 

Airbnb owners usually leave feedback for their guests, which will appear on your profile, and be available for any potential host who looks at it when you request to book their property.

For instance, you could spend a few hours cleaning up your Airbnb before you leave, to get a good review, but it doesn’t guarantee that you will get positive feedback from your host. 

Online reviews can be highly subjective, and not always fair. On the contrary, when you stay at a hotel, you can always leave feedback but hotels can’t.

7. Someone’s Always on the Property

Airbnb hosts are usually not on the property to provide more privacy for their guests. But sometimes, having your host close by can be beneficial when you need to solve problems and fix things when they break. 

When you stay at a hotel, a front desk staff can resolve your problems and answer questions. There’s no need to hunt down your host and apologize for bothering them on a weekend night.

8. Breakfast Served 

Unlike vacation rentals, hotels often serve breakfast. Although the type of breakfast correlates with the cost, less expensive hotels usually offer coffee and cereal. 

If you stay in an Airbnb, your breakfast is your responsibility.

9. Daily Housekeeping 

Daily housekeeping is one of the biggest selling points of hotels. If you stay in a vacation rental managed by a corporation, you could have daily housekeeping, shampoos, soaps, and coffee in your room.

Individually owned vacation properties aren’t likely to have daily housekeeping, which could put more work on your plate, especially if you’re staying for an extended time with a group of people.

10. You Don’t Need the Extra Space 

Vacation rentals usually have more space than hotels, but depending on the purpose of your trip, you might not necessarily need it.

If you are traveling alone, and staying for a couple of days, spending extra money on a vacation rental might not be worth it. 

11. Insane Offerings 

While you can find plenty of gorgeous, tastefully decorated Airbnb’s from super hosts and VRBOs with high ratings, you can occasionally come across bizarre listings like a futon or couch in somebody’s spare bedroom or a tent in the backyard.

Additionally, some Airbnbs double as hotels, which might not be obvious from a listing. Always clarify what type of accommodation.

Final Word 

While vacation rentals offer better amenities and privacy, hotels are usually better for short-term stays. Although the conditions of vacation rentals vary from host to host, you can expect more security and better on-site staff, when you stay at a hotel.