Why Airbnb Is NOT Always the Best Option

Airbnb often seems like a good option when you are traveling in Europe.

Some travelers find it cheaper or more appealing for their stay.

But I’m going to tell you why Airbnb is NOT always the best option.

You see, they’re having issues — some of which you may not be aware of.

And these are ethical considerations I think every traveler needs to know about.

Now I’m not saying Airbnb is an absolute NO.

But I’m going to offer up some advice that may help you make a more informed decision.

Full disclosure: I’ve booked Airbnb’s for myself and my clients.

So let’s start with the basics.

What is Airbnb?

Airbnb is a broker for renting rooms, apartments or houses.

It’s really an online marketplace where you can browse listings in a certain city or region.

It came about as part of the whole sharing economy.

The idea is that a homeowner may have a room or 2 that she might like to rent out or even an entire apartment or house.

Owners apply to list their room or property on Airbnb who then puts the owner through a vetting process to ensure the accommodation is legit.

You, as a traveler, browse through the listings, selecting a destination and what amenities you want from the accommodation.

Places pop up and you can select ones that appeal to you and find out more about that particular room or apartment.

You choose the accommodation and book it.

From there you’ll be able to connect with the owner.

But all communication goes through Airbnb.

The idea is that you stay in a room or apartment and get to connect with a local versus staying in a more impersonal hotel.

So the goal of Airbnb is to have that connection with the local destination — the culture, history and the people with an emphasis on the people.

I’d describe it as a more personal and intimate connection than a hotel.

Or so that was the original concept when Airbnb was started.

This is an Airbnb room where I stayed in Kiladoon, County Mayo, Ireland. This is an Airbnb I would stay in again.

Is Airbnb cheaper than a hotel or B&B?

Many people automatically think Airbnb is cheaper.

But often it’s not.

Sometimes it is.

It really depends.

I advise doing some homework.

For me, as a solo traveler, Airbnb is typically NOT cheaper.

But if you are traveling as a group, it might be.

One thing to note is that prices have been rising on many Airbnb’s.

Again, I recommend doing some comparison shopping.

Brookhaven House is one of the B&B’s that I love in Ireland. It’s affordable, in a lovely location and Mary — the hostess — is amazing!

The cons

So once upon a time, Airbnb truly connected the traveler to the local — the person (homeowner) and his culture.

Not so any more.

Why?

Well here’s what has happened.

Outsiders have come in to buy property in some of the hot markets — think Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona.

The result is that not all Airbnb owners are locals actually living in these cities or towns.

Some of them don’t even live in the country.

This has also driven up the price of housing, thus making it less affordable for the locals to live there.

What?

Yup. This is very true.

So the locals are having a hard time finding affordable housing in the city or town they actually work in and therefore, want to live in.

This is SO NOT FAIR.

Right?

And you as the traveler may not be interacting with an actual local.

In fact, you may not have any interaction with a person at all — at least not face-to-face.

You may be given a security code or lockbox code to get into an apartment, house or room.

So you see, Airbnb is not necessarily giving you the connection with the local you are hoping for.

The other issue I want to mentions stems from a conversation I had with a B&B owner in Kinsale, Ireland.

She told me that she feels that as outsiders come in and buy these apartments and drive locals out, it changes the makeup of a community — especially in a small town like Kinsale.

But I can see that it would also change the feel of a neighborhood in a larger city.

Something else to ponder.

Keeping that local feel to a town or city neighborhood is important for that sense of community.

The pros

There are some advantages to Airbnb.

If you are lucky to find a true Airbnb with a local owner who fully believes in and wants to interact with you — the traveler — then it can be a wonderful experience.

And it does still happen.

Airbnb is great for those who are staying long term such as a few weeks or a month as often you get discounts for longer stays.

If you want or need a kitchen, then this is an excellent option as well.

And Airbnb is good for groups such as families or a few couples traveling together as you can often find large apartments or even entire homes with a few bedrooms, kitchen and living space.

But…

Having some space and a kitchen are the pros to staying in an Airbnb.

There are things to consider

One thing I want to point out is that some destinations have cracked down on Airbnb.

What does this mean?

It means that cities, towns, regions or even countries are stepping in to ensure that outsiders aren’t coming in and screwing things up for the locals.

So laws have been put into place to ensure that folks renting out these spaces are locals and are abiding by certain safety standards too.

Paris is one that I know has cracked down.

And I’ve noticed on the accommodation details that there is a “license number” under the listings.

This means that Paris requires its owners to obtain this license in order to rent out property.

So this is one thing to look out for as it will tell you that this property meets the standards of that city.

I also highly recommend reading the reviews.

Do the reviews mention meeting the owner and having a good interaction with him or her?

Or do all the reviews say, “I never met the owner”?

Look for those rooms or apartments where there’s interaction with the actual owner and make sure it’s positive interaction.

Paris is a place that had issues with Airbnb — but they have cracked down. Just do your homework!

Some other items to consider

As someone who works with so many small family-run B&B’s, guesthouses, farm stays and hotels, I almost always choose to stay in this type of accommodation over Airbnb.

Why?

Well, I’ve had many conversations with owners of these family-run accommodation and feel the need to support them.

This is their job — their livelihood.

Sure, if it’s a couple that owns the B&B, one of them may have another job while the other runs the B&B.

But, truly it is a family business.

Airbnb does threaten these family-run accommodation — threatens to put them out of business.

And so many of these B&B’s and guesthouses have been around for a long time — perhaps even for 2 or 3 generations.

I am all for supporting local businesses and these family-run accommodation are truly local businesses.

So many of the owners I’ve met have been so helpful to me — from giving me advice on some of the best sites to visit in the area to making dinner reservations for me.

Some I’ve even become friends with.

This may be something that you haven’t thought about.

But maybe you should.

A lovely room at the family run, Hotel Olympia in San Vigilio di Marebbe, Italy.

View from the family run Hotel Olympia. Not only do you get welcoming service, but you get gorgeous views! Worth staying at a small, family-run hotel!

The rooms at Hillside Lodge in Clifden, Ireland are warm& cozy and Ruth, the owner, is a wonderful host. And it’s really affordable.

Final thoughts on Airbnb

I’m not entirely against staying in an Airbnb — nor booking these for travel clients.

I just think every traveler should be mindful as you do consider booking one.

Check the reviews.

Compare the Airbnb with a B&B, guesthouse, farm stay or even a small family-run hotel.

You may find that the NON-Airbnb option is the best option for many reasons — location, price, host on the premise.

And if you’re not sure where to start, you can always ask your travel planner.

We’re always happy to help you out.

Sometimes a farm stay — agriturismo in Italy — is a wonderful option for your time in the countryside.