The debate is ever-raging: Airbnbs vs hotels? Depending on your camp, you might be staunchly against one of the options, or you might (like us) enjoy a bit of both depending on your travel circumstances. We started out traveling as big hotel fans but soon found ourselves enjoying a good Airbnb stay and choosing that for almost every stay.
I’ll explain why we’re becoming Airbnb fans and also share some pros and cons to help you decide which option is best for you for each trip you take (no two travel experiences are ever the same — even for the same traveler).

Why We Love Airbnbs
We’ve stayed in several five-star hotels (like the Villa Rosa Kempinski in Kenya), but here are some reasons why Airbnbs almost always appeal to us:
There’s more space
There’s a reason why all the Airbnb ads emphasize the difference between the space you have in hotels and what you get in a home. After three days in a 32 sq m hotel room, I start to get claustrophobic. There are clothes and suitcases everywhere, and you can’t even escape to another room that isn’t the bathroom or the hotel lobby.

As big fans of slow travel (we never stay in a foreign country for less than seven days), hotels can be challenging for the whole stay. We start to get in each other’s way and feel more cranky after a few days.
Alternative Option: Spend 1-2 days in a hotel for that hotel feeling and spend the rest of the time in a spacious Airbnb.
We’re more motivated to explore
There’s something about hotels that sends me into hermit mode. Maybe it’s knowing I can have food brought to my door or the fact that everything I need (from the gym to the pool to the spa) is under the same roof.
With Airbnbs, we notice that we go outside more. We’re also more likely to experiment with food and try loads of new restaurants instead of just eating at the hotel every single time. Exploring different restaurants means I can write posts about my favorites (like this Nairobi restaurant guide I did).

Of course, I know hotel vacationers who only sleep at their hotel, but when we choose hotels, we choose comfortable, attractive options that we’ll never want to leave. So we definitely do more than just sleep there; the hotel becomes a destination of its own for us.
When we want to explore more and get to know the neighborhood hot spots, we always choose an Airbnb.
There’s more privacy
I tend to choose entire home stays with Airbnb so we can come and go as we please, with minimal interference. With hotels, it can feel like there’s hotel staff everywhere you look (which is a protection, as I’ll discuss later), but when we want to be in our own space and do our own thing, Airbnb is hard to beat.

One thing I find frustrating at hotels is the scheduled activities. For example, housekeeping always seems to knock at the worst times (and fun fact: if your door isn’t manually locked, they’ll just come in with the master key!). Let’s not even talk about the pressure to eat breakfast before 10:30 AM (no sleeping in for you!) or 11 AM at best. With Airbnb, you can set your own schedules, and if you don’t want to walk to the neighborhood coffee shop, you can just use Uber Eats.
We like to make our own meals (sometimes)
I’m very anti-cooking on vacation because it is such an inescapable part of my “real life,” but sometimes I miss my own cooking, and I get tired of eating out. Other times, we just need a quick breakfast before heading out to an activity and it makes more sense to whip up something at home.
Ultimately, it is, in fact, cheaper to cook at least one meal at home during your trip. Plus, when you have leftovers at a hotel, you might not always have access to a microwave to heat it up, which is another bonus feature of most Airbnbs.
We can do our laundry for free
This is probably the biggest winner for me. When you travel for extended periods, you need to do laundry and it physically hurts to have to pay people to do things I would gladly do for myself. When we stay at an Airbnb, I can end my vacation with a full suitcase of CLEAN clothes. Nothing beats that.

🧺 Tip: Not all Airbnbs have washing machines. Look for the “Washer” symbol under the Amenities section of each listing. If there’s a washer, I also like to ask the host if they have a dryer or a clothesline to hang clothes outside.
The Cons of Airbnb Stays: Why Some People Hate Airbnbs
While we’re content with our love for Airbnbs, we know that no choice is perfect. Here are some reasons why you and some other people might dislike Airbnbs:
You have more responsibility than you do in hotels
Airbnb hosts love to say, “You’re staying in someone else’s home. Treat it with respect.” This means that while you can trash a hotel room (and leave it messy), you need to clean up your own mess at an Airbnb.
You might also need to make your own bed (although many Airbnbs offer a cleaning service with linen changes after five days or so) and do the dishes (some Airbnbs have dishwashers).
Personally, I’ve never had to do more cleaning than picking up around the house or doing a quick vacuum after my stay, so I don’t find this to be a huge issue — especially because I pick up after myself at hotels, too. But if the thought of vague domestic labor on vacation makes you sick, Airbnbs may not be for you.
There’s a higher chance of disappointing stays
With good hotels, the staff are ready and eager to apologize and fix any issues with your stay, but not all Airbnb hosts are as helpful. Some Airbnb listings can also be misleading (I recommend reading all the reviews, if possible) or leave out pertinent details about the accommodation, which leads to some serious disappointment.
We had this experience with an Instagram-popular lodge in Kigali. The place was gorgeous but fairly remote for a city without Uber and completely without mosquito nets (alarming for a lodge in the bush). After a horrid first night, we packed up our bags and relocated to a Marriott property. Airbnb issued us a partial refund.
@afomastravels Eagle View Lodge Kigali review TL;DR If you’re considering staying at Eagle View Lodge is not terrible but it had some major flaws. There are many way better Airbnbs/Lodges at lower prices. There’s very little to love besides the view and ✨vibes✨ #kigalistays #kigalitravel #travelrwanda #wheretogokigali ♬ original sound – afomastravels
So, I understand the skepticism some people might have about Airbnbs. However, I think everything in life is risky to an extent, and we have had some questionable or lackluster hotel stays (even at Marriott properties), so it’s all about doing the research and having a backup plan or two for sticky situations.
Some Airbnb hosts can be a nightmare
Thankfully, we have never experienced stressful Airbnb hosts. The most difficult host I had was probably the one who instructed me to remove the sheets after my stay and leave them in the washer.
Other hosts have been fairly chill, even as we do our part to follow the house rules (basic things like no smoking or no parties — both things you can’t do in a hotel room anyway). I think basic decency and mutual respect can make the experience more pleasant for both parties.
⚠️ Read the house manual before you book: I always see how many rules and commandments a host has for their listing before booking. Once I see anything longer than the basics, I am OUT.

You can scroll to the end of the listing page to see the house rules and cancellation policy.
Airbnb causes serious housing issues in some regions
In places like Europe, North America, and some African countries, Airbnb is contributing to a major housing crisis. People buy homes or rental units when they live outside the country and then rent them to short-stay guests, making it impossible for locals to live in these buildings.
While it’s not my responsibility to fix issues like these, I try to be sensitive by staying in hotels in certain regions (especially when Airbnb costs about the same amount of money).
When to Stay in a Hotel Instead of Airbnbs
Now you’re probably wondering: should I stay at an Airbnb or a hotel for this trip? I’ll try to help you decide! I recommend staying at a hotel if:
You’re traveling solo
While I have stayed solo at an Airbnb in New Orleans, I was quite afraid the entire time because I was alone in a foreign country with no friendly adults nearby. So I recommend hotels or hostels if you’re a solo traveler, especially a woman. Another option is to book a room via Airbnb instead of an entire home.
Your destination isn’t the safest
No destination is perfectly safe, but if you have safety concerns about your travel destination, you certainly should not stay alone at an Airbnb. Group stays are preferable in such situations, or a hotel where the staff can be on the lookout for you.
You’re only staying for a night or two
For us Airbnb fans, this is one of the only circumstances under which we book hotel stays. Many Airbnbs even have minimum night stays, especially in peak periods, so it just makes sense to stay at a hotel where you can check in and out with little fanfare if you’re only staying for one to three days.
You’re traveling solely to rest and recharge

For purely restful vacations with very few activities (like a honeymoon, for example), I recommend a good hotel or all-inclusive resort. You need minimal responsibilities and mental load and should feel cared for every minute of the trip.
When to Choose Airbnbs Over Hotels
There are some times when Airbnbs just MAKE SENSE. Book an Airbnb if:
You’re traveling in a group
While resorts also work for this kind of travel, Airbnbs create a warm family atmosphere and everyone gets to save money and energy by assigning roles like cooking or cleaning. It’s a lot more fun than adjoining rooms or cramming into one family’s room for fun activities.
You’re traveling with young kids
The importance of space when traveling with children cannot be overemphasized. Choosing a kid-friendly Airbnb feels like a huge exhale because your kids can run around freely and you have a place or two within the house to escape to if you need a break or have to squeeze in some work.
You’re trying to save money
In some countries, Airbnbs are significantly less expensive than hotels. For example, while traveling in London, we paid $608.22 for four nights at an Airbnb in the Greater London area and $963.43 for a four-night stay at a Marriott property in Regent’s Park.
The gap is even wider if you choose a luxury hotel and add the laundry fees, room service, inflated taxi fees, and all that. Airbnbs are often the better budget option, and cheaper hotels tend to be a worse experience than Airbnbs.
You want to move at your own pace
Want to sleep in until noon and not “miss breakfast”? Don’t want to have to leave your room for housekeeping to tidy it or do their “turn down service”? Go the Airbnb route!
You really want to explore
Hotels and resorts can have a real hermit effect on some travelers (just ask resort vacationers who NEVER leave the resort), so Airbnb accommodations can be a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the neighborhoods where you stay.
I love feeling like a local whenever we travel, and I inevitably get attached to a neighborhood coffee shop or grocery store, which I miss desperately when we’re back home. None of those things ever happen for me when I stay in hotels.
Your turn: Hotels vs Airbnb? Who has your vote? I’d love to hear what you think!
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