Airbnb or hotel for a European trip? Cost, comfort and community impact compared

Bear in mind when reserving an Airbnb as an alternative of a resort was top-of-the-line money-saving journey hacks? So much has modified since then. 

Since its humble homestay launch in 2007, Airbnb has grown to over 5 million hosts, disrupting the journey trade and rental markets worldwide.

Initially known as ‘AirBed & Breakfast,’ the tech-savvy start-up provided short-term dwelling quarters the place hosts may lease spare rooms and beds to friends for additional money. The idea quickly advanced into a web-based lodging behemoth, with properties in fascinating areas more and more transformed to short-term leases solely for Airbnb stays.

As the corporate continues to develop in reputation, the battle between motels and Airbnb is extra fierce than ever, with either side making an attempt to woo travellers with costs and distinctive experiences. 

So how do Airbnb and motels stack up in Europe’s hottest cities? Is the allure of a country Airbnb condo in Rome’s Trastevere definitely worth the dreaded cleansing charges, or must you stick with a resort in vacationer hotspots? Here is the professionals and cons of motels vs. Airbnb in Europe.

Airbnb vs. motels: How do they evaluate?

One in all Airbnb’s primary appeals is the large selection in properties, from fashionable loft flats to quirky treehouse stays and cushty countryside boltholes, whereas motels typically supply a extra commonplace keep, particularly in chain motels.

Rental information firm AirDNA notes that whereas value-for-money is a giant factorfor resort regulars, environment and site reign supreme for Airbnb customers.

In a weblog publish, they clarify that motels are nonetheless sometimes perceived as extra respected and reliable than short-term leases. Nevertheless, Airbnb’s Superhost and Visitor Favourite badges assist to shut that hole by rewarding hosts who go above and past for his or her friends, forcing conventional motels to up their sport.

The need for a home-from-home expertise is demonstrated by way of the rising demand for Airbnbs in in style European cities like Paris, regardless of an enormous collection of motels throughout town’s arrondissements. 

Paris is now one of the vital in style locations in Europe to lease an Airbnb, with 95,000 leases out there in 2024, prompting a crackdown by the French authorities on short-term lets.

This surge in demand underscores the enchantment of Airbnb choices whereas elevating much-publicised issues in regards to the broader influence on housing availability and native communities.

Inns are nonetheless extra worthwhile than Airbnb

Regardless of Airbnb’s enormous success, motels, with their clear charges, onsite employees, and safety, proceed to dominate the journey and tourism sector when it comes to total income, highlighting their enduring function within the lodging market.

Statista Mobility Market Insights spotlight that the resort enterprise remains to be much more essential in income generated within the journey and tourism sector.

Their information reveals that resort lodging has a bigger income share in international locations like Spain, Italy, and the UK. These economies are projected to generate essentially the most income from motels, cruises, and bundle holidays.

Airbnb vs. motels: Which is healthier worth?

For a lot of metropolis break guests, selecting between a resort and an Airbnb typically comes all the way down to price -particularly in costly European locations like Amsterdam, London, and Copenhagen. 

In Paris, for instance, information from Airbtics reveals that the typical nightly fee for an Airbnb is roughly €182, whereas Skyscanner experiences {that a} three-star resort averages round €150 per night time, making motels a probably extra budget-friendly choice.

As conventional motels in hotspots will be costly, travellers assume Airbnb is at all times cheaper. Nevertheless, Airbnb is never an excellent deal for brief stays in main European cities resulting from massive cleansing charges, added service charges, and long-stay reductions.

Analysis by the British shopper journal ‘Which?’ helps this, revealing that one-bedroom listings on Airbnb and rival platform Vrbo exceeded the typical price of a resort room -excluding five-star motels -in 38 out of fifty locations throughout the UK and worldwide.

The place Airbnb is less expensive is for longer journeys. Based on NerdWallet, financial savings get larger with journey size because the nightly fee ($213 / €213) for the typical seven-night Airbnb keep was 32 per cent cheaper than a one-night keep ($314 / €314).

Group dimension can be an element, as Airbnb is often dearer for solo travellers or {couples}, whereas massive teams can cut up prices and cut back their value per head.

As motels additionally sometimes don’t cost cleansing charges, their listed value is extra clear. For that reason, one to 4 nights at a resort will be the higher monetary selection for travellers until you are travelling in a gaggle or reserving a long-term keep.

Which provides the most effective visitor expertise?

This largely relies on what you’re in search of in a keep. The perfect superhosts can supply a home-away-from-home expertise, and lots of Airbnbs supply amenities like kitchens, scorching tubs, non-public outside areas, and rooftop gardens. The downsides, nonetheless, embrace no each day housekeeping, no on-site employees, and normally no entry to communal facilities like spas, gyms, and eating places.

The place motels can outshine Airbnb is in perks like dependable and constant high quality, entrance desk service, meal providers, and each day cleansing for no additional cost.

There’s additionally probably extra of a danger issue when reserving Airbnbs. You could possibly encounter faux or inaccurate listings, last-minute host cancellations, or you can even end up inadvertently staying in an unlawful Airbnb.

For travellers, it is about weighing up the prices, comfort, and expertise you need in a keep. A resort in Brussels would possibly supply a free breakfast, however an Airbnb might have a scorching tub on the rooftop. Particular person preferences will in the end be the deciding issue.

Influence on neighbourhoods

Whereas motels have typically had a steady and infrequently extremely regulated presence in European cities, Airbnb has been accused of inflating home costs, pushing out locals, straining sources, and fuelling overtourism. This has prompted new restrictions on short-term leases in lots of European cities, comparable to Paris and Barcelona.

Overtourism’s influence on in style cities comparable to Lisbon is troublesome to disregard. Pushed by Portugal’s enchantment as a low-cost vacation spot and up to date coverage modifications encouraging overseas funding, the surge in tourism has led to record-breaking revenues: in 2023 alone, Portugal’s tourism income reached €25 billion, up from €21 billion the earlier yr​.

This increase, nonetheless, has remodeled Lisbon’s housing market. Over the previous 5 years, almost 20,000 residential properties have shifted to short-term leases.

UK newspaper The Instances experiences that rents in Lisbon have surged by 94 per cent since 2015, with home costs skyrocketing by 186 per cent, pricing many locals out of their very own neighbourhoods. Conversely, whereas large-scale or luxurious motels can contribute to gentrification in sure areas, they don’t take away housing from the rental market and are sometimes in-built industrial zones quite than residential areas.

Selecting an Airbnb or a resort on your subsequent European metropolis break will in the end rely in your finances, group dimension, and desired journey expertise. 

Whereas Airbnb provides many positives, like self-catering and a extra homely environment, motels have the benefit of skilled hospitality administration and employees who can help friends and even present concierge providers. 

Nevertheless, with each choices probably contributing to mass tourism, it’s price contemplating the broader influence of the place and what you e-book.