Essay Sample on Travelers' Dilemma: Choosing Between Hotel and Airbnb Accommodation

Introduction

With the emergence of other accommodation solutions such as Airbnb, travelers have more choices than before, where they had a restricted choice to the hotel stay within the hospitality industry. The numerous accommodation choices have proven to be a challenge since travelers have to ask themselves several questions before deciding whether they will remain in a hotel or rent an Airbnb. Some of the questions are; what alternative is better when traveling alone? Which accommodation is cheaper? Many guests seeking short- term accommodation of up to one week are likely to opt to Airbnb stay because it is more affordable compared to the hotel stay, an advantage of having your own space, Airbnb has several the database of places to stay, and staying at Airbnb allows a guest to rent an entire area and pay every night therefor Airbnb provides a more personalized stay. But hotel stays also has some advantages such as availability of all amenities, perfect locations for sightseeing, better alternative when traveling in a group and everything is a guarantee within the hotel.

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The Similarities and the Differences

Also, by looking at the similarities and the differences between a hotel stay and Airbnb stay, a traveler will have time to reflect on the best option of accommodation during the trip keeping in mind the length of trip, total people count, budget, facilities, and services offered among others. Travelers should understand some of the insider tips an individual should take note of before choosing the source for sleep. When deciding on the hotel stay, an individual should opt for boutique hotels since they tend to be cheaper. A traveler should research Skyscanner’s hotel search to find a preference. When he or she opt for Airbnb, there is a need to read the review of the chosen Airbnb to understand some of the detailed information such as location, quality, and security of the area a person intends to rent. When a traveler intends to quite easily to comprise a budget staying at a hotel is the best; however, when looking at a cheaper alternative when traveling in a group, Airbnb is the ideal option for the accommodation. Staying at Airbnb may seem weird since people offer travelers staying at their homes, but Airbnb offers a more pleasant stay than a hotel does. The users are trusted and verified by the companies in the hospitality industry.

A traveler should take note of the benefits of hotel stay and Airbnb before booking. Some of the benefits a traveler is entitled to when staying at a hotel include; the traveler knows what he or she is going to get when he walks into his hotel room (Birinci, Berezina & Cobanoglu, 2018). Most travelers love the familiar feeling that the hotel provides for them. Hotels ensure that there is comfort, and entertainment of guests during their stay as a benefit; in many cases, most hotels have bars and restaurants within the facility. Another advantage is there are chances of making a call in case a traveler lacks an amenity within his booked room, and the assistance provided on time (Birinci, Berezina & Cobanoglu, 2018). It is made easy with the availability of staff who arrange for transportation of the quests, booking, or consultation during the stay.

Benefits

Another benefit is that hotels provide guests with better views, which also acts as sightseeing during the trip (Birinci, Berezina & Cobanoglu, 2018). A better view is because of the elevation and high-rise effect. There are many services offered apart from accommodation in hotels such as room service, towel service, dry cleaning, fitness rooms, among others. Another key advantage of staying at a hotel is convenience. Most hotels located near primary transport links such as airports, train stations, among others.

On the other hand, some of the shortcomings of staying at a hotel are; hotels can be pricey when a traveler intends to stay for an extended period. Another disadvantage is that when traveling in a group of people staying in a hotel can be tricky too. It is because the travelers may not have the opportunity to book rooms during the high season like summer vacations. Another disadvantage is that those who travel in a group may not be together in the same building since group members accommodated in different hotel buildings. In a hotel, those who stay bound by the times in which bars and restaurants are operating. Lastly, the inadequate level of peace and privacy in a large chain hotel. Guests are disturbed by the continuous room checks and the constant disturbance by noise from other guests because of the thinness of the walls.

Booking an Airbnb also has some of its benefits. These benefits include lower prices since the homeowners chose the amount they intend for the guests to pay during their stay (So, Oh & Min, 2018). The accommodation fee caters for one week stay. Another benefit is that guests always encounter in-city experience during their stay. The homeowners provide suggestions to guests, making them feel comfortable to stay a feeling not experienced in the hotel stay. There may be boathouses, tree houses, and even castles, which makes the travelers have exotic experience during their stay. Another benefit is that those traveling as a group have the opportunity to rent the entire home in a shared price, unlike the hotel where individuals pay for their accommodation.

Another advantage of booking an Airbnb is privacy and peace (So, Oh & Min, 2018). Guests also cater to themselves instead of going to bars or restaurants. It is made easy by the fact that their own space provides a traveler. Another benefit is that guests do not pay for any amenity or service since they carry their items (So, Oh & Min, 2018). And the cleanliness of their various spaces is their responsibility since Airbnb properties frequently offer access to things like cooking facilities, washing and drying facilities, and refrigeration for drinks and food.

Disadvantages

Despite the many advantages guests may have when booking the Airbnb for their stay, there are several disadvantages encountered by guests. Unlike the hotel where the guest is aware of what he or she is going to get in the room, Airbnb the guest may fail to get all the facilities listed on the Airbnb web or some things omotted which may spoil the stay within the property. Another con for Airbnb booking is that the host can have a different standard of cleanliness and orderliness than the guest in that the gust can book an Airbnb to have a quiet environment only to find that the host is noisy. Another disadvantage is that there are often extra fees apart from the nightly charges. The cost varies from one host to another since the host is the person deciding the amount he or she charges. The extra costs include guest services, cleaning fee, and the hospitality tax. Another disadvantage of using Airbnb is that there is no guarantee of finding a property that has food service, gym, spa, pool, daily cleaning, and front desk receptionist, among others, which is an advantage for those staying in a hotel.

Similarities between a hotel stay and Airbnb include; they both have a website that can be used by travelers to gather the necessary information they need before booking. The website helps the guests to have the new experience where the travelers have to look for new locations for their trip within the cities of their destinations wand ask basic questions. The above advantage was not available during the traditional booking manner. Another similarity is that they both offer accommodation with different capacities, hotels have rooms for those traveling alone and those traveling as a group. On the other hand, Airbnb also provides various spaces for the lone travelers as well as the group travelers. In both, there are chances for sharing costs, for instance, motels that contain more than one bed in a single room. Another similarity is guests staying within the facilities have an assurance of their security and the safety of their property during the stay. Another similarity is that each facility has its own experience that makes it easy for guests to write their comments at the end of the accommodation. The experiences also enable guests to rate the services offered as well as their experience in terms of stars and in case the experience was pleasant most hotels and Airbnb get five-star ratings. The ratings and the comments given by the guests help the hotels and the Airbnb to attract new customers, retain the existing ones, or lose them.

Some of the differences between a hotel stay and Airbnb include; in a hotel guest has a guarantee of finding all the amenities listed on the website while Airbnb properties may list the amenities on the site, and the guest may not see the registered facilities during their stay. Another difference is Airbnb has peace and privacy a person may need while hotel the opposite experienced because of the movements of people in and out of the hotel or thin walls between the hotel rooms causing the disturbance. Another difference is that in hotels, guests are not allowed to cook; instead, they pay for food and drinks in the restaurants while those staying in the Airbnb have the advantage of making their food, which cut the cost of meals during their stay. As an individual, I prefer Airbnb because of the many benefits that it has overstayed in a hotel. These advantages make it easy for people to opt for Airbnb when traveling in a group or with children. The idea of authenticity is the main reason I usually choose Airbnb when on vacation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, since the start of Airbnb in 2008, Airbnb accommodation has improved, making many travelers opt for them than hotels. A new experience that guests have acted as an option where families who intend to spend their holiday away from home books Airbnb. Since everybody accommodated in the same building, the price for the one or two weeks stay cheaper compared to staying at a hotel for the given number of days. On the other hand, those who intend to have business conferences or nay official meetings should opt for hotels because of the ballroom and amenities offered during the session by the hotel, which may not be the case in Airbnb.

References

Birinci, H., Berezina, K., & Cobanoglu, C. (2018). Comparing customer perceptions of the hotel and peer-to-peer accommodation advantages and disadvantages. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. Retrieved from https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJCHM-09-2016-0506/full/html

So, K. K. F., Oh, H., & Min, S. (2018). Motivations and constraints of Airbnb consumers: Findings from a mixed-methods approach. Tourism Management, 67, 224-236. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261517718300098