Airbnb dominated the alternative rental space for a time, often becoming synonymous with hotels and/or hostels.
But recently, folks have started complaining about the drop in quality from Airbnb. Less than favorable conditions, exorbitant cleaning fees, micromanaging hosts, and a general uptick in price have caused some of the website’s die-hard fans to switch back to hotels.
It’s a fair argument. A search for two adults to stay in New York City for a week yields some insane price points, upwards of $3,000, $4,000, and $5,000 in Manhattan. This means you’re spending, at minimum, $400 per night, and that’s just for the $3,000 price point.
This also rings true for certain higher-end hotels, but hostels, chain hotels, or smaller businesses do offer cheaper rooms, usually between $200 and $300 per night.
This doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t find a cheaper Airbnb elsewhere, but it’s definitely worthwhile to consider other options.
Vrbo, The “New” Airbnb
Vrbo, or Vacation Rentals by Owner, has been around since 1995, but hasn’t seemed to reach the limelight until Airbnb started having these problems.
Vrbo’s policy operates a little differently than Airbnb, only offering full home rentals instead of a singular room, with a family-oriented view on the rental space.
While this doesn’t necessarily mean there will be more or cheaper options (three properties showed up in NYC for a specific date range), Vrbo does include all its taxes and fees in the price upfront, so what you see is what you pay for.
Vrbo also tends to focus on more traditional vacation homes, ideal for long-term stays with larger groups.
Which Is Better?
We can’t definitively say if a rental property is better than another, as it often comes down to what you’re looking for. While Vrbo is great for group travel, showing costs upfront, and the guarantee of a space that is entirely for you, Airbnb does offer more versatility in terms of style of booking, unique lodging experiences, and better rental options within cities.
Regardless of where you pick your lodging, travelling is expensive. Depending on your location, date range, and number of people, your best bet overall is to pick a place that is the most cost-effective, while still keeping in mind the needs of all your party members.
This could mean Vrbo, or Airbnb, Flipkey, Homestay, Sonder, Vacasa, or just an old-fashioned hotel, motel, Holiday Inn.
Other Tips When Booking Lodging.
- Make sure you thoroughly read any listing.
- Research the location you’re hoping to stay in.
- Read the reviews.
- Look at the photos closely.
- Compare prices across different platforms.
- Use hotel points if possible; this will save you a decent amount of money.
- Do your best to book in advance, as you could potentially get an early bird discount.
- Double-check the cancellation policy, just in case.
- If you’re able to, try to be flexible with your travel dates. You may be able to save a decent amount of money by doing so.
