Why (and Why Not) To Book Accommodation with Airbnb

Private vacation rental website Airbnb has taken the accommodation market by storm. With properties in nearly every country on the planet, it is often the first website travelers visit when seeking an authentic and local experience in a new city or town. As easy and convenient as the website and booking process can be, there are both pros and cons to using the popular online reservation site.

Privacy is one of the obvious benefits of booking a place on Airbnb. Knowing you will have your own space, your own bathroom and the added bonus of extra security to protect your belongings can put any wary traveler at ease.

Shacking up in someone’s apartment or home while they are out of town is one of the best ways to learn how you would carry on if you actually lived there. Some kind hosts even provide toiletries, snacks and other light amenities for their guests. The hospitality and comfort are typically levels above a standard hotel stay.

On the down side, the social environment that comes with a hotel or hostel stay is lacking when staying in a private residence. If you are a solo travel or social group eager to meet other travelers, it may be more difficult to find them.

Although Airbnb does its best to provide quality accommodation for browsers, it would be impossible to screen every single listing for quality and accuracy. Airbnb has a resolution team on staff in the case of any host-guest discrepancies, but contacting the team is not the most straightforward. Their tacked-on fees and extra services may cause the price of the space to rise, but for travelers who are willing to go through the added costs and hassle when filing a complaint, the pros end up outweighing the cons.