Over the 15 years, Airbnb has truly come a long way from offering a simple air and bed-and-breakfast to becoming a leader in the home-sharing market. In addition, according to The Zebra, Airbnb now offers 5.6 million short-term rentals to its 150 million users worldwide. So, ever wonder why Airbnb is a hit for domestic and international travelers? Then, what is it in Airbnb that attracts lots of travelers? Here are the 7 reasons why people prefer Airbnb accommodation.
7 Reasons Why People Prefer Airbnb Accommodation
Travelers worldwide preferred booking on Airbnb, whether for business trips or long-term or short-term rentals. So, these are the 7 reasons why people prefer Airbnb accommodation:
Low-Cost
The number one reason most travelers prefer Airbnb accommodation is because of its price point. Airbnb’s in most cities have a lower price than traditional hotels as Airbnb has little overhead cost compared to hotels. Furthermore, Airbnb has a wide range of rates that will fit your budget. Also, it offers a variety of places to stay according to your budget.
Diverse Locations
Ever dream of living in a unique place? Book Airbnb and you’ll find the unique properties in the world. If you’re looking for a unique travel experience, you will surely find it on Airbnb. Furthermore, Airbnb partners with many property owners around the world to provide diversified home-sharing options. Airbnb provides unique places in the world.
From bubble suits to bamboo houses and treehouses. Then, how about a rare experience of staying in an adobe home, or windmill? Want to go further? What’s more, how about staying in a cave or castle? Moreover, on Airbnb, you can rent these unique properties and make your dreams come true.
Household Amenities
One more advantage of booking on Airbnb is the access to home amenities. Here are some of the home amenities you can enjoy while traveling when you book on Airbnb:
- Kitchen
- Living room
- Swimming pool
- Washer and laundry area
- Backyard
Flexibility
With Airbnb, you have endless options of properties to choose from according to your preference and needs. As Airbnb is a home-sharing option, its flexibility provides guests:
- Long-term or short-term rentals
- Home amenities such as kitchen, washer, and large space
- Open eating schedule
- Freedom to cook
Experience Living Like a Local
Staying in the homes of the locals adds up to your travel experience. Also, living in the center of a neighborhood provides more opportunities to immerse with the locals and their culture. Getting acquainted with your host provides more access to local restaurants, parks, and transportation.
More Space
With its price point, Airbnb provides much larger space, unlike traditional hotels. Yes, you can have a bigger hotel room, but it is more expensive. With the cost of a traditional hotel room, you can have more space with Airbnb. It’s not the only space you’ll gain when booking on Airbnb rather than hotels. Considering the cost of a stay, you’ll get a longer stay on Airbnb than in hotels.
Extra stuff
Some properties provide some extra stuff like a gym, sauna, and hot tubs. Getting these stuff at an affordable price makes Airbnb more budget-friendly than hotels.
How to Book Your Airbnb Stay
As a traveler, the place you will stay is important to have an unforgettable and pleasant stay. Whether it’s for a vacation or business travel, choosing the place that suits you best will guarantee an enjoyable trip.
Create your Profile
Creating your profile helps Airbnb filter the best locations according to your preference and needs.
Search Your Happy Place
Searching for a budget-friendly place to stay has never been this easy thanks to Airbnb. Airbnb offers travelers endless options with its more than 6 million listed homes worldwide.
Choose Your Preferred Type of Listings
Travelers can choose from many types of Airbnb properties according to their preferences. Also, Airbnb has a wide range of listings available on its platform. You can opt for a traditional home or go to a unique place to stay.
Types of Airbnb Listings
- Cabins
- Castles
- Private islands
- Tiny homes
- Farms
- Lighthouses
- Boats
- Igloos
- Yurts
Types of Accommodation
There are different types of accommodation you can book according to your needs and preferences. Airbnb offers 4 different types of accommodation to its users. It includes:
Entire Place
Airbnb guests have options to book an entire place for themselves, especially for large groups of people.
Shared Room
You can also opt for a shared room if you’re on a tight budget, or want to interact and meet new friends.
Private Room
Guests who want privacy can book a separate private room.
Hotel Rooms
People who are used to hotels can also book rooms on Airbnb. Airbnb also lists properties from different hotels.
Review
Once you’ve chosen your preferred accommodation, here are some noteworthy points you need to review for a hassle-free and enjoyable stay.
Preferred travel dates and number of guests
It is important to provide travel dates and the number of guests when booking your stay to get the most accurate rates.
Listing description and photos
Checking the description and photos of the listed home helps you envision what you should expect when you arrive at the accommodation. Airbnb hosts often include listed home descriptions, amenities, special features, and available transportation around the area.
Review from previous Airbnb guests
Reading reviews from previous guests will save you from some travel horrors. It is important to read reviews of the listed home you would like to book for safety and accuracy.
House rules
Each host provides different house rules of what you can and cannot do while staying on their property. Checking the house rules allows you to choose which accommodation suits you best.
Amenities
When searching for Airbnb listings, you can filter Airbnb properties with particular amenities you would want to have in your stay. Most Airbnb guests search for listings with the following amenities:
- Air conditioning
- Wi-Fi
- Kitchen
- Washer
- Heating
- Breakfast
- Pool
- TV or cable
- Free parking
- Cancellation policy
Sometimes, uncontrollable things happen, and you may need to cancel your trip. Airbnb hosts follow different cancellation policies. That’s why it’s important to check the listing’s cancellation policy before booking. Hosts typically follow these cancellation policies:
- Flexible
You can cancel up to 24 hours before the check-in date to get a full refund.
- Moderate
For a full refund, you must cancel 5 days before the check-in date.
- Firm
Hosts with firm cancellation policies provide a full refund if guests cancel 30 days before check-in. Guests who cancel 7-29 days before check-in are eligible for a 50% refund. Cancellation done less than 7 days before check-in is non-refundable.
- Strict
In listings with a strict cancellation policy, guests can receive a full refund if they cancel within 48 hours of booking and 14 days before check-in. Cancellation done between 7-14 days is eligible for a 50% refund. Cancellation done less than 7 days before check-in is non-refundable.
- Non-refundable
Some listings are non-refundable regardless of the days of cancellation.
What Other Features Does Airbnb Have?
Yes, there are more reasons to love Airbnb. This home-sharing platform has lots of customer-oriented features, which make bookings and traveling more secure, convenient, and easy.
User-friendly site
Airbnb’s platform focuses on giving customers a convenient and seamless user experience. Some features I love on the site platforms are:
- Dynamic homepage
- Easy search box feature
- The saved previous search function
- Price range bars
- Image carousel of properties listed
- Automatic updates on listings
Guest Refund Policy
To ensure customer satisfaction and safety, Airbnb has a guest refund policy that protects guests from certain disputes. Airbnb refunds guest’s payments if any of this happens:
- The last-minute cancellation of the reservation by the property owner before check-in.
- Host’s failure to provide access to the listing booked.
- Host’s misrepresentation of the listed property in terms of size, amenities, and location.
- Unsanitary condition of the accommodation upon check-in (e.g. soiled beddings and towels).
- Presence of safety and health hazards
- Undisclosed presence of pets and vermin
Secure payment platform
Airbnb handles your booking payment with secure payment encryption to protect your bank details.
Reviews
Airbnb has a feature that allows property owners and guests to leave a review of their stay. This helps Airbnb to provide a continuous excellent travel experience for guests. It also helps property owners to improve their property and raise concerns if there are some issues with the guest’s stay.
Communication
The platform allows guests to communicate with their Airbnb hosts for questions and concerns.
ID verification
Guests and property owners undergo identification verification to ensure legitimacy, safety, and security.
24/7 Customer support
Airbnb has 24/7 customer service to support guests in case of questions, issues, and concerns.
Airbnb Adventures
For the ultimate vacation experience, Airbnb also arranges trips for small groups led by expert hosts. It includes planned itineraries, transportation, lodging, and meals. Airbnb adventure trips last from 2 to 10 days, with a starting price of $99.
Traveling doesn’t need to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Airbnb provides travelers with countless affordable accommodations all over the world. With Airbnb, it is easier to choose your next destination, explore, have fun, and make wonderful memories.
