I always love seeing how other people travel. AirBnB (or similar) is still the most usual place for me to book, and this was a good opportunity to think about why. For me it comes down to a few things:
1. Group travel (as you pointed out). My husband and I still usually travel with our teenagers, and getting a place with two or even three bedrooms for the same price as one hotel room is just more practical for a family.
2. A kitchen. One of my favourite things to do in a new country is going grocery shopping and trying a bunch of new foods. It's such an interesting way to see what people really eat at home, not just at restaurants. I'm also fascinated by what hosts find important to include in a kitchen. And even on AirBnB it's still very possible to find quirky, fun places. We stayed at a country house in France once that had three different fondue sets.
3. Space to lounge around. The longer I live in Europe, the more I appreciate a holiday that consists largely of relaxing. I love having a whole house, including a living room, a garden, and other spaces to spend time other than just my room.
Your post definitely makes me want to start considering boutique design hotels more, though, especially as my kids are getting close to moving out, and my husband and I will be vacationing more alone.
I love love love your point about having a kitchen for intl grocery shopping. Going to a grocery store in a foreign country is 💯 one of my fav activities! Even if I just get snacks I love browsing 😊
We stayed in a beautiful place in Umbria, a cooking school and a B&B. They used charming (and utilitarian) Turkish towels for their bash rooms, and idea I took and now use in mine! I love taking design ideas from places I visit.
AGREED! I love getting style ideas and then making my own house feel like a retreat! I did that with my bathroom hand soap. I bought the fancy Aseop hand soap and it makes me so happy every time!
Picking up meaningful things from your travels is such a cool way to create a unique home: glasses from here, towels from there, soap from another place. So much more interesting than a place entirely furnished by bed, bath & beyond (no shade to b, b & b).
I avoid Airbnb now for the reasons you've stated and because of the unfortunate way it has transformed popular cities. Thanks to Airbnb, almost no locals live in the main city center of Sevilla anymore. 10 years ago I happily lived in the main center and now I wouldn't even think about it cause the locals are in the surrounding neighborhoods.
I love design hotels like you but I've also been influenced by the Spanish philosophy of travel, which is that we're meant to spend so much time out and about exploring the city that it doesn't matter if the hotel is somewhat lackluster.
Completely agree with you; Airbnb has done so much harm to many cities and towns in Europe. We have a policy now of staying in hotels to ensure that we’re staying in, basically, an area that was designated for us rather than in a locals’ neighborhood where we may be disrupting the quality of life. (And, conveniently, it’s also ensured better mattresses etc.)
I actually still love Airbnb, but not in places that are highly touristed (like most cities in Europe). I just stayed in an Airbnb in Belo Horizonte, Brazil for two weeks and the host was incredible - we became quick friends and I even met his friends. And another in São Paulo with the sweetest older couple in a beautiful home, who would cut me fruit and sometimes make me dinner. Both homes were beautiful and cheaper experiences than hotels, too.
There is a trade off with this, though. I don’t mind trading some comforts (like my own shower or new appliances) for this experience, and I wouldn’t look for airbnbs in places like Paris or Barcelona. In those places, I usually stay in high-end hostels for the social experience, or small B&B type accommodations. Generally, I love staying in smaller places vs hotels because of the opportunity to feel more part of a community.
Love that approach Zefan! So happy for you that you had such great hosts in Brazil. I still remember every single wonderful host I had around the world.
I also love high end hostels. The best one I ever stayed at was in Japan in Kyoto. I met so many amazing people.
Air BnB has contributed greatly to gentrification and as a former travel editor, I always prioritize hotels or authentic BnB accommodation. Your hotel irks ring true. Japan is one of my favorite places to travel (I lived there for a decade) and I always stay in traditional Ryokan when visiting, or home stays.
Generally when I’m traveling with my family we try to stay in home stays.
We just relocated to Bretagne and have been struggling to find a rental house or apartment through the real estate agencies, and ended up getting a house that’s usually an Air BnB, which the owner has agreed to rent to us until next summer, when he’ll let it out on the app again. It’s a 1915 Fisherman’s Cottage, renovated nicely, but he’s definitely thrown in some tacky objects that serve no useful purpose > I’ll box those up and store them in the garage while we stay.
Angie happy to meet you! I love Japan and I love France! I used to live in Verdun and I have heard only amazing things about Bretagne.
When I moved to San Diego I used long term stay companies like Sonder. I also rented my place out using an Indy creatives site and my guest put all my personal objects away too 😂 I hadn’t realized how many I left out.
This is a great article!! I love hearing about alternatives to airbnb!!! I still use airbnb for the most part. I started using it at the beginning and know how to look for specific things, especially dog friendly stays as I often travel with my pup. And my budget is much lower than $100-$150 a night, which airbnb provides. I was even able to find a stay in Oai, Santorini Greece that ended up being an amazing hotel on airbnb for well under $100/night. I was also able to get a full refund once when I had a bad airbnb experience BUT--honestly I'd rather stay in boutique hotels. Hopefully I can afford them in the future!!
Yes, it seems adding pets make things more complicated! Another substacker has a book about how to get free hotel stays by writing reviews. It’s something I want to look into.
Yes pets do complicate, but are so worth it. I’m teaching my puppy to travel! That book sounds super interesting and informative, I’d love to read it and support her. Do you have her information?
Happy to read this and to know someone else feels the way I do. Airbnb has gotten quite expensive. Boutique hotels are a treat and I tend to reserve them for a few nights when I want to splurge. Otherwise, I try to keep accommodations cheap since it's usually the place I'm sleeping at and I'm out and about during the day (recently went to Oaxaca, Mexico and Bogota/Medellin in Colombia and stayed at very affordable places via booking.com)
Ohhh I am so happy that when I eventually move back to the US I still have lots of South America to explore. I know Columbia and Oaxaca have been exploding lately, I’m glad you enjoyed your stays!
I loved your piece about mice in your house! I was laughing because I had the same issues in Philly 😂
Thanks Brenna! When it was published I had a brief moment of thinking “Did I reveal to everyone a taboo problem?” But it seems like almost everyone has had run-ins lol!
Love this and great recommendations wow that Ventura house looks fabulous we must go there!
I too use Hotels.com and VRBO and only look for super hosts. I do love a luxury hotel but only when the service and a points or loyalty match gives us a good rate.
It’s been a few years since I used AirBnB because my last experience was just awful. When in Paris this spring I opted for a hotel and had just as “local” an experience as any other in my opinion. The accommodations were guaranteed to be neat and fresh as well, which is a huge priority.
Nomad Hotel looks absolutely stunning as well. Thanks for sharing!
Yes as Zefan points out below, the big European cities are not great for Airbnb and they do harm to locals. When you find good boutique hotels it’s good to share the wealth!
These look lovely! I tend to lean towards Boutique Hotels now, but love AirBnb for when we travel with our pup or are longing for an extended stay.
This summer, we stayed at one in the Luberon region of Provence and it was just perfect, but that type of experience is far and few between nowadays.
I also LOVE, as you mentioned, AirBnb Experiences! I’ve snowshoed Mount Hood in the moonlight, made sangria in the courtyard of a Spanish Church, went to a chef’s home in Paris for concoct sauces… such lovely times all for education + connection.
It was pure magic! We all met up and were given snowshoes and headlamps as a guide brought us to the top of the mountain to enjoy apple cider under the snow covered evergreen trees. One of the best experiences of my life!
I have almost exclusively used Airbnbs in the US for the past 4-5 years because hotels are more expensive in general but have been finding the same disappointment with Airbnbs!!
I love a local experiences and cool design in a space so will try your tips next time
I love hearing what details makes a space special - I'm taking notes for when I open my house to creatives and women travelling solo next year!
Ooooo nice!!!
I search on all platforms but look for true hosts, and there are still a lot of those around.
Yes! Agreed Claire 😊
I always love seeing how other people travel. AirBnB (or similar) is still the most usual place for me to book, and this was a good opportunity to think about why. For me it comes down to a few things:
1. Group travel (as you pointed out). My husband and I still usually travel with our teenagers, and getting a place with two or even three bedrooms for the same price as one hotel room is just more practical for a family.
2. A kitchen. One of my favourite things to do in a new country is going grocery shopping and trying a bunch of new foods. It's such an interesting way to see what people really eat at home, not just at restaurants. I'm also fascinated by what hosts find important to include in a kitchen. And even on AirBnB it's still very possible to find quirky, fun places. We stayed at a country house in France once that had three different fondue sets.
3. Space to lounge around. The longer I live in Europe, the more I appreciate a holiday that consists largely of relaxing. I love having a whole house, including a living room, a garden, and other spaces to spend time other than just my room.
Your post definitely makes me want to start considering boutique design hotels more, though, especially as my kids are getting close to moving out, and my husband and I will be vacationing more alone.
I love love love your point about having a kitchen for intl grocery shopping. Going to a grocery store in a foreign country is 💯 one of my fav activities! Even if I just get snacks I love browsing 😊
We stayed in a beautiful place in Umbria, a cooking school and a B&B. They used charming (and utilitarian) Turkish towels for their bash rooms, and idea I took and now use in mine! I love taking design ideas from places I visit.
AGREED! I love getting style ideas and then making my own house feel like a retreat! I did that with my bathroom hand soap. I bought the fancy Aseop hand soap and it makes me so happy every time!
Picking up meaningful things from your travels is such a cool way to create a unique home: glasses from here, towels from there, soap from another place. So much more interesting than a place entirely furnished by bed, bath & beyond (no shade to b, b & b).
😂😂😂
I avoid Airbnb now for the reasons you've stated and because of the unfortunate way it has transformed popular cities. Thanks to Airbnb, almost no locals live in the main city center of Sevilla anymore. 10 years ago I happily lived in the main center and now I wouldn't even think about it cause the locals are in the surrounding neighborhoods.
I love design hotels like you but I've also been influenced by the Spanish philosophy of travel, which is that we're meant to spend so much time out and about exploring the city that it doesn't matter if the hotel is somewhat lackluster.
I did not mention the harm Airbnb has done but I am 💯 on board. It’s a shame.
I agree it’s great to spend little time in the hotel. Someplace safe to rest your head is something to be grateful for.
Completely agree with you; Airbnb has done so much harm to many cities and towns in Europe. We have a policy now of staying in hotels to ensure that we’re staying in, basically, an area that was designated for us rather than in a locals’ neighborhood where we may be disrupting the quality of life. (And, conveniently, it’s also ensured better mattresses etc.)
I think it’s also about taste and needs evolving. And about airbnb evolving as well
You’re right Erica, my tastes have changed too. I am also married now so I tend to travel with my partner instead of solo. This helps to
Split the cost as well as have a built in travel companion.
I actually still love Airbnb, but not in places that are highly touristed (like most cities in Europe). I just stayed in an Airbnb in Belo Horizonte, Brazil for two weeks and the host was incredible - we became quick friends and I even met his friends. And another in São Paulo with the sweetest older couple in a beautiful home, who would cut me fruit and sometimes make me dinner. Both homes were beautiful and cheaper experiences than hotels, too.
There is a trade off with this, though. I don’t mind trading some comforts (like my own shower or new appliances) for this experience, and I wouldn’t look for airbnbs in places like Paris or Barcelona. In those places, I usually stay in high-end hostels for the social experience, or small B&B type accommodations. Generally, I love staying in smaller places vs hotels because of the opportunity to feel more part of a community.
Love that approach Zefan! So happy for you that you had such great hosts in Brazil. I still remember every single wonderful host I had around the world.
I also love high end hostels. The best one I ever stayed at was in Japan in Kyoto. I met so many amazing people.
Air BnB has contributed greatly to gentrification and as a former travel editor, I always prioritize hotels or authentic BnB accommodation. Your hotel irks ring true. Japan is one of my favorite places to travel (I lived there for a decade) and I always stay in traditional Ryokan when visiting, or home stays.
Generally when I’m traveling with my family we try to stay in home stays.
We just relocated to Bretagne and have been struggling to find a rental house or apartment through the real estate agencies, and ended up getting a house that’s usually an Air BnB, which the owner has agreed to rent to us until next summer, when he’ll let it out on the app again. It’s a 1915 Fisherman’s Cottage, renovated nicely, but he’s definitely thrown in some tacky objects that serve no useful purpose > I’ll box those up and store them in the garage while we stay.
Angie happy to meet you! I love Japan and I love France! I used to live in Verdun and I have heard only amazing things about Bretagne.
When I moved to San Diego I used long term stay companies like Sonder. I also rented my place out using an Indy creatives site and my guest put all my personal objects away too 😂 I hadn’t realized how many I left out.
I think you’ve convinced me to visit that agriturismo in Umbria, sounds heavenly!
Umbria gets less credit than Tuscany but it’s so beautiful 🤩
This is a great article!! I love hearing about alternatives to airbnb!!! I still use airbnb for the most part. I started using it at the beginning and know how to look for specific things, especially dog friendly stays as I often travel with my pup. And my budget is much lower than $100-$150 a night, which airbnb provides. I was even able to find a stay in Oai, Santorini Greece that ended up being an amazing hotel on airbnb for well under $100/night. I was also able to get a full refund once when I had a bad airbnb experience BUT--honestly I'd rather stay in boutique hotels. Hopefully I can afford them in the future!!
Yes, it seems adding pets make things more complicated! Another substacker has a book about how to get free hotel stays by writing reviews. It’s something I want to look into.
Yes pets do complicate, but are so worth it. I’m teaching my puppy to travel! That book sounds super interesting and informative, I’d love to read it and support her. Do you have her information?
Happy to read this and to know someone else feels the way I do. Airbnb has gotten quite expensive. Boutique hotels are a treat and I tend to reserve them for a few nights when I want to splurge. Otherwise, I try to keep accommodations cheap since it's usually the place I'm sleeping at and I'm out and about during the day (recently went to Oaxaca, Mexico and Bogota/Medellin in Colombia and stayed at very affordable places via booking.com)
Ohhh I am so happy that when I eventually move back to the US I still have lots of South America to explore. I know Columbia and Oaxaca have been exploding lately, I’m glad you enjoyed your stays!
I loved your piece about mice in your house! I was laughing because I had the same issues in Philly 😂
Thanks Brenna! When it was published I had a brief moment of thinking “Did I reveal to everyone a taboo problem?” But it seems like almost everyone has had run-ins lol!
Congrats on getting published too! That’s amazing! 👏🏻
Love this and great recommendations wow that Ventura house looks fabulous we must go there!
I too use Hotels.com and VRBO and only look for super hosts. I do love a luxury hotel but only when the service and a points or loyalty match gives us a good rate.
Thanks for such a thoughtful travel post!!
Awesome Karen! Thanks for reading!
It’s been a few years since I used AirBnB because my last experience was just awful. When in Paris this spring I opted for a hotel and had just as “local” an experience as any other in my opinion. The accommodations were guaranteed to be neat and fresh as well, which is a huge priority.
Nomad Hotel looks absolutely stunning as well. Thanks for sharing!
Yes as Zefan points out below, the big European cities are not great for Airbnb and they do harm to locals. When you find good boutique hotels it’s good to share the wealth!
These look lovely! I tend to lean towards Boutique Hotels now, but love AirBnb for when we travel with our pup or are longing for an extended stay.
This summer, we stayed at one in the Luberon region of Provence and it was just perfect, but that type of experience is far and few between nowadays.
I also LOVE, as you mentioned, AirBnb Experiences! I’ve snowshoed Mount Hood in the moonlight, made sangria in the courtyard of a Spanish Church, went to a chef’s home in Paris for concoct sauces… such lovely times all for education + connection.
Snow shoe mount hood in moonlight ? 🌕 omg say more
It was pure magic! We all met up and were given snowshoes and headlamps as a guide brought us to the top of the mountain to enjoy apple cider under the snow covered evergreen trees. One of the best experiences of my life!
I remember that Air B&B in Venture, Brenna - what an amazing place! Thanks for all the tips!
It’s no surprise most of my fav stays have been in New England! There are so many great finds.
It was so great! The bathrooms omg 🤤
I have almost exclusively used Airbnbs in the US for the past 4-5 years because hotels are more expensive in general but have been finding the same disappointment with Airbnbs!!
I love a local experiences and cool design in a space so will try your tips next time
Yeah I don’t even find Airbnb to be cheaper most times! At least within the US unless it’s a group trip.