5 reasons why we use Airbnb

5 reasons why we use Airbnb

These days, Airbnb seems to be fighting the fire on all fronts. Legal and tax issues, mixed with strong opposition from the hospitality industry's old guard, mean this relatively young startup is under siege in cities around the world. We've already talked about how we use the site regularly - in fact, our post on Airbnb Etiquette: 10 Tips for Guests is one of the most popular on the site. Suffice it to say, we're fans of the service.

We understand the plight of more traditional hotels, but there are many things, both big and small, they can learn from Airbnb. Here are just five of them:

Cheaper rates

We love the sharing aspect of Airbnb, but we admit that the first and most important reason why it has gained so much traction is pure and evil money. It's generally cheaper than equivalent hotel stays in hundreds of destinations.

If you're visiting New York, even a budget hostel will put a significant dent in your pocket; an Airbnb stay will likely be much, much cheaper. It also gives you the option to stay further out of the city center to save costs. Decent hotel options at similar distances will be relatively rare.

All day breakfast

Being on vacation should mean you can sleep in as late as you want. Unfortunately, the curse of the hotel breakfast has left so many of us dragging ourselves out of bed to catch the last crumbs of the buffet before everything is packed up and taken away. Airbnb is a different story. You can wake up at any time and stroll into the kitchen to prepare and enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

First morning in our Finnish Airbnb cabin. Here you don't have to rush out of bed to enjoy the breakfast buffet

Access to a kitchen

Some modern hotel rooms have a kitchenette, but most often you are limited to a room with two rooms: bedroom and bathroom. Airbnb generally gives you free reign of all areas of the house, allowing you to prepare all of your meals if you're so inclined. Peter and I try to cook as much as possible when we're in an Airbnb as it's not only a great way to try out local ingredients but also keeps costs down!

No tips

I'm sure there are people more sophisticated than me who are completely comfortable with the culture of tipping. The gentle trust and subtle handshake, the gracious acceptance of a server's gratitude—I've experienced it, but it's never me. Instead, I fumble awkwardly, silently worrying about whether I'm paying too little or too much, or waiting, should I tip at all?

There are no bellhops or concierges in an Airbnb property. There are no maids or servers or elevator operators. There's no need for fear or awkwardness - perfect for the Brit in me.

A local guide

My favorite Indian restaurants in London are The Kati Roll Company in Oxford Circus, Bangalore Express in Waterloo and Lahore Kebab House in Aldgate East. Only one of these is in the best London guide I've found, and it's unlikely that hoteliers would recommend these over their more famous counterparts (Veeraswamy, Tayyabs and the many in Brick Lane).

I recommend them to every Airbnb guest who has stayed with us, most of whom have tried one of the restaurants and absolutely loved it. Staying with a host who has in-depth knowledge of the city adds cultural value that you rarely get from a hotel concierge or their collection of pamphlets.

Of course, hotels have their advantages (regular housekeeping is one of them), but in the long-term battle for guests, Airbnb wins.

Try Airbnb for the first time and save $20 on your first trip using this link.

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