Book Airbnb cheaper than hotels always?

Book your airfare in advance to get a lower price. It is ideal if you choose a connecting flight. Fly to the country during shoulder season or low season - when there are fewer tourists to save extra money on your trip!

There are a few money-saving tips that will come in handy when you're planning a budget vacation.

But what about hotel prices that can ruin your budget? There's a hack here, too. Prefer Airbnb, which offers cheaper accommodation options. Airbnb allows customers to book a portion of someone's home, commonly referred to as a B&B or bed & breakfast, or an entire property for daily rental. Hotel booking sites such as booking.com also offer B&B lodging options. These accommodation options are non-commercial in nature, which is the main reason for their lower prices compared to hotels.

Airbnb was created with the idea of allowing homeowners to rent out spare rooms or part of their home, but over time the concept has evolved into a real business opportunity for property owners, as many of them now rent out their entire home on the platform. In fact, in some popular tourist destinations including Goa, Dehradun and Himachal Pradesh, people have started investing in apartments and villas for the sole purpose of listing them on the Airbnb platform. Some even rent properties from owners and rent them out on the platform to earn a regular income. All this is good news for travelers as it provides them with a wide range of cheaper alternatives to hotels.

The Mint's research shows that staying in an Airbnb in most popular tourist destinations in India and abroad can save you around 10-30% compared to booking a 3-star hotel with similar amenities. However, this does not mean that it will always be the cheapest accommodation option. Airbnb offers a wide range of prices depending on the size of the room, minimum number of guests, amenities, location, furnishings, and other factors. For example, one room in an apartment that is used by both the host and other guests can be 20-50% cheaper compared to a property in the same area that is rented exclusively to travelers and the host lives elsewhere. Similarly, a place with premium furnishings or a scenic view will cost more compared to other properties offering the same amenities but lacking these two features. You can even find accommodations in tourist destinations with prices comparable to 5-star hotels that offer unique experiences such as a glass house, luxury farm cabin, vintage villa or premium waterfront home. In metropolitan cities, price variations are limited as size and location are the only two major factors affecting prices.

Shivya Nath, a travel blogger and author of Shooting Star, says Airbnb, in terms of price, is more affordable not only in India but across the world.

"In European countries, when you want to stay in an area that is easier to reach from the city center, Airbnb is more cost-effective compared to hotels that are too expensive in upscale locations," she said.

People looking for extended stays lasting more than a week can reduce their accommodation costs by staying at Airbnb, as the platform offers floor-by-floor pricing to encourage longer bookings. Nalin Jha, a super host on the platform, says he offers 10% discount to guests booking on a weekly basis, while those who book the property for a month get a very attractive 20-25% discount.

Although vacations are meant to be relaxing, cooking your own meals can save you more than 50% on your restaurant bill. Airbnb also gives you the flexibility to get a good discount on the price in some cases, Nat said. "During low season, for example, you can ask the owner to offer a lower price. I wouldn't say it's a tough bargain, but it's worth asking, especially if you're staying for an extended period of time," she said.

Although Airbnb is cheaper, it doesn't always make sense to book it on all cases. Properties rented out as individual units are not always economical for a couple or solo traveler. For example, villas in tea and cardamom plantations in Munnar for 8-12 guests cost Rs 14,000-20,000 per night, which is about Rs 1,600 per person. While this is a good deal for a large group, it is better for couples to stay at a hotel near such a plantation. In fact, the Airbnb market in some international tourist cities such as Bangkok, Thailand, and Bali, Indonesia, is so developed that the platform is more likely to offer luxury villas with private pools and large apartments in skyscrapers instead of standard B&B lodging. Some popular tourist destinations include B& In such cases, the choice of B& Also, the Airbnb market in second-tier cities and other cities in India is not as developed, so the quality of accommodation may be basic with few amenities offered. Some hosts also charge a cleaning fee, so check the net price rather than the listed price when comparing to hotels. Since Airbnb is essentially someone's home available for daily rental, they lack the amenities such as a front desk, maid service, 24-hour restaurant, and room service provided by hotels. So when you leave your room, remember that you are not going back to a room where the beds are made or the bathrooms are cleaned, unlike a hotel. You also need to determine your own breakfast menu - either make your own or order from a restaurant, while most hotels offer a variety of breakfasts. "Hotels offer you a standardized experience, whereas with Airbnb it can vary a lot because it's basically houses that people live in," Nat said.

Therefore, travelers who care about convenience would rather stay in a hotel.

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