Our accommodations page goes over different places to stay in a fairly general format. Take a look there if you’re just starting out or are not sure what might generally be best for you. This page is dedicated to learning about hotels vs Airbnb vs hostels, three of the most common accommodation types when traveling.

Here is where you’ll find an in-depth analysis of what might be best for you. Each traveler is different and each trip is different so you’ll find your wants and needs might change from trip to trip. If you are looking to book travel, we recommend Booking.com as a great option with a solid membership program as well (no charge to users either! Viator is another great site we use for booking accommodations!

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Let’s start by examining the differences between the three main types of accommodations people tend to choose.

All three of these offer some pros and cons over the other. Let’s dive deeper into the pros and cons of hotels vs Airbnb vs hostels.

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HOTELS

Hotels vs. Airbnb vs. hostels: As you consider your choices, let’s begin by looking at hotels. All hotels will vary significantly in price, location, and amenities. As with many things in life, the more you pay, the nicer it tends (or at least seems) to be.

Privacy

Like Airbnb or certain hostel rooms, hotels are always going to give you privacy. You will always have your own room to sleep and shower/use the bathroom in. That means you’ll always be able to come back to your place, kick your shoes off and relax in peace.

Amenities

Hotels also almost always offer you simple amenities such as soap and shampoo. A slightly nicer hotel means you might receive tea and coffee, shaving kits, combs, lotion, toothbrushes, paste, etc. These may not be a big deal for some, but they can be handy if you’ve forgotten something. Many hotels, especially in countries where tap water is not potable, give a free bottle of water or two.

Location

Hotels are prevalent virtually everywhere in major cities. Unlike hostels or Airbnb, hotels are probably your best option if you want to stay near an airport. Hostels and Airbnb have much less presence near airports.

Hotels are still available everywhere, even away from airports. The availability of locations for hotels provides you with considerable options in terms of location. Want to stay by the subway? Maybe the train station? All of these are available when staying at a hotel. One caveat, however, is as you move closer to a downtown area in a major metropolitan area, the price of hotels will rise. You need to leverage location vs cost at the hotels you want to stay.

Cleaning or Turndown Service

Again, most hotels will come in daily and make up your room. They often replace towels (if so desired), replace used items (water, shampoo, etc.), make and clean the bed and take out the trash. They’ll also respect your privacy if you put out that you’d prefer to not be disturbed. Of the three options, hotels are the only ones likely to do this, so if you value coming back each day to a made-up room, you may prefer a hotel.

Clothing & Laundry

Many hotels offer a laundry service (something we do not recommend unless you’re in a pinch). These are unbelievably expensive, and you can almost always find a laundromat nearby where you can likely do a load of laundry for the cost the hotel charges for a t-shirt to be cleaned.

Hotels do, however, almost always offer an iron and ironing board. If you know you might be in a place where you need nicer clothes and they’re wrinkled from the trip, you can iron them at your hotel. Whether these irons are always functional or not can occasionally be another story.

Room Service

Of the three, this again is exclusive to hotels. Not all hotels offer room service, but many do. Perhaps you’re not feeling well and need something to eat or drink. Like with laundry, we generally do not recommend room service unless you really want something you know you can’t get (say it’s quite late or early in the morning). We don’t generally recommend room service because Uber Eats (or whatever the local version is) is also usually available with far more options and for a fraction of the cost.

Security

Hotels, unlike dorm hostels, mean only a few people will regularly have access to your room and items (hotel maids, etc.) versus a hostel dorm where anyone in the same dorm room has access to your items. Like with other items on this list, hotels will also almost always provide a safe for you to use. These are not foolproof as they can sometimes be picked up and carried out, or someone might have access to your room (i.e., an employee) who knows how to reset the code and open the safe. Yet, they still do provide a sense of security and, for the most part, keep your valuables safe.

Hotels are also quite good about storing luggage for you if your departure time is beyond the hotel’s checkout time. Some cities (e.g. Hong Kong) do a great job of providing this service from the train station to the airport, though for a fee.

There are certainly accounts of items going missing in hotels, cameras installed (less likely in hotels vs. Airbnb), or safes/luggage being broken into. Still, on the whole, it is not a common occurrence (if it were, those hotels would likely not be in business for too long).

Points

One of our favorite benefits of hotels is, like with airlines, the ability to accrue points to use with a particular chain of hotels. Hotel loyalty can be quite rewarding over a given time frame. Membership can also provide other perks such as complimentary items (like wifi – which isn’t always free at hotels), early check-in, or late check-out (these are amazing to have available).

Conclusion

Hotels are perfect for those who want a bit more luxury (depending on the hotel) in regards to feeling taken care of. They might also be better for those needing late checkouts, as hotels have teams to clean instead of an owner or a hired company. And they are great for those who want to build loyalty.

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AIRBNBS

Hotels vs Airbnb vs Hostels: Airbnb exploded onto the scene about 15 years ago, offering travelers a new and unique way to stay when not in their home city. For a time, Airbnb was generally cheaper than hotels, but city, state, and federal regulations around the world have made costs more comparable to that of hotels. Let’s take a look at the Airbnb side of hotels, Airbnb, or hostels.

Whole Homes, Condos, or Apartments

With Airbnb, you have the ability to rent out an entire place and have it be all your own (though you can rent private rooms in a place if that’s your thing). With the whole of a place at your fingertips, you’ll have far more options for what you can do whilst “at home.”

Kitchens

Certain hotel chains have kitchens, and some might have small microwaves or refrigerators, but many, if not most, Airbnbs have kitchens as they are designed for people to live full-time. This means if you enjoy cooking, you usually can. If you’d like to invite a few (Airbnb has banned all parties) friends to cook for them, you can. Or if you just prefer to cook and eat simple meals to save money, this is also an option.

Space

As mentioned above, many people rent an entire home when they use Airbnb. This makes it easier to bring your luggage with you, but most importantly, it can make it easier to travel in large groups, allowing you to all stay together and reducing the cost per person of the place you’re staying.

Privacy

Unlike hotels, the only one with access to Airbnb is the host. They won’t clean during your stay, so your privacy generally remains uninterrupted. That being said, some Airbnb options are private rooms, so you may share a kitchen (or not have one) as well as a bathroom. Most Airbnbs are going to offer you the privacy you need to shower, cook, and lounge without fear of interruption.

Entertainment

In-house entertainment at hotels has improved over the years, though you’re guaranteed to get TV. Airbnbs, however, may or may not have a TV but are far more likely to have amenities such as Netflix or Disney+. These are becoming far more common among Airbnb hosts.

Clothing & Laundry

Hotels are almost going to offer you an iron and an ironing board, but Airbnbs will often go a step further. While you will find most hosts offer an iron and board, you can also search for places that include washers and dryers. As we mentioned above, we do not recommend using hotel services for laundry, but an Airbnb where you can clean your clothes for an extended stay. Great idea!

Conclusion

Airbnbs are a great option, especially for those who want more space, more privacy, and the likelihood of being able to save money by cooking instead of eating out. Some hosts (or more likely places) may require a minimum number of nights, and some Airbnbs may be a bit further from the attractions, but overall, these are a great option for every traveler, from solo travelers to groups to families.

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HOSTELS

Hotels vs Airbnb vs Hostels: Hostels can often be the cheapest choice and offer a variety of options for your stay. They are centrally located, affordable, and a great place to meet fellow travelers. They are often pigeonholed as places for backpackers, budget travelers, or young travelers, but these are just a small subset of the people hostels serve. Let’s take a deep dive into hostels by comparing hotels vs. Airbnb vs. hostels.

Meeting New People

Hotels and Airbnb are isolated places of stay. If you’re a couple looking for privacy, a family with children, or a host of other people for reasons, you may want to stay at a hotel or Airbnb. Hostels, however, are great places to meet your fellow travelers. You may stay in a dorm room with strangers, where you’ll be able to meet other people staying in the dorm with you. Many hostels also host mixers for their guests, allowing them to meet and chat with their fellow guests (and sometimes not). A hostel might be your best bet if you want to meet new people.

Privacy

Hostels can be both very private and very not. Some hostels offer private rooms with or without bathrooms, meaning you will sleep privately but may still share a bathroom with others. Many hostels offer smaller dorms (4, 6, 8, etc. People). These might have their own bathrooms (or not) and are great for small groups traveling together. You’ll have privacy in so far as you will likely know the people you’re in the room with.

Finally, you can stay in a larger dorm. These are the cheapest option, but you’ll be in a room with people you’ve never met (as will your clothes and everything else), and you’ll also be sharing a bathroom and shower with those same people (possibly more from other rooms). If privacy is a key factor in choosing where to stay, then make sure you read carefully through what your hostel offers.

Location

Hostels are generally located in central, easy-to-get-around areas. This makes them ideal for travelers looking to spend much time or money getting from point A to point B. With a more central location, you’ll also be able to spend more time meandering and exploring the city on foot if that’s your thing, and you’ll be easily able to return to your accommodation when needed. Hotels can also be central (though that comes with a higher price) and Airbnb, but overall, hostels tend to nearly always be near the heart of the action.

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Clothing & Laundry

You’ll find that some hostels offer laundry rooms in case you need to clean clothes on your trip. they are not free, but they are readily available within the hostel. It is generally better and easier than lugging your dirty clothes to the laundromat to get them washed (still a better option than paying at a hotel). Iron and ironing boards are more likely to be hit or miss. If there’s a laundry room, you might find these. Without a laundry room, an iron is not often present, especially if you’re staying in a dorm room.

Storage

If you’re staying in a private room in a hostel, you’ll have a bit more security with your valuables. In a dorm, especially with people you don’t know, you’ll have to be a bit more guarded. You may need to lock up your valuables each day. To help with this, however, many hostels (and hotels, for that matter) will offer to store your valuables to keep them safe. In this regard, you’re putting your valuables into someone else’s hands, but it does add the factor they are liable should something happen to them while in their possession.

Conclusion

Hostels are a great option for any traveler, though families with children might find better options elsewhere. A hostel offers everything you need for an affordable price. You might sacrifice privacy or private bathrooms, but the locations, affordability, and opportunity are difficult to beat.

We recommend Booking.com or Viator as great places to start looking for hostels.

Final thoughts

Hotels vs Airbnb vs Hostels – all three offer solid vacation options, wherever it may be. Before booking, we recommend knowing what you’re looking for (cooking? Meeting others? Location? Walkability?) before booking. We also recommend reading the reviews of each place you are considering.

If you are looking to book travel, we of course, recommend Booking.com as a great option with a solid membership program as well (no charge to users either! Viator is another great site we use for accommodations when booking!

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