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Hvae you ever used it? In a few months we will be flying in & out of San Francisco. Because we live about a 4 hour drive away we need to spend the nights before & after in an hotel. An old pal of mine is putting us up, on one leg of the journey but for the other, I am staying in an hotel, near the airport. I looked for the arirbnb availability & they are shockingly expensive, why do people keep recommending them when they are so expensive? It seems, they are only cheaper, if you need a place for a week or more. Ar first glance you may see a decent rate, but then the cleaning fee is $250 or something else crazy. I don't understand the popularity.
In 90% of the cases, it is considerably cheaper, or if you pay the same price, you get considerably more space. Nowadays I almost exclusively go for airbnb.
Cities where there is a huge housing shortage may be an exception, such as San Francisco. Personally I don't think it is worth the price to travel there.
In 90% of the cases, it is considerably cheaper, or if you pay the same price, you get considerably more space. Nowadays I almost exclusively go for airbnb.
Cities where there is a huge housing shortage may be an exception, such as San Francisco. Personally I don't think it is worth the price to travel there.
Yes, but I have to travel there for international flights. I couldn't get the days I needed, for a closer airport. Plus as a former long time resident I do like to go back & hang out with pals & my old haunts. I saw cleaning fees on airbnb of $250.00, that quickly negates any savings for me.
Agree that if a single traveler or couple, and depending on the market it could be as expensive or more; but if a family, or splitting costs in a group it's a great deal -if you can find a place. Add in the option of some meals in the unit; liquor and laundry (reduced luggage costs and convenience)- it's a great deal. We do both and it's very trip dependent.
I can see how it would make sense for a family or a group, for an extended trip, but so far, as a couple I have not any deals, worthwhile, in the areas we want travel to. As far as cheap meals, I am not above buying cheese & crackers for any hotel room
When we visit phoenix during the winter high season, we do Airbnb and save money over hotels. Summer low season, the hotels are cheaper than Airbnb. The season and the local market affect this question too much to directly answer it.
Like stated earlier, it depends on the market. Normally an expensive tourist city like SF would be a prime opportunity to find good value through airbnb but because of the insane housing situation within the city of SF that offsets it quite a bit. I am a frequent traveler and a frequent airbnb user and on my last trip to SF last fall I went with a hotel on priceline (NYOP) as that worked out to be the best value for our situation.
San Francisco proper also apparently has hard limits on how many nights a non-hotel property may be rented out in a year, so less of a supply than you'd get in less regulated cities.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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I have several great stays in $free to $20/ night guest hospitality homes. One near Palo Alto so close to Sfo, on the rail line. We have used it 3x this yr, as well as our favorite next to GG park, $10/ night and a real fun host from Sweden.
When I have to rent.... I use RT Mason hostel. Free parking, close to wharf, buses, walking. And very fun people.
We used Air b&b 8 times during our 1 yr RTW. It was miserable. 'Profit motive', not hospitality motive.
Probably have had 1000 stays in guest homes during last 28 yrs. great, informative, welcoming, educational, safe, pleasant, fun, entertaining ...
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