When travelling around Europe, do you generally prefer Airbnbs or hotels?
I’ve been comparing both for an upcoming trip, and I’m realizing Airbnbs aren’t always automatically the cheaper option anymore. At the same time, having more space, a kitchen and somewhere that feels a little more residential can be really nice, especially if you’re staying somewhere for several days.
Hotels obviously have their advantages too—reception, housekeeping, luggage storage, and not having to coordinate with a host just to check in.
For those who travel around Europe regularly, which have you ended up preferring? Does it depend on the city or length of stay, or have you pretty much switched entirely to one or the other?
I prefer hotels.
It’s not about being cheaper, it’s about not having to do the shopping, cooking and washing up.
I also don’t always know where I’m going to be or what I want to do the next day.
Michel.
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Oh I love that point actually! I guess it really depends on the type of traveller you are too. If you’re more spontaneous, I can definitely see why a hotel would make more sense and give you that flexibility
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I’d treat this less as hotels versus apartments and more as the shape of the trip. Hotels usually have the edge for one to three nights, late arrivals, multi-city itineraries, luggage before or after checkout, and schedules that may change. An apartment starts to make more sense on a longer stay when a kitchen, laundry, and separate workspace will actually be used.
The comparison trap is looking only at the headline nightly rate. I’d compare the final all-in price, then check cancellation and payment terms, the exact transport situation, check-in reliability, luggage storage, and any cleaning requirements. An apartment that saves €20 a night can lose its advantage on a short stay once a fixed cleaning fee and rigid key handover are added. A hotel with a 24-hour desk and breakfast may remove enough friction to justify a modest premium.
A split can work well too: hotel for the first or last night around a flight or train, then an apartment for the slower middle of the trip.
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