Hotel vs. AirBnB

Our guidelines for our trips are to get an apartment (I like to use Booking.com and VRBO) for stays of 4 or more nights. Three nights or fewer, we go to a hotel. It’s just not worth shipping for foodstuffs for only a few nights. Plus it seems to take longer to check in and figure the place out when you get an apartment,

We stay in hotels when visiting a new place where we may need help from the front desk.

Extended stay 'aparthotel' when available. They seem to be the best of both worlds combining larger rooms and kitchen space with the security and cleaning services of a staffed hotel. They aren't as common in Europe yet, but IHG, Accor and the like tend to have some outposts in the bigger cities.

I prefer B&Bs with small hotels a close second. I do not go on vacation to eat my own cooking (I get enough at home) and I travel to eat different/local food.

Also, I do not like what AirBnB is doing to many cites in making it too expensive for locals to live there (e.g., Paris and Venice and even NY City). Also it is breaking the law in Paris by continuing to advertise unlicensed apartments. If you unknowingly rent one to these, you may arrive and find the apartment not available because it has been closed by the local authorities.

Hi, usually on vacation my husband is traveling with me, and I book hotels for most locations and an apartment (through Booking.com) for the location we are staying 4-5 days.

Last year I went to Italy for three weeks by myself. (Just retired; fantastic trip!). Because I was traveling by myself, I wanted the security of either a hotel or B&B to have someone at the front desk or in the home. I appreciated that the hotel front desk personnel quickly recognized me and were always cordial.

If it helps put your mind at ease, here’s my trip report to get you excited about your trip!
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/solo-trip-to-italy-2018

If you read guest reviews on Airbnb, you will easily see which hosts are active and willing to help their guests enjoy
their stay in every way. Consider a full 5 star rating only. Ask the hosts questions and see how they respond. That will
tell you a lot, by itself. We use Airbnb for most of our stays and have had very good luck finding great hosts.

Fellow solo traveler here. I’ve been traveling to Europe for 18 years now, and I think Airbnb is an absolute godsend. The big thing for me is the value. The smaller, budget-ey hotels I’ve stayed in (with a few exceptions) have consistently been disappointing. They’re usually some combination of small, rundown, and uncomfortable with goofy bathrooms. The same price point with Airbnb is a major upgrade on space and comfort. For instance, my first time in Paris was in a hotel room up 4 flights of stairs with a shower you couldn’t turn around in. The next time I went to Paris, my Airbnb was a full studio apartment, with a bathtub, kitchen and washing machine, for roughly the same price. On the Amalfi Coast, I stayed in a place literally looking out on, and steps from the beach!

Hosts are usually extremely helpful and interested in providing you with advice and suggestions for your stay. They will all have some kind of binder full of this FAQ stuff for the flat and the neighborhood. The idea that most hosts are money grabbing concerns living 1,000 miles away just isn’t reality in my experience. Usually, they are locals or friends of the owners who live nearby. It’s their neighborhood and they love it! My Airbnb restaurant or cafe recommendations are some of the best. Availability of hosts can vary, but they’re typically there when you need them, and give you as much space as you like. I also enjoy the “temporary local” sense I get when staying in a place like this. You’re more independent, and not just another person shuffling around a hotel.

I understand your feelings about just checking right into a hotel, but I’ve never had any issues meeting up or finding a place.

All I can say is I’m exclusively Airbnb at this point, and I do not miss staying in hotels for a second. Good luck!

I haven’t used air Bnb or similar in Italy (only hotels) but we did in Greece last year. 2/3 times there were difficulties meeting up to gain access to the apartment. I had not thought of that as in US it is common to have a lock box and not need meet a person.

My husband really preferred when we stayed in a hotel and had a front desk. I had done most of the research so that was not as important to me.

It depends on how long you stay. If you're staying for less than a week, I'd always choose a hotel. I don't know if you speak Italian but a hotel is useful if something goes wrong, you need to call for a taxi or if you get sick and need a doctor. An Aparthotel is a great choice because you get the kitchenette and bedroom but still have a front desk and reception.

Unfortunately, as a single woman I haven't had great luck with apartments in Europe. I found I had to wait longer for someone to fix broken items and the cleanliness factor was worse than a hotel. Plus, I would look carefully now at AirBnB as many cities have laws that holiday apartments need to be registered but many flats are not. So for me as a single woman, it was nice to have the security of a front desk and having someone make my bed each morning.

We're going to be staying in an AirBnb for the first time this spring. It's in Florence. The reason is, we're going to be there for 2 weeks, and it has a washer/dryer, and a kitchen. And the price is less than a simple hotel room. We want to be able to shop at the local markets, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and the washer/dryer means we can travel really light, and take fewer clothes. If we were only going to stay a couple of days, a hotel would probably be our choice.

You say this is your first international trip, and you're traveling "through Italy" which sounds like you are going from place to place, so in your case, this time I would use hotels.

When I travel with my family I am airbnb (or other source for apartments) all the way. A separate bedroom, a kitchen (I like to cook, but some trips we just use it for storing snacks/prepared foods), a more local area, more interesting space with personality. It's really the best choice for a group where you want to be together but not crowded together.

BUT when I travel alone I sometimes prefer a hotel. Always a smaller hotel, not part of a major chain - I associate big chain hotels with my work travel and I do not want that on vacation! I prefer hotels when alone because I don't need the space of an airbnb, like having a breakfast ready for me, and do use the front desk to help with some things. I can get around on my own and prefer to - getting lost is fun! - but if I don't speak the language then having someone to call a taxi or reserve a restaurant for me is great.

One hotel drawback when alone is timing - I like to get up early and do photo walks at 6AM. Often this means I miss the hotel breakfast, which is fine - I can go to a cafe. But it's annoying because in a sense I already paid for the hotel's breakfast - it's part of the rate. Another drawback is the lack of a kitchen. Sometimes I just want an in-room "dinner" of cheese and fruit from the market, with wine. Being alone, I don't always want to eat in a restaurant by myself. Some hotels don't want you eating in the rooms, and small rooms aren't set up for it anyway. No table etc.

Factor in that apartments and B&Bs may have a washing machine. Hotel washing service can be prohibitively expensive - at least to me - and finding a launderette can take time away from vacationing.

I often travel solo and, like some others, generally use hotels for shorter stays and apartments for longer stays. It takes time to check into a legal apartment and imo it isn't worth it for a short stay. You need to do your homework before booking an apartment as they aren't always what they appear to be in the posting. Be sure you understand the terms and conditions (watch out for add-on fees or a high security deposit), have an idea of the layout (some are tiny or dysfunctional), have checked for inclusions important to you (e.g. a washer) and are paying by credit card (there's a good chance those demanding cash upon arrival are renting illegally). I personally don't like Airbnb and use VRBO/Homeaway instead.

When planning to be in a city, we like to stay as close to the city center so we can walk to key sites. If we are in a city like Paris with a great METRO system, we are more flexible.

For example, in a place like Florence we want to be close to the city center. When I compare B&Bs or small hotels with modest prices, I don't find bargains on airBnB and the apartments are almost always in residential areas away from the city center.

We did 28 days driving around Wales and England (didn't go to London) and found great B&Bs or small hotels, but no convenient airBnB apartments.

Not a solo traveller but I have stayed in Airbnb and VRBO properties all over the US and in Europe and I've never had a bad experience. We are heading to Italy this year and I've only booked Airbnb apartments. Like a previous reader said, there are plenty of hosts willing to help you get around the city and provide information on restaurants and attractions. Some even offer tours or they will arrange anything you want. You need to read the reviews and do your research.

Its a matter of preference. I like being able to have breakfast in the apartment and having a bit more room to relax. There is nothing wrong with a hotel either but I like having more choices on where to stay and what type of environment I want to stay in.

Either way, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!

I'm usually a solo traveler, and what I do is book a hotel for my first night.
That way I feel safe, get a hopefully good night's sleep to get rid of jet lag, and have some breakfast before I move to my vacation rental apartment.
That way I'm more alert and aware of what I'm doing when I check in to the apartment.
I would agree with others that if you are moving every two or three days, then stay in hotels or inns.
If you're making a base somewhere for four or more days, then definitely try a rental apartment.
You can pretend you live there then!
We all, I'm sure, have favourite apartments all over Italy with great hosts, that we can recommend to you.

How long will you be in Italy or on this trip? Like others, I have used AirBnB in Europe and North American (and South America) with no problems, but also use them for a minimum of 3 days. I haven't had problems finding something central - or central to what I want to do. For example, in Madrid, I was mostly visiting the museums, and doing train day trips, so apartments around Atocha train station made more sense than being near the main square.

However, in your case, as this is the first international travel, I might recommend hotels. Consider some of the smaller local hotels, but know they (and B&Bs) are not on North American calibre (unless you get an international chain hotel). If this is actually a long trip with some stops of multiple days, you may want to add a few apartments at the last part of your stay. You will have culture shock to start with; but after some time in country, adjusting to an apartment will be easier.
Speaking for myself, I sight see all day and by dinner time, so I want to have a comfy couch to put my feet up and rest my brain. I eat out at lunch and then in for dinner - usually some antipasto type spread that doesn't require a lot of cooking or preparation. I can do that in a hotel or apartment, but am a little more circumspect and ultra tidy if in a hotel. I most likely use my room more than if I was traveling with others when I might be more inclined to have a quick name and do more night time stuff.

I am a female solo traveler, and I often book AirBNB internationally. I stayed in three different ones in Italy a couple of years ago. Others are right that often hosts are very willing to help you find things you need or want to see. In Germany last year, the host offered to do my laundry! When I declined, she still insisted on putting coins in the machine. My experience has been overwhelmingly positive. You can tell from previous reviews if hosts are inclined to be helpful.

One thing I really like is being in a neighborhood with the local folks. When I am friendly, I find that they are too. As mentioned above, many have washing machines, which can cut down on my luggage. A real plus when going solo.

One more plug. I have found some amazing places on AirBNB. In Paris last year, I stayed on a houseboat on the Seine. It was cheaper than a hotel, and I sat at night with a glass of wine and watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour. A once in a lifetime experience. Have a great trip!

Although I don't travel solo, we like to use airbnb, VRBO, or other rental agency for four or more nights, hotels for shorter stays. The main advantages of the airbnb are the refrigerator for breakfasts and picnic supplies and a place to make tea or coffee, laundry facilities, and being in a neighborhood and living a little more like a local, with more room to spread out. Some hosts are more helpful than the concierges in some hotels.

While we have used VRBO before for planned large family gatherings and unique weekends, we're actually using AirBNB for the first time for our upcoming trip to Italy -- specifically in Florence. We simply weren't too pleased with the hotel options we had, and found a hotel near the Marcato Centrale that really met our needs. We're staying in Florence for 4 days, so it made sense for us.

I would agree with people that, if you're moving around and not staying anywhere for more than a couple of days, that hotels or B&B's might make more sense. If you're staying put for a few days, an apartment or house option might be more appealing.

Sorry I travel solo a lot but first time internationally, just a
little anxious.

This is probably an important detail? As someone mentioned previously, it can be very reassuring, in a foreign country, to have 24/7 guest services should something go awry at night or if you need some help/advice during the day. Your airBNB host may be out of town or otherwise unavailable at inopportune times. Most hotels also offer useful services such as bag storage before and arrive check-in times so you can squeeze in some sightseeing without dragging the luggage or checking it elsewhere for a time. Extra safety/security usually provided can be reassuring as well.

although it’ll just be me an I hopefully won’t spend a ton of time in
hotel.

Same for a rental. If you're only going to use the space for sleeping, then you don't really need a lot of extra room? If your stay is just for a few days, cleaning fees may also cancel out any price advantage. We have used apartments in the U.S. for longer stays - even though we don't really cook on vacation - and did so once in Belgium as well but other than a couple booked through agencies with 24/7 call services, we knew ran risk of the owner not being available at all times. Had a panicked few hours once when we temporarily lost the keys to our unit and KNEW the owner was out of town! EEK!

Not all hotel rooms in Europe are run down and uncomfortable either. Granted, many are smaller than in the U.S. but we've stayed in others with sufficient elbow room and/or pleasant terraces for lounging about outside. Meeting other travelers on those terraces or in bar spaces has been some of the fun of our trips as we've had some interesting conversations with people from other parts of the world!