I took Airbnb accommodation when I went to Italy with my Family. We have been to Rome, Florence, and Venice, and in the three cities, Airbnb was cheaper or as expensive as dorms in hostels. The choice was not too complicated, because we all wanted our privacy, given that it was a vacation trip.
Sometimes people ask me what I prefer between hostels and Airbnb. I always say it depends on the type of trip and with whom you are traveling.
It’s quite simple. When you rent an Airbnb, you have the choice of having a room or renting the whole apartment. When we were in Rome and Florence, we had a room and a private bathroom, and we shared the kitchen with two other rooms. When we were in Venice, we had a private room with a community bathroom. Either way, it still gives more privacy than a dormitory in a hostel, since we were only in our room.
It's like being at home:
When you don't have a big budget, it's great, because it allows us to go to the grocery store and prepare our meals in our accommodation instead of always going to the restaurant. In our Airbnb in Rome, continental breakfast was included in our price and this included cereals, bread, jams, yogurt, fruit, croissants, and juices.
Very personalized service:
Each Airbnb host is different and offers different services as well. In Italy, 2 out of 3 Airbnb hosts offered to pick us up or pick us up at the airport for minimal additional costs (much cheaper than taxis). Also, when we arrive at Airbnb accommodation for the first time, the host is there to welcome us and he takes us around the accommodation. It also explains the location of the accommodation in relation to places of interest.
In Rome, our super hostess even took care to prepare a document on which there was a map of Rome. The map explained which metro line to take to get to the various tourist attractions. Also, she created a list of attractions less known to tourists but appreciated by the Romans. We very much appreciated this gesture and we consulted it often during our stay.
Disadvantages
Less contact with other travelers
Unlike hostels where it is easy to meet other backpackers and make friends, Airbnb is often more intimate places. It is quite rare that we were in contact with other travelers in our Airbnb because everyone had their private room. Also, there are fewer people in the same Airbnb than in a hostel.
No organized activities
Often hostels organize a variety of activities. Whether it's free walking tours, community dinners or pub crawls, hostels plan activities so that backpackers can get to know each other.
Key management
Unlike hostels, it is a person or a family that welcomes you, so it is not at home 24 hours a day. Often the hosts will arrange for you to pick up the keys when you arrive, but sometimes you may arrive at a different time than expected and the host may be absent or may have left you the keys. keys in a hidden location, but you cannot find them or are unable to unlock the door. In short, all these scenarios can lead to very good travel anecdotes.
To conclude, it is certain that all Airbnb experiences are different from those of hostels, but in general, they are a good way to meet local people, to have privacy, and to save money. However, if you'd rather meet a host of other travelers, participate in organized activities and be sure you don't get into trouble with private individuals, you might be better off choosing hostels. What do you prefer and why?
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