Am I wrong/ AirBNBvsHotel

[Lotuslots]

I am not an experienced traveller but am very much wanting to do it. :) 2016 -UK. 2017 - US west coast. Planned- 2018 - East coast.
Seriously - I want someone to clean the room. I don't want to be in someone's personal space. I am happy to wait for a good deal on the many hotel booking websites. I think I have found a lot of good deals.

What am I missing.? I really don't think I am but I keep getting told … go Airbnb. I am being a fool apparently. I am paying single rate of abt $150US. I am thinking I am doing okay because I absolutely refuse to share bathroom.

There is a thread like this on AIBU. With one exception all the Airbnb's we've stayed in have been either a proper B&B or a separate house/living quarters near the owner's property (though we do tend to be staying somewhere rural). They have just been using Airbnb for more traffic.

You are "filtering" results using "entire place"?

The only thing that might disuade me from using Airbnb in some cities is that I at least know that hotels etc are licensed and have fire certificates etc. I would check the city hadn't introduced a bylaw restricting rental days etc.

I believe in the US AirBNB is illegal in some places eg New York City.

I want someone to clean the room. I don't want to be in someone's personal space.

People want different things. You describe quite clearly what you want, and it isn't AirBnB.

I think you might still find something to suit your needs on there, but most listings don't have a daily cleaner and many do feel like someone else's home, even if you have the whole place.

If it was just me travelling I'd always stay in a hotel and would prefer even a cheapish chain to a luxury room in someone's house.

I like having my own space - and if its just me then a room is enough, I don't like sharing a bathroom, I want my bed made up in the morning, I want to be able to check in when I want to, I don't want to have to strip a bed or do laundry when I leave.

My top tip for US hotel bookings is book cancellable and keep an eye on the prices - you may be able to get a bargain close to the time, but its worth having something in the bag if not.

I’ve used AirBnB to rent an entire apartment or villa and it’s been great, as a solo traveller or just with DH then hotel all the way (I’m with you on wanting privacy and maid service). Also as a PP has mentioned AirBnBs are for the most part illegal in NYC, so don’t listen to any advice from anyone telling you to book one there.

Airbnb is great for location or if you need multiple rooms. If you’re a solo traveler then you may find better deals on other accommodation sites.

My first AirBnB was a real mix of separate space and being part of the owner’s space. This was a three storey mansion - we were in the middle floor, the host was up in the attics, and the ground floor was the host’s space which we were allowed to use respectfully (eg grand piano).

It was fantastic. It was historically old, but not pristine. This was perfect for us as we did not worry about leaving fingerprints.

A lot depends on what your alternatives are. Ours at the time were impersonal motel, or expensive hotel. This was for a multi-family gathering (funeral) for four days.

The motel price would have been the same in total for the whole family, with no visiting space for non-residents. With the AirBnB, we were able to host those passing through, but not spending the night.

The bottom line is that AirBnBs, just like old-fashioned BnBs, are totally independent and can offer something more than hotels, but also something less than hotels. You need to look at your specific circustances.

Had great AirBnB in Bruges. Couldn't get one in Berlin. America I wouldn't consider, I'd go for a hotel/hire a villa.

Look at bookings.com or hotels.com or Expedia or Trivago websites for hotels and guest houses, you can compare the prices

My tip for hotels is use Hotwire.com, using betterbidding .com to narrow down which hotels you’re using.
If you do research first you can get some huge savings on there. You don’t know what hotel you get until you’ve paid but you can use betterbidding to narrow it down greatly. My personal criteria is never to drop below 4* unless I’m really sure what I’m getting.
Deals change daily so I normally book another cancellable option elsewhere until I find something on there I’m happy with

I'd go for a private en suite room in a youth hostel, which many of them have. It's basically like staying in a budget hotel, except there are cooking facilities if you're on a budget.

As a single person I would prefer a hotel to an Airbnb.