The Best Airbnb Alternatives, From Plum Guide to BnbFinder
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While I absolutely live for hotel stays (themed hotels and fantasy suites are my primary passion in life, but I adore my tried-and-true Double Trees, too), even I can admit that there are some notable advantages to staying at a vacation or home rental from platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. They’re usually more spacious, making them great for larger group getaways, bachelorette parties, family reunions, and the like. Plus, vacation rentals often are decked out with other convenient amenities, including full kitchens, laundry machines, hassle-free digital check-in (i.e., not having to talk to anyone IRL to get inside the property), and generally being more pet-friendly.
As a hotel loyalist who rarely uses these alternative lodging options, I have to admit the main reason I would opt for a homeshare listing as opposed to booking a room somewhere is usually an attempt to save some dough. Lately, though, while I love Airbnb’s unparaelled offering of unusual and themed accomodations, I’ve found its rentals to be far more expensive (especially after factoring in booking, service, and cleaning fees) than some five-star resorts. After recently forgoing an Airbnb rental for a hotel due to a series of additional fees, I began to wonder if there are any other alternatives that have emerged since the last time I had booked with the O.G. vacation rental company (it was, like, 2012, for reference and, spoiler alert: there are a lot.)