Hotel vs Airbnb:
The Question We
Ask Before Every TripHotel vs Airbnb: The Question We Ask Before Every Trip

Some places are memorable because of what you see during the day. Others are memorable because of where you wake up.

In Finnish Lapland, where snow-covered forests and long winter nights create an almost unreal landscape, staying in a glass-roof cabin beneath the Northern Lights feels completely different from staying in a standard hotel room. Just as memorable is spending a night in a real snow igloo, surrounded by forests, silence, and some of the darkest skies in Europe.

For city trips, convenience usually wins. When we're spending our days exploring places like Tokyo, Amsterdam, London, or Buenos Aires, we often prefer hotels because they're simple and efficient.

Check-in is easy. Luggage storage is available. Housekeeping is included. Staff can help with transportation, recommendations, or unexpected travel issues. Hotels are also often located near major attractions and transit hubs, making it easier to maximize time in a destination.

A key factor is travel rewards. Being able to stretch a travel budget further can make a significant difference, especially on larger trips. Flights and accommodations often account for 50–75% of the total cost of travel, and hotel points or airline rewards can sometimes cover several nights of accommodation or even entire flights. Over time, those savings can add up and make future trips more affordable.

When the goal is to spend most of the day exploring, a well-located hotel is often hard to beat.

Our travel style has changed since becoming parents. Lately, we've been travelling with a one-year-old, and that has made us appreciate the advantages of Airbnbs much more.

Having extra space allows him to play, explore, and move around freely instead of being confined to a single hotel room. A kitchen makes it easy to clean bottles, prepare meals, store snacks, and maintain some of the routines that make travelling with a young child easier. For longer stays, those small conveniences add up quickly.

Sometimes the deciding factor is the view.

One of our most memorable stays was an apartment in Giza with both a balcony and rooftop overlooking the pyramids. Waking up each morning to one of the world's most famous landmarks outside the window was an experience that would have been difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Before booking any accommodation, we usually ask ourselves a few simple questions:

• How long are we staying?
• Will we spend much time in the accommodation?
• Do we need extra space?
• Is a kitchen important?
• How convenient is the location?
• Do we want a memorable view?
• Does the accommodation add something unique to the experience?
• What is the total cost after all fees?

Sometimes an Airbnb appears cheaper until cleaning and service fees are added. Other times, a hotel provides better value once breakfast, amenities, and reward points are factored in.

One of the biggest lessons travel has taught us is that there is rarely a perfect choice. The best accommodation is the one that helps create the trip you want to have.

Sometimes that's a centrally located hotel that lets you step outside and immediately start exploring. Other times it's a cave hotel, a desert camp, a glass-roof cabin, or an apartment with a view you'll remember long after the trip is over.

The goal isn't to choose hotels or Airbnbs.

The goal is to choose experiences you'll still be talking about years later.

Do you usually choose hotels or Airbnbs when you travel?

We'd love to hear your thoughts. We're always happy to talk travel!