Surprise cleaning requirements, last-minute cancelations, and hidden cameras in bedrooms and bathrooms. These are all complaints Airbnb guests have experienced, as reported by The Bear Cave, an online independent publication. The report illustrates problems guests have been complaining about for some time, leading many guests and “superhosts” to look for Airbnb alternatives to save guests headaches, surprises, and money.
What is happening with Airbnb?
The report is a symptom of a lingering problem guests have been having with Airbnb. The simple solution for many of them is to look for Airbnb alternatives, and hosts have been paying attention. Unsurprisingly, hosts are chasing the money and have been listing their properties on different platforms, or cutting out the middle man completely and building their own booking platforms, saving themselves the 3% fee Airbnb charges hosts and the 14% cut the app takes from guests, according to the report.
Most of the hosts who are undercutting Airbnb and building their own platforms are professional property management companies who usually have “Superhost” status on Airbnb (meaning they’re top-performing hosts), allowing them to show up higher on most searches, but ultimately, luring repeat guests to book directly with them via their own platform for cheaper prices, according to The Points Guy.
This allows them to offer cheaper deals for the same properties, cutting out Airbnb entirely, and saving you some money.
What are some Airbnb alternatives?
Like most middle-man companies, their demise rests in the delicate balance of providing a service that is vital for a business while not being too expensive that people try to find ways around it. But unlike companies like Etsy or PayPal that have their balance well-checked, Airbnb seems to be fumbling with people finding alternatives.
The best advice here is to always do some research before booking an Airbnb property. Most landlords will have their property listed on more than one booking service. If the host is not a regular Joe but a professional management company, odds are they’ll have their properties listed on their own website. Do a quick Google search with their name and see if you find the property from the Airbnb listing available.
Otherwise, here are some Airbnb alternatives:
Heirloom: Focuses on luxury short-term rentals. The Bear Cave report highlighted one example of a property being listed for about $125 cheaper on Heirloom than on Airbnb.Vacasa: A full-service property management company that runs and manages all of their clients’ properties. They post on multiple platforms, including Booking.com, Vrbo, and Airbnb.Rent By Owner: A Superhost on Airbnb and a full property management company, you can find their Airbnb listings on their own website for cheaper.Vrbo: Airbnb’s competitor.Booking.com: You’ll find mostly professionally managed properties, especially internationally. However, don’t expect the same charm or personality you find on Airbnb.Good ol’ hotels: Remember them? No need for cleaning fees, quiet hours, or chores. And don’t forget you can a find a bar on property at most of them.
