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  1. #1
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    AirBNB vs. Hotel/Resort

    When I traveled to Bangkok a few weeks ago, we did the AirBNB for the first time and was pleasantly surprised about the value we got. We also felt because it was a condo, it felt more "ours" than staying in a room with a bedroom/living room/toilet like in a hotel.

    However, there was no free breakfasts or the like and the pool and gym we had to pay for.....

    AirBNB or Agota/Booking/etc...what is your preference?
    "I was a good student. I comprehend very well, OK, better than I think almost anybody," - President Trump comparing his legal knowledge to a Federal judge.

  2. #2
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    I have mixed experiences. I am still skeptical. It depends on where I want to go and what is available. Some places hotels aren't very available or I want a less "commercial" feel. It also depends on how much time I plan spending on the property or usage of the amenities.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
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    AirBNB is yuppy bullshit

  4. #4
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    AirBNB

    we get pools with our rentals while in Thailand. Some will even have the help prepare breakfast for us.




    Need some place to wash the scuba gear


    Last edited by S Landreth; 14-03-2023 at 12:45 AM.

  5. #5
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    Good question Topps!

    I've been investigating Air bnb accommodation for the Summer instead of the usual and am surprised by the quality and prices.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    Need some place to wash the scuba gear
    I thought that's what the pool is for....

    We booked an AirBNB in Mactan for Songkran to get a little beach time (such that it is), a one bedroom condo with an ocean view for about 1500B/night.

  7. #7
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Before whatshername booked that room for us she checked the local resort prices. They were three times more expensive (for a two bedroom, two full bathrooms, full kitchen, pool, on the ocean, living and dining room). And it didn’t include the help making your breakfast every morning.

    for others who might not know,........

    There’s a tier system at AirBNB. Rent from Superhosts if you can.

    There’s also a tier system for renters. Reputation will go a long way.

    About renting from AirBNB,………READ THE REVIEWS of the place you’re thinking about renting, before you book the place.
    Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

  8. #8
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    Airbnb you get a lot more for your money but sometimes the cleanliness is way below par. A lot of Airbnb hosts do not have much of an idea about hospitality and sometimes common things, such as white towels/ linen, can be overlooked. We got a stunning old house in Hoi An (Not worth the visit really) and it turned out to be a miserable mould cave with no light, a constant stench of mould and dark linen/ towels. It can be a lot more hit and miss with Airbnb I would say; hotels you know what you are getting by how much you pay.
    One should listen twice as much as one speaks

  9. #9
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    ^

    READ THE REVIEWS of the place you’re thinking about renting, before you book the place.
    they will tell you what other renters have said about their stay

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    I’m surprised you didn’t like Hoi An. However, I agree with you on AirBnB being hit and miss.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    ^



    they will tell you what other renters have said about their stay
    I do, just that some people seem to be more forgiving than others but yeah forsure that is another thing. There is definitely a discrepancy between the content of the reviews and the star ratings. They will give 5 stars even if they have some gripes because Airbnb is kind of more personal and not just a corporate giant which you are more than happy to give less stars to.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    I’m surprised you didn’t like Hoi An. However, I agree with you on AirBnB being hit and miss.
    I thought Hue was better and Hoi An was not such a let down as we rented a motorbike, drove through the countryside to My Son.

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    I preferred Hoi An over Hue. But I last visited 10 or more years ago, so there is that too. I usually stayed in the center of town (in each place). Perhaps stayin on the outskirts might change my opinion. Think I’ve stayed two or three times in each place.

  14. #14
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    I am a fan of serviced apartments, I mostly use Booking.com
    Been staying at Shama Lakeview in BKK and it has everything I need and I like the location. Nice pool for laps, decent gym, coffee shop and a Lawsons for cheap and cold beers all in the same building. Decent restaurants around.
    Kuppa- nice coffee, good food and booze
    Bahn Thai- cool traditional house, great Thai food and large bottles of beer with ice on.
    I also like being able to walk to the park.

  15. #15
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    A friend who visits about 4 times a year for typically 10 to 14 days switched to AirBnb after Covid and reckons he'll never stay in a hotel again. He's sent a walk-through vid of the 6 or so places he's stayed so far which have all looked very liveable and are always a decent sized 1 bed condo with kitchen facilities and a balcony with sea view in the 1200 to 1500 Baht a night range.

    I've never looked closely into how it all works but certainly in place like central Pattaya where there's about a million places to eat and laundries and whatnot all within easy walking distance, it must surely make sense to stay in a decent sized condo instead of the typical 26sqm hotel room you get in that price range.

  16. #16
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    We stayed in quite a nice airbnb condo in jomtien years ago, many farangs put there condo on the airbnb market when out of town , pretty sure the Thai hotel association will find a way to fuck it up, especially now there just coming out of covid restrictions

  17. #17
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    For me, it depends on the length of stay and purpose of stay. If it's a short vacay (1 to 3 nights), then I prefer hotels because you can check in/ out anytime. For Airbnb, sometimes you have to coordinate with the host/ owner as to when you'll get/ return the key (if it's not a numbered code on the door). Not convenient if you're arriving late at night or leaving very early in the morning.

    For Airbnb, my partner & I have used it already for longer stays (5 nights or more). We used it when the purpose was more of a staycation and we wanted to stay in one place longer and not have to change cities/ locations every 2 days. I also liked having a mini kitchen and the option to cook.

    In the 2019 Vietnam trip, we used hotels since we went to 4 cities in 11 or 12 days - quite exhausting.

    I agree with the others, for hotels you get what you pay for and you're fairly certain of what you'll expect. For Airbnb, it's a hit or miss.

    For accoms, I'm usually the one responsible for looking for the hotel/ Airbnb. I work within the budget, I consider the location (near city center or public transport like MRT, etc) then narrow it down to ~3 choices (but sometimes I'll state my preference). My partner does the booking (if we travel together).

    For my solo travels, I do all the research & booking of accoms & transport.
    Last edited by katie23; 15-03-2023 at 05:31 PM.

  18. #18
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    I've had good and bad with Air BnB. As others have said, staying for 5 days up its nice to have a place with a kitchen and all the amenities of home. Being able to do a load of washing and have the kids in a separate room to watch TV etc is good.
    Short stays hotels can be a bit more convenient - and often with short stays you tend to be out and about a bit more.

    We have used serviced appartment in BKK quite often - and they often have breakfast and even room service if you want it - though these days its easy to order in food. The big booking sites all have appartment/ house options. You also find many listed on all of the sites - booking/ agoda/ air bnb and teh prices can vary a bit.
    We just got back from Italy a couple of days ago and I found booking via hotel websites cheapest - in every instance.

    I've had a couple of shit experiences with air bnb accomm - and its always a bummer to arrive at a place that is way below what you were expecting.

  19. #19
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BLD View Post
    pretty sure the Thai hotel association will find a way to fuck it up, especially now there just coming out of covid restrictions
    Not like they haven’t tried already

    _________

    Couple stories (Warning?)

    Don’t be the first

    Whatshername booked a place in NY at least 2 months out years ago. A week before she was to arrive the host cancelled.

    She was in a hurry to book with someone else and found a nice enough place, but she was a little hesitant because there weren’t any reviews.

    Everything went fine before she arrived. Host was communicating with her. Told her were to meet to pick up the key, etc.

    When she arrived no one was there to meet with her. She called AirBNB and they gave her a place to stay for the evening while they looked for another place for her to stay for the rest of her visit.

    They found her a nice place and did credit her account the full amount. But she had to use it within a certain time frame (maybe a year?).

    Lesson,.........don’t be the first. You want to read reviews.

    Read the reviews carefully. Question everything.

    I had to visit Miami for about a week and whatshername found me three different places to choose from.

    I settled for a nice (1 bedroom?) apartment overlooking Key Biscayne.

    I arrive and the hostess was there to greet me. She told me she was going to be staying in the other room while I was there.

    WTF!

    She was a wonderful woman (mid 30’s). Former Miss Venezuela or Argentina. I forget.

    Lesson,.......can’t bring anyone home.

    __________

    Edit- Forgot to add.

    If you’re looking at pictures of the place you’re thinking about renting and the curtains/blinds are closed/shut (in the pictures) more than likely you’re going to get a chitty view when you open things up.
    Last edited by S Landreth; 16-03-2023 at 02:37 AM.

  20. #20
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    get a chitty view when you open things up.
    Hey, I resemble that comment

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ukan Kizmiaz View Post
    I've had a couple of shit experiences with air bnb accomm - and its always a bummer to arrive at a place that is way below what you were expecting.
    For sure, this has happened to me as well.

    I've had mixed experiences. Prices are getting more expensive overall for both hotels and airbnb, so best to book well in advance to get a better rate.
    I think for Airbnb, I've noticed more options in some cities over others, obviously bigger cities have more options, but not always.

    I lived in an AirBnb for four months, because of an apartment shortage when I first moved back to Canada from overseas. It was costly though, but generally I stay in airbnb's if I am staying longer in a place and use booking.com or hotels for shorter stays.

  22. #22
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    Before whatshername booked that room for us she checked the local resort prices. They were three times more expensive (for a two bedroom, two full bathrooms, full kitchen, pool, on the ocean, living and dining room). And it didn’t include the help making your breakfast every morning.

    for others who might not know,........

    There’s a tier system at AirBNB. Rent from Superhosts if you can.

    There’s also a tier system for renters. Reputation will go a long way.
    What a good reputation brings you. She recently received the note below.....

    Hi ----------, I hope you’re having a wonderful start to your weekend. I wanted to let you know that we’ve had to take our loft off AirBNB, so please save my number and do let us know if and when you’re back in NYC. We would love to have you stay at the loft again!

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