Last updated: . Added historical family-stay context and clarified comparisons of space, kitchens, laundry, amenities, booking protections, and property-specific terms. Date information added October 31, 2026.
Airbnb vs hotels: our earlier family comparison · Full film (13 min 34 sec)
Playback isn’t available here. Open the full film on Vimeo ↗
With five kids, choosing where to stay has meant comparing real room layouts, kitchens, laundry and the services we will actually use. These are the experiences behind our preferences, plus the questions I would ask before booking a family stay.
This older discussion comes from our first seven months of international travel in Asia; the article also reflects later family stays. A correction: the film’s kilogram-to-pound conversion is wrong—1 kg is about 2.2 lb. Its prices, exchange rates, laundry offers, platform protections and service comparisons are historical observations, not current promises. Check the actual listing, local rules and current platform terms; a rental does not automatically have better Wi-Fi, more space, a kitchen or stronger protection than a hotel.
Thinking of taking your family on an international trip?
One of the hardest questions to solve is where to stay.
Over 25 months of full-time travel as a family of seven we have visited over 30 countries and stayed in 33 Airbnbs and 18 hotels. At the time of those original notes, we had just checked out of our last Airbnb for a while in New Zealand.
Those numbers describe the first stretch of our full-time travel. What worked for us depended on the length of the stay and the setup of the actual property; I learned to compare the room layout, kitchen and laundry against the hotel services we would use, instead of deciding by the booking-site label alone.
How do we choose where to stay? I want to share our experiences and show you what’s worked best for our family internationally.
When we set out to travel the world, we too wondered, “Is Airbnb international?”
We can give you a resounding yes!
Let’s discuss how is Airbnb different from hotels so you too can make the best choice for your family travel.
Many factors play into why we usually tend to chose Airbnb, including:
As a big family, Airbnb works very well for our family. However, many other full-time travel families choose hotels in the Airbnb vs hotels dilemma.
The question of “is Airbnb better than hotels” changes by the preference of the family, the city, the length of your stay, the country, and many other factors.
There is no clear-cut answer to the question, which is why we always check Booking.com and Airbnb when researching where to stay in a new place. These are our favorite two booking apps after over two years of full-time travel.
You might wonder how to find an Airbnb for your famiy.
Will the Airbnb be family and kid-friendly?
What’s the best way to find an Airbnb for you?
When I am booking an Airbnb for our family, the most important thing to me is the reviews.
What is the overall vibe of the reviews? I’m OK with one or two bad comments. Some people are overly uptight about things others aren’t and might get a little mean on their review.
I can find tons of important information in the reviews.
Other families that stay in the house will usually comment on what worked for their family. Was it close to a park? Did the kids enjoy the outdoor space? Were the apartment neighbors friendly?
I can also find out from comments what attractions are in the area.
I didn’t even know we were near the Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand until I read reviews on nearby Airbnbs!
Airbnb also has it’s own “Airbnb Experiences”, similar to Get Your Guide. These can be great places to start figuring out what you want to do in the area.
Pay attention also to the reponse of the owner, if there is one.
On Airbnb, both hosts and guests can review a home stay. I pay attention to the owner’s response as well as the guest’s comments, but I would not assume one platform’s ratings are directly comparable with another’s.
For Airbnb home stays, reviews appear after both parties submit them or the 14-day review period ends, whichever comes first. That is different from being able to see the other person’s review and then return the same rating.
Sadly, you can’t just search “best places to stay on Airbnb” and have much luck of finding the location you want. You’ll have to do a bit of your own research.
I find location to be less important than the transportation near the home.
If you have your own car, you’ll want to know about parking. Is there street parking? How many cars can you park at the home?
If you are using public transportation, being close to the metro station or bus stop can be much more important than being in a certain neighborhood.
I’d much rather be 5 minutes away from the metro when staying with kids and ride an additional 1-2 stops versus having to walk 25 minutes to the metro. Often with children, those Google map walking estimates can double or triple in no time!
We’ve learned over the years to ask the Airbnb host for the address or at least a cross-street nearby before booking. You can message an owner before you book and ask whatever you want.
When you have an address or cross-street, check out the satellite view on Google Maps.
You might find there is a highway at the back of the house or that the home seems to be in an industrial area. Photos on the ad don’t tell the whole story!
Maps can help you understand the surroundings, but a satellite image does not establish neighborhood or property safety. Ask about concerns that matter to your family rather than relying on appearances alone.
Overall, we’ve always felt safe in our Airbnbs. It does usually take a night or two to adjust to a new place.
All the little sounds can weird you out the first night. However, we like staying in neighborhoods and feel quite safe.
For a particular listing and set of dates, there can be a little room for negotiation.
It never hurts to message the owner and let them know your situation.
Sometimes they might give you more of a discount for a longer stay or if they don’t think their place will book otherwise.
Remember you can search by price filter (choosing a minimum and maximum price per night or by month) along with lots of other amenities.
Use the filters currently available for your search, then check the listing details and ask about your family’s specific needs. A filter label does not certify that a home is safe or suitable for every child.
When filtering for bedrooms, this can be a bit sneaky.
Airbnb has a filter for bedrooms and a filter for beds. I’ve made the mistake a few times of getting a 4-bed house and thinking it was 4 bedrooms! Pay close attention to this.
Filters I always choose:
I will get more into the nitty gritty of why we prefer Airbnb for travel below.
We have used other similar sites like Home Away/VRBO.
While you can find places like Airbnb, I find Airbnb to be better for international travel. Our experience led us to prefer Airbnb, but protection and refund terms vary by platform and reservation; compare the current terms rather than assuming other sites offer none.
For Vrbo or any other platform, compare the final price, cancellation terms, eligibility conditions, and what support applies if something goes wrong. Vrbo has its own guest-protection terms; our negative Hawaii experience is not a current comparison of every platform’s protections.
Airbnb’s guest-support policies were one reason we felt comfortable booking, but no platform policy guarantees that every problem will qualify for a refund or alternative accommodation.
This gives extra peace of mind when booking an Airbnb in a foreign country.
After a couple of negative experiences with our VRBO booking in Hawaii, we only chose to use Airbnb for our international family travels in someone else’s home.
Airbnb or Hotel? Many families prefer a hotel and it’s not hard to know why.
Hotels are more luxurious by nature and offer great amenities!
Some people ask me if there are hotels on Airbnb. Yes—Airbnb has standards for hotels and professional hospitality businesses. Booking.com also lists different accommodation types, so check the actual property and room details rather than relying on the platform name.
If you are leaning towards a hotel, start with Booking.com. You’ll get a great idea of average hotel prices and Airbnb equivalents.
When booking a hotel, for me it’s all about the amenities!
Is there a kids club? Gym? These are why I would choose a hotel.
If we are only staying a night or two, we also lean towards a hotel for faster checkout.
Our two-night stay at The Peninsula Bangkok is a very specific example of why a hotel can be part of the trip, not just a place to sleep. We loved the room, buffet and service, and wished we could have stayed much longer. The hotel boat was another memorable amenity, and the driver even let Harrison have a turn at the controls. I compare the features of the actual property with what our family will use, since a special stay like this is not a promise about every hotel.
Once again, reviews are king for me!
I read the hotel descriptions on Booking.com and then go straight to reviews.
Chris ( my husband) tends to go for the pictures, but I find these can be misleading. I don’t rely on them alone.
Reviews tend to be harsher for hotels, so I allow for more negative reviews before becoming worried.
If you keep seeing the same thing over and over in the reviews, it probably is an issue. Anything three times or less I don’t tend to worry about it.
Does the hotel offer a shuttle service?
Babysitting?
Be sure to contact the hotel and confirm these.
We booked a hotel in the Mt. Cook area of New Zealand solely on the amenity of babysitting available. Babysitting was listed on their website and dozens of third-party hotel sights. Imagine our stress when we called to schedule the babysitting and they informed us it was no longer available!
While a larger price tag can sometimes get you a better hotel stay, we’ve also found the opposite.
Luxury hotel stays usually come with luxury prices on their amenities as well.
We’ve paid dearly for extras like breakfast or laundry that might be free or cheaper in a less-expensive hotel.
We’ve only stayed in one hostel (on purpose) in Chiang Mai when it offered a private 3-bedroom apartment.
The amenities of the hostel were amazing! They cleaned daily, had a very affordable breakfast in the attached coffee shop, and offered activities in the city at a discount.
If you have a big family and want more space, you might need two rooms.
We vary between two or three hotel rooms for our family each time we stay at a hotel.
This can be tricky with young kids if they don’t have connecting rooms!
We’ve had situations where our kids were not only in different rooms but on different floors! That was a last-minute emergency, but something to keep in mind.
Often you are at the mercy of the desk person when checking in determining if your rooms will be close or connecting.
This is a big reason we choose Airbnb for family stays. At least we know the kids will be next door!
You probably wonder are hotels cheaper than Airbnb?
It depends!
For our family needing multiple rooms, rentals have often worked out cheaper. Compare the complete price for your dates and group, including any fees, taxes, and the services you need.
Sometimes we will pick a basic hotel stay for one night that is cheap and just a place to stay.
If this is your goal when you travel (versus us living there for a while), the answer might be different. A cheap hotel or hostel could be cheaper than Airbnb.
You’ve done your research on both search engines and found great options for both hotels and Airbnbs. Which should you choose? Booking.com versus Airbnb?
I’m not going to try to sway you either way, hotel or Airbnb, but I’ll try to present both cases so you can best decide!
Watch our original related film on YouTube
Why Airbnb is better than hotels:
During that stretch of travel, we generally needed at least two hotel rooms. Chris worked at night, so hotel work nights could be hard: either I would pile in with all five kids in one of the rooms, or I would put in my earplugs and turn on my noise maker, hoping to sleep through his talking. The room arrangement mattered as much as the bed count.
Making room for work calls and five children · Scene from our film (31 sec)
Playback isn’t available here. Open the full film on Vimeo ↗
A larger apartment or house can provide more space for a family, depending on the property.
Compare the floor plan, private space, sleeping arrangements, and kitchen facilities in the actual listing. A studio or an Airbnb listing does not automatically include somewhere to cook.
When it comes to group travel (or large family travel), Airbnb wins for space! You can find the best Airbnb for family reunions and all stay in the same place together.
If you are looking for privacy, Airbnb solo travel can also be a good option. You’ll get a place in a neighborhood or condo community.
Joining us a digital nomads? You’ll need to work as you travel.
For our work routine, rentals have often been a useful choice because of the space available. Confirm the workspace and internet arrangements in the specific property rather than assuming every rental beats a hotel.
Many Airbnbs are business travel ready. We often find desks.
We have often preferred the Wi-Fi in our rentals for work, but neither a rental nor a hotel guarantees a reliable connection. Ask about the connection you will actually use before booking around work calls.
Hotel wifi can be spotty or non-existant from your room. If you just need to send some emails, check stats, or update social media, it can be OK.
We are on conference calls a lot and hotels just don’t cut it. We usually end up using our portable Wifi router within the hotel!
Cooking simple meals on a family trip · Scene from our film (23 sec)
Playback isn’t available here. Open the full film on Vimeo ↗
Eating out, especially with kids, can be expensive!
Hotels and airbnb units have a big difference when it comes to food.
While it’s nice to eat out for every meal, it’s really not necessary. It gets expensive and unhealthy.
Watch our original related film on YouTube
Being able to cook a simple breakfast, lunch or occasional dinner on your vacation goes a long way!
In Singapore, I used a grocery list, a few go-to dishes and simple breakfasts to make cooking in a temporary kitchen feel manageable. With five kids, being able to eat some meals at home gave us another option when we did not want every meal to be a restaurant outing. That routine worked for our stay; I still check what appliances and supplies a particular listing actually includes.
Internationally, we’ve had wonderful kitchens to cook in, but check the appliances and supplies in each listing rather than assuming every rental is stocked for meals. Some are stocked better than many standard homes.
Bangkok taught me not to assume I understood a hotel’s laundry pricing. In one week we spent more than $500 on laundry; I had not expected the baby clothes and toddler underwear to be charged at the full listed item rates. That was my mistaken assumption, and I now check how a property prices laundry before relying on it for a family stay.
Our historical Bangkok hotel laundry bill · Scene from our film (25 sec)
Playback isn’t available here. Open the full film on Vimeo ↗
One of the categories that makes Airbnb family kid friendly is laundry! Kids get dirty and sick, even on vacation.
Having a washer and dryer on site in your unit can be such a lifesaver.
We’ve paid for plenty of professional laundry at hotels, but it can be super expensive.
It can also take a while to get stuff back. When you are packing light, that can be a problem!
I love being able to wash kid’s clothes at night while they are sleeping.
Are hotels better than Airbnb? In some ways, yes!
Watch our original related film on YouTube
Why are hotels are better than Airbnb? These are the things I like more for sure:
A separate Bangkok condo stay had a pool, towel laundry and a grocery store and mall below us. It was a very different setup from the Peninsula hotel, and it reminded me to compare the actual location and conveniences we would use instead of assuming that two stays in the same city offer the same things.
A separate Bangkok condo with useful amenities · Scene from our film (16 sec)
Playback isn’t available here. Open the full film on Vimeo ↗
For us, a hotel with the amenities we want can be worth paying more. Compare the actual properties: neither the platform nor the nightly rate guarantees a particular set of services.
Some hotels offer pools, kids’ clubs, concierges, room service, or spas. Confirm which services the particular property provides, their hours, age limits, and any additional charges.
When we want a “vacation” in our world travels, we book a great hotel with a kid’s club and enjoy the week off!
Sharing chores on a longer family stay · Scene from our film (25 sec)
Playback isn’t available here. Open the full film on Vimeo ↗
As much as I appreciate my kids learning to clean our Airbnbs as we travel, most families are not in this boat.
Room service is hard to beat and a wonderful part of those hotels!
Check the current housekeeping schedule and any extra charges before booking. Do not assume daily cleaning is included.
Airbnb has been a huge threat to hotels and some local governments worldwide are against them.
We booked an Airbnb in Singapore only to have the host cancel when authorities showed up at his door!
Thankfully, we had plenty of time to find another option and stayed at a YMCA property instead.
It might behoove you to check local restrictions against Airbnbs when considering them and choose a hotel instead.
Short-term rental rules depend on the destination and property. Check the current local requirements and whether the particular accommodation is authorized rather than assuming a universal minimum stay or that a platform listing proves compliance.
Bottom line: hotels are more forgiving of those “oops” moments you might have.
Kids making a mess, breaking things, etc. are typically handled better by a hotel than an Airbnb.
We found, especially internationally, Airbnb owners think of you as a house guest. They expect you to leave it clean and can be offended by accidents happening in their home.
I was nervous to book places internationally, but we’ve come a long way from the days of international cashier’s checks!
Read the payment and cancellation terms before booking internationally. Refunds are not automatic whenever plans change: eligibility depends on the reservation’s terms, cancellation timing, and any applicable protection policy. Compare the Booking.com terms and the cancellation terms shown for your specific Airbnb booking before paying.
We had zero problems in all our two years.
Whether you choose an Airbnb or hotel for your next international family trip, the most important is to get out there! Especially in these difficult times, the tourism industry needs us to get out.
Before your next trip, check current entry requirements and the property’s own policies for your dates. Our experiences here describe an earlier period of family travel.
Here are some more of my posts I would recommend if you are interested in learning more about booking accommodations and full-time travel!
How To Book A Long-Term AirBNB or Travel Home
How To Afford Full-Time Travel As A Family
How To Prepare To Travel the World
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