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Comment by pmiller2 | Hacker News Reader

Not only that, but AirBnB prices for "whole apartment/house" listings are often not less than the price of a decent hotel room in the area! This makes them worse than useless in my view, except possibly for getting a last-minute accommodation.

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I don't use either hotels or AirBnB very often, but I have young kids, so when we do travel whole house is significantly preferable to a hotel. Kitchen facilities, washing machine, fridge, freezer are all things that are indispensable with young children and not that common in hotels. Hence AirBnB is usually what we end up with, even if it's more expensive.

Also, 2 bedrooms. 1 single shared family room for 4 means we have to go to bed with the kids at 7pm. Yeah some hotels have those interconnected room things, but until you see it for yourself it's hard to know things like is the door handle in the second room high enough that the kids can't reach it and get out into the hall in the middle of the night.

Ever used RVShare? It's pretty cool to rent an RV at/near the destination, good combo of included amenities and mobility, don't have to be a neighborhood disrupter if you stay at a camp ground/state or national park, etc. Clearly not a viable alternative for all vacation lodgings, but a nice alternative where it suits you're needs.

I like the idea, but it seems there are almost none available in my area unfortunately (UK).

I'll keep it in mind though. Thanks.

A whole apartment/house does have some amenities that aren't in a decent hotel, though. Like a kitchen. Or enough beds for a group of 5. I appreciate those when traveling on a budget and/or with my family. - Airbnb employee.

Of course, a hotel also has some amenities that an AirBNB rental does not, like cleaning up after you. But the price difference is often large enough that I'm willing to do my own laundry.

Extended stay hotels will offer rooms with a kitchens, and can accommodate a family of 5, maybe just not for a price you like.

Just be honest and say you like it cause its cheaper and you think your vacation is more important than the needs of residents.

Extended stay hotels require an extended stay, don't they? It's been 45 years since I stayed in a single place for 30 days while on vacation.

And please let's keep this civil.

No, extended stay places do not require an extended stay. They are just equipped to provide for an extended stay should you choose to do so.

To be frank, with the way that the company you choose to work for harms neighborhoods like mine, the level of civility he's extended you is probably more than you've earned. I wouldn't have been so kind.

And extended-stay hotels accept any length of reservation.

That has not been my experience. Extended stay hotels do offer kitchens, but they are almost universally still studio units. Outside of the condominiums available in true vacation-only destinations (Maui, Vail, etc.) rental accommodation seems to be built to meet the needs of business travelers, and family travel is largely ignored.

AirBNB clearly identified a market under-served by the existing hotel industry.

I and many others use Airbnb for business travel (sole proprietorship or small non-profit in my case), because only by being able to cook my own food I can afford to make a week-long trip that may or may not pay off later. Comments like yours (and there are many in this thread, not to single you out) are a bit rude and ignore that many travelers are there for economic survival, not to blow money shopping and puke on the steps.

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