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Comment by yarone | Hacker News Reader

My (newly substantiated) reason for choosing a hotel room: - Security

Just stayed in an AirBnb that was broken-into during our stay. Window smashed, laptops stolen when we were gone for a couple hours.

It feels like we were watched when we arrived, were observed to leave, and then robbed.

We were shaken and ran-off to a hotel.

Really appreciated the hotel staff, secured elevator, anonymity of it all (lots of undifferentiated rooms in a long hallway), deadbolt, additional locks.

At this moment, feeling like I'll never stay at an airbnb again.

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That sounds like an awful experience, but I would guess that you’re much likelier to be a victim of theft at a hotel than at a residential home.

> I would guess that you’re much likelier to be a victim of theft at a hotel than at a residential [AirBnB] home

This seems like a made up guess, hotels have security and 24x7 surveillance and staffing. Further, at a hotel, there are folks you can turn to. AirBnB's service department is invisible. AirBnB's online complaint process feels more like a trial which places the burden of proof on the customer, rather than a hotel, whose employee's often go out of their way to make things right.

For example, if you're harmed at a decent hotel, the staff will call the cops on your behalf and do their own investigation. AirBnB will more likely require you to submit a completed police report to their online portal before they start to look into it.

I rented a place with AirBnB in NY once. I knocked on the door and the guy answered with a lit joint in his hand. Another was passed out on the couch. Gross, unclean bathroom.

But whatever shit happens. It was cheap so maybe buywer beware.

What was surprising was the flacid and uncaring support from AirBnB. They insisted on charging for time stayed (the evening of check-in) and refused to refund their fees and the cleaning fees. Why? Made no sense to me given Amazon's eagerness to make refunds for goods with actual COGS.

Haven't done it again since and I travel > 100 days a year.

It is absolutely a guess. I can’t find any statistics. Hotels feel less safe to me because by definition there are many parties who have access to your room.

Hotels feel more safe to me because there is a clear chain of responsibility and accountability. AirBnB is a thousand miles away and can only guess what actually happens at their properties.

What causes that impression? The average hotel is more secure than average house.

What makes you think that? By definition, there are several parties who have access to the rooms in a hotel.

To the door, you mean.

To break into an apartment, walk up to the street door, ring any neighbour's doorbell and say the name of any company that delivers parcels, newspapers or advertising in that area.

Point taken, but hotel will almost always have a paid security person as opposed to a home which will not.

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