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Comment by xeornet | Hacker News Reader

It has become obvious that AirBNB is now targeting the upper-end market in terms of pricing. Their homepage constantly shows ridiculously expensive properties that I have no interest in staying at. (I've been traveling around Europe for 5 months so far purely staying at AirBNBs).

None of this "OMG Fund" money will be going to improving the core experience the main cohort of users; it is however broadening their marketing to higher-end properties and higher-paying visitors.

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i mean... the experience is good enough that you're spending 5 months staying in them. dont take that for granted...

The experience is great, and I will continue using them. Not saying there is anything wrong with AirBnb, but they seem to be steering away from the "rent a room in my house" target audience.

Just know the experience is great for you. I can guarantee it's probably pretty bad for the actual residents of the places you're visiting, who now have one less house/apartment on the long-term market because someone decided to AirBnB it to tourists who don't want to stay in hotels. Causes their rents to raise, as well as makes it even more difficult to find a place. AirBnB is a net negative to society, and needs to be shut down yesterday.

>It has become obvious that AirBNB is now targeting the upper-end market in terms of pricing

less than 20% of the global population has ever been on a plane, AirBNB has always been targeted towards the 1% of the population that can afford to throw money away on leisure travel

AirBnb was about renting a spare room in someones house. Not saying anything bad about AirBnb, I love it and will continue using them.

There is a clear difference however between the $25k for 5 days kind of stays they are constantly promoting on their homepage, compared to their bread and butter apartments scattered across cities.

Have you been traveling around Europe for fun? If so, have you been working? If not, how much did you have stayed up before you started?

My friends and I are in the early stages of planning a back packing trip.

> (I've been traveling around Europe for 5 months so far purely staying at AirBNBs).

Off topic, but any interesting destinations that had reasonable AirBNB's that you want to share? :)

I plan to do something similar this year, hopefully.. wondering where to go, though.

Not parent but any decent airbnb in Europe is likely also listed on other platforms. Those that are not, avoid.

Yeah Booking.com is a good go-to also. Compare prices. As for destinations, I have noticed they have all been getting more experience, both due to the weather but also post-lockdowns, everyone is out and about.

Central/Eastern Europe is my personal favourite. Krakow, Poland (amazing). Belgrade, Zagreb, Kotor Montenegro.

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