> How can you compare two things when one of them is not available?

The example I gave is explicitly where they are both available. A hotel near my extended family, or a detached house from Airbnb that has bedrooms for my kids and a full kitchen for a similar price as two rooms in that hotel.

> most of the time hotels are better

That which can be claimed without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

> a large family with multiple children

I'd posit it's better with any amount of children, especially if they're under, say, 5 years old.