Between the costly cleaning fees and horror stories about hidden cameras, vacation rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo are quickly falling out of favor with vacationers. On top of that, while once seen as a budget-friendly way to travel, vacation rental properties are often no longer cheaper than hotels.
According to a report by KTAR News, 75 percent of the time hotels are less expensive. This finding was uncovered by Which?, a U.K.-based consumer research group, after comparing the average price of thousands of hotels with 300,000 Airbnb and Vrbo listings. They analyzed 50 global locations over the course of a year to monitor price trends.
The reason for this change, at least here in the United States, seems to be that many major cities are placing more restrictions on Airbnb and Vrbo rentals, making it harder for property owners to turn a profit. So they’re increasing rates to make up for lost revenue.
In San Francisco, rentals are now $44 higher than hotel rooms. This phenomenon is not unique to the U.S. In Amsterdam, rentals are $83 higher than hotels. In London and Singapore, travelers can save $75 per night staying in a hotel.
What type of accommodation do you prefer when traveling? Message The Seniors Trust on Facebook or Twitter and let us know if you like to stay in hotels or vacation rental properties.
