Airbnb, hostels and hotels, which is my favorite and why.
While we were in Beijing for our two weeks, we stayed in 3 places. It was a lot of moving around but it was well worth it. It was also a pretty neat experience because in those two weeks we stayed at 3 different types of places: a hostel, a Airbnb, and a hotel. For moving around so much the 3 options have different pluses and minuses. I thought I would share these with you.
With both the hostel and hotel it is typically an easier check in. There is someone always at the desk whether you are checking in at midnight or just have a question. At both, we have been allowed to check in early or at least drop off our bags and go wander around till check in time. Another plus is that if you are taking a taxi, they are usually familiar with where to go for a hotel. A hostel is sometimes a little more difficult to find. An Airbnb is often a lot more difficult to find. Many of the Airbnb’s we have stayed in are tucked away in some older apartment building or in the back of someone’s yard. However, with every Airbnb that has been difficult to find, everyone has been quick to respond to our pleas of help needed. In most Airbnb’s the host will meet you at the site and give you a quick rundown of what’s in the area, how to operate the home features and even info on local attractions. We have had some Airbnb’s that are self-check in. These are nice because you do not need to coordinate a time to meet at an apartment. It can be a little stressful being in a new city and knowing that the host is at the apartment waiting to check you in and we accidently got on the metro going the wrong direction. We hate to keep people waiting. Fortunately, it has only happened once and we were only late by a few minutes and I let them know right away. Also, if you have a late flight and a late check in, an Airbnb may be a little more difficult if the host has to accommodate your late-night arrival. That has happened to us once in Lisbon and our host was very kind and met us at midnight due to a delayed flight. We paid for her cab home but we still felt bad for her having to wait on us. We have noticed more and more that a fair number of people are running their Airbnb’s like mini hotels and have several units so they are more accustomed to these inconveniences.
All in all, it has been nice to have a balance of all three. Hostels are a very nice social environment filled with many travelers with great stories. Hotels are nice because someone makes your bed every day and brings you fresh towels. Airbnb’s are nice for privacy and a more home like feel, plus we love having the ability to cook our own food. After this many days on the road it gets a little tiring trying to decipher foreign restaurant menus. A home cooked meal can be a pleasant experience on the road. If I had to list them in my favorite order, I would pick Airbnb first, hostel second and hotels third. Airbnb is my winner because I really enjoy my privacy. However, in a hostel I am in love with the spunk of our fellow travelers. Hotels are just a little too stuffy but it is nice to have the option. Thanks for following along and I hope you are planning your adventure soon. Bet
Prices..... Airbnb $51 per night, Hotel $37 per night & Hostel $15 per night for a private room for 2 people.
