Hotel vs Airbnb: Which is Better & Cheaper for Solo Travelers?

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So, you’re currently at the accommodation research phase of planning your solo trip. You’re trying to decide whether it’d be better to stay in a traditional hotel or short-term rental like Airbnb or VRBO.

Luckily for you, as a frequent traveler, I’ve stayed in hotels AND short-term rentals!

In this post, I’m going to do a full comparison of these lodging options to help you decide which is better for you as a solo traveler.

By the end of this guide, I hope you’ll know exactly which to choose for your upcoming solo adventure.

Ready, friend? Let’s go!

THIS POST IS ALL ABOUT HOTEL VS AIRBNB.

THE VERDICT: WHICH IS BETTER?

I suggest staying in a hotel for several reasons.

Not only is it safer since there’s 24/7 staff and security to protect you during your stay… But if you haven’t noticed, hotels are often around the same price as short-term rentals nowadays.

If you’re seeking more of a local & unique experience, though, it isn’t always a bad idea to stay in a short-term rental.

These kinds of properties give that “living like a local” vibe and often have full kitchens, which allows you save money on food by cooking your own meals.

They can also make more sense for long-term travel and often cost less than hotels in certain destinations like Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.

I’m sure you’re still looking for a more detailed comparison, so continue reading!

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING BETWEEN HOTELS & AIRBNBS

When you pose a question such as the one in the title of this post, you’re referring to a number of things — not just price or convenience.

Here are the main things you need to think about:

• Safety: this should be your number-one priority as a solo traveler. What features does the accommodation have to keep you — and other travelers — safe during your stay?
• Location: how far or close is the property in relation to the activities you plan on doing and the restaurants you plan on dining at?
• Amenities: does the property offer amenities like a gym, pool, or mini onsite convenience store? You probably won’t care too much about these if you plan to be away most of the time, but it’s still something to consider.
• Quality: based on the reviews, do you think you’d be pleased with the quality (i.e. cleanliness) of the property?
• Proximity to Public Transportation Stations: if you’ll mainly be taking public transit to get around the city, you’ll need to base yourself near a transit station.
• Affordability: as a budget-conscious traveler, you may not need to stay in hostels or faraway hotels, but affordability is still a major deciding factor.
• Trip Duration: depending on how long your trip is, a hotel may be the better option.

IS AIRBNB AN ETHICAL BUSINESS?

Eh, not as ethical as they could (or used to) be. As someone who strives to become a more ethical traveler, it’s extremely important that I promote and practice responsible tourism. So I wanted to take a moment to talk about this before we get into the main section.

If you’re unaware, Airbnb has done some rather interesting business practices in the past. And as a whole, it’s not the most responsible option if you want to respect the local community (including residents and small business owners).

BUT Airbnb isn’t always a bad option, which is why I felt it was acceptable to write this guide in the first place. I’m currently working on a post where I dive deeper into this topic, so stay tuned for when that goes live.

In the meantime, I recommend reading this article by Katerina and Maria of the ‘It’s All a Trip to Me’ travel blog for more information.

HOTEL VS AIRBNB: WHICH IS BETTER?

HOTELS: THE GOOD & THE BAD

In this section, I’m going to break down the pros and cons of staying in a hotel rental during your solo trip.

ADVANTAGES OF STAYING IN A HOTEL

HOTELS OFFER MORE SECURITY

Hotels almost always have professionals on duty to keep you and other travelers safe during your stay.

YOU CAN EARN & USE POINTS ON YOUR STAYS

Unlike with short-term rentals, you can quickly gain points as a loyalty member of the hotel.

And if you have certain status with the hotel brand (like Marriott’s Elite Gold Status, which I personally use all the time), you get perks like late check-out and free room upgrades.

YOU GET FREE BREAKFAST

This isn’t as common nowadays, but many hotels (like Riu Plaza Chicago — one of my favorite hotels ever) still offer free breakfast.

Sometimes the options aren’t the greatest, but hey, it’s still free food!

With the money you’re saving on one meal, you can put that toward an activity or even splurge on dinner later in the evening.

THERE’S NO CHORES TO COMPLETE

One infamous thing about short-term rentals is that you usually have a laundry list of tasks to complete before you leave.

With hotels, on the other hand, you’ll have housekeepers who can keep your room neat and tidy during your stay.

EARLY CHECK-IN IS MORE LIKELY

Since there’s usually a LOT more rooms available, you have a higher chance of being able to check-in early.

You can’t really do this with an Airbnb or VRBO unless you get that situated beforehand — and most times, you’ll have to pay a fee to do so.

LUGGAGE STORAGE IS ALMOST ALWAYS AVAILABLE

Sometimes you’ll arrive at the hotel and your room isn’t ready yet. No big deal — at most hotels, you can simply drop off your luggage, explore the city a bit, and then return when your room is ready.

If you were to stay in an Airbnb or VRBO, you’d have to find a luggage storage spot somewhere nearby, which isn’t as convenient, cheap, or secure.

UNIQUE AMENITIES, UPGRADES & ADD-ONS

Hotels have unique offerings that short-term rentals don’t usually have. For example, some hotels have an airport shuttle that will pick you up from the airport to the hotel.

Or if you want a nice, relaxing spa experience, you can easily book one at the hotel instead of finding a spa nearby.

DISADVANTAGES OF STAYING IN A HOTEL

THEY’RE STILL MORE EXPENSIVE SOMETIMES

Although hotel and short-term rental prices are starting to match, hotels are still a bit costlier at times, depending on time of year, events, and the specific hotel chain you’re considering.

YOU’RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING

This can be considered either a pro or con, depending on how you look at it. From this perspective, though, it may be a downside staying in the center of the chaos.

SPACE IS LIMITED

Hotels have lots of rooms, and to allow for so many, they all have to be relatively compact.

This isn’t so great if you prefer more space in your accommodation during a solo trip.

NO MICROWAVE

Nowadays, many hotels don’t have microwaves. This is annoying if you leftovers you want to reheat or a microwaveable meal you want to eat.

THE VERDICT: You should pick a hotel if safety is your top priority (as a solo traveler, it should definitely be).

You’ve got 24/7 staff and security to keep you safe, and most hotels nowadays require a keycard to access any floor higher than ground level, which is a nice added layer of security.

SHORT-TERM RENTALS (AIRBNB & VRBO): THE GOOD & THE BAD

In this section, I’m going to break down the pros and cons of staying in a short-term rental during your trip. These include things like Airbnb and VRBO properties.

ADVANTAGES OF STAYING IN AN AIRBNB OR VRBO

MORE SPACIOUS THAN HOTELS

Since most of these properties are located in apartment complexes and homes, you’ll have a lot more space than you would in a tiny hotel room.

YOU CAN COOK YOUR OWN FOOD

Thanks to these properties having full kitchens most of the time, you have the freedom and tools to cook your own meals.

This is perfect if you’re traveling on a budget or simply don’t care to try the local cuisine.

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL

Short-term rental properties are often located in suburban and residential areas, giving you more of that local feel you might be looking for.

DISCOUNTS ON EXTENDED STAYS

The great thing about Airbnb and VRBO is that you’ll save money if you’re staying longer than, say, six days.

For example, if you’re spending seven nights at a property, you can often get a discounted nightly rate and put those savings toward other travel expenses, like food or activities.

DISADVANTAGES OF STAYING IN AN AIRBNB OR VRBO

PRICES ARE OFTEN UNREASONABLE

In the past, one of the most appealing things about Airbnb and VRBO properties was that they were a more budget-friendly alternative to traditional hotels.

However, with crazy cleaning fees and other miscellaneous expense tacked onto your bill, you’d probably be better off booking a hotel instead.

NOT AS SAFE AS HOTELS

Unlike the aforementioned safety features of hotels, Airbnbs aren’t as safe.

SHORT-TERM RENTALS MIGHT NEGATIVELY AFFECT LOCAL RESIDENTS

If you aren’t aware, short-term rentals like Airbnbs and VRBOs aren’t as great for locals because they harm the local economy.

If you can, consider staying somewhere elsewhere to practice ethical and responsible tourism. I have a guide showing you how to do this coming soon, so check that out after you finish this post.

FEWER OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN POINTS OR REWARDS ON STAYS

Sure, you’ll get discounts on extended stays and you can earn points by booking with a travel credit card.

But besides that, there aren’t many ways — like a reward system, for instance — to be rewarded for your stay.

THE VERDICT: You should pick an Airbnb or VRBO if you don’t care to be in the middle of everything or are traveling long-term.

These kinds of properties are typically located in more suburban or residential areas, which are often quieter, less busy and more local-like.

This is perfect if don’t plan on going out much or are renting a car to get around.

Also, you might want to stay in a short-term rental if you’ve already visited the destination before and want to experience something different.

I, for example, have visited Chicago five times, so in the future, I might consider booking an Airbnb instead of a hotel.

Hotels, while great, can sometimes feel redundant and lack excitement.

CONVINCED TO BOOK A HOTEL? USE THIS DECISION TOOL TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT PROPERTY

Alright, I’m pretty sure I know which option you picked. Or at least I hope you picked a hotel.

The problem, however, is that there are a LOT more hotels than short-term rentals. And I really don’t want decision fatigue to overcome you before you even go on your trip.

So I created this decision tool to help! I tried to make it as detailed as possible so you know for sure you’re choosing the best possible option.

Click the button below to access the decision tool in the TSS Freebie Library.

FINAL THOUGHTS: HOTEL VS AIRBNB

In this post, I gave you a comprehensive breakdown of hotels vs Airbnbs. Each have their pros and cons, and I hope by now you’ve been able to decide what’s best for your upcoming solo trip.

I always recommend hotels for solo travelers, but there are times where an Airbnb might be the better choice (as long as you aren’t harming the locals in any way).

Now, friend, it’s your turn. I’m opening the floor for you to start a conversation in the comments. Here are some discussion topics:

• What’s YOUR preference? Do you like to stay in hotels or Airbnbs?
• What’s your main concern with hotels? What about Airbnbs? If you could change one thing about each, what would it be?
• Have you ever stayed in an Airbnb or VRBO? What was your experience like?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you feel more comfortable chatting with me directly, shoot me a DM on Instagram or email me at demarcus@thesolosolstice.com.

ABOUT DEMARCUS

DeMarcus is a Midwest-based travel content creator and the founder of the solo travel blog, The Solo Solstice. He began his solo travel journey in December 2025 and since has been creating practical, in-depth travel guides for a like-minded community of first-time solo adventurers.

Visit the About Page to learn more about DeMarcus, and visit the Ethical & Responsible Tourism Page to learn more about his efforts to promote responsible tourism.