6 reasons why choosing a hotel is better than an Airbnb

At home, families typically enjoy their own space at night in separate rooms. However, on vacation, the trend often shifts to cramming everyone into one or two rooms. This shift makes vacation rental platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway appealing, as they usually offer more space for the price.

What began as a simple platform for booking air mattresses in living rooms has now evolved into Airbnb, featuring millions of listings globally, many of which are designated as family-friendly. Even major hotel chains like Marriott have recognized the competition and introduced a way to book vacation rentals using points.

During our family trip to Europe this summer, we struggled to find suitable hotels, which led us to opt for Airbnb instead.

Is this the end of hotels and the use of hotel points for family travel? Not just yet. Here are six reasons why hotels still hold the edge over Airbnbs.

1. Enjoying Hotel Stays for "Free" with Points

In the world of miles and points, accumulating hotel points and annual free night awards through hotel-branded credit cards is a breeze. These points can lead to "complimentary" stays. This year alone, numerous co-branded hotel credit cards have offered welcome bonuses of 75,000, 100,000, and even 150,000 points.

For instance, Hilton is currently offering several limited-time welcome bonuses along with a consistent offer for 150,000 Hilton Honors points.

• Hilton Honors Card from American Express (75,000-point bonus after spending $1,000 within the first three months, $0 annual fee) (See rates and fees) (limited-time offer ending Aug. 28)
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (130,000-point bonus and one free weekend night after spending $4,000 within the first four months, $95 annual fee) (See rates and fees) (limited-time offer ending Aug. 28)
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (130,000-point bonus and one free weekend night after spending $5,000 within the first four months, $95 annual fee) (See rates and fees) (limited-time offer ending Aug. 28)
• Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express (150,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 within the first three months, $450 annual fee) (See rates and fees) (current offer)

These bonuses can quickly translate into a points-based vacation for your family, especially if both you and your partner seize a couple of offers. Plus, if someone in your family has paid stays during the week—like a parent traveling for business—you could book your next trip entirely with points.

For those keen on maximizing their points, be sure to check out TPG's Stretch Your Points series, where we highlight hotels that give you great value for your points.

• Stretch Your Points: Top US Category 1 Hyatt Hotels
• Stretch Your Points: Best International Category 1 Hyatt Hotels
• Stretch Your Points: Outstanding Hilton Properties in the US for 20k Points or Fewer
• Explore These Premier Hilton Locations Abroad for 10k Points or Less

On the other hand, earning credit through Airbnb is considerably more challenging. While you can accumulate Delta points on your Airbnb bookings and utilize fixed value points like "cash" for Airbnb reservations, it's not comparable to the points offered by hotel loyalty programs.

2. Complimentary Breakfast — and Occasionally Dinner

I’m reluctant to label this as "free" breakfast, as it’s more accurate to say "breakfast included with your overnight stay." However, many hotels do offer complimentary breakfast for their guests.

Here are some hotel brands that provide a complimentary breakfast.

Best Western*: Includes Best Western, Best Western Plus, and Best Western Premier
*breakfast is offered at most locations

Choice Hotels: Includes Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, EconoLodge (continental breakfast), MainStay Suites (continental breakfast with oatmeal station), Quality Inn, Sleep Inn

Hilton: Includes Canopy, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites, and Tru

Hyatt: Features Hyatt Place (requires World of Hyatt membership and direct booking through Hyatt), Hyatt House, and the all-inclusive Hyatt Zilara/Hyatt Ziva brands

IHG: Consists of Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites

Marriott: Offers Element, Fairfield Inn and Suites, Residence Inn, Springhill Suites, and TownePlace Suites

Radisson: Includes Country Inns & Suites by Carlson

Wyndham: Includes Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn (continental breakfast), Howard Johnson (continental breakfast), Hawthorn Suites, La Quinta, Microtel Inn & Suites (continental breakfast), Super 8, Travelodge (continental breakfast), and Wingate

Several hotels also provide what can be considered as free dinner a few nights each week.

While some Airbnbs offer a bed-and-breakfast style experience with included meals, these are quite rare in my experience.

Regardless of what you think about hotel breakfasts, I appreciate staying somewhere that eliminates the need to prepare and clean up breakfast during our vacation. One of my favorite Onion articles is Mom Spends Beach Vacation Assuming All Household Duties in Closer Proximity to Ocean, which is amusing (yet somewhat tragic) because it reflects reality at times. Choosing hotels helps us avoid that hassle.

3. Hotels Are Less Likely to Charge You for Minor Damages

We recently faced a "he said, she said" situation at an Airbnb where the host claimed we left trash everywhere and damaged his couch. We didn't do either, yet he demanded $250. Navigating the Airbnb resolution process was stressful and unfamiliar. Thankfully, Airbnb sided with us, but it could have easily turned out differently.

On the other hand, I’ve noticed that unless you’re committing serious and obvious damage, most hotels are not inclined to charge you for accidentally breaking a toilet seat or a coffee mug.

Moreover, hotels provide more accessible and effective customer service. With Airbnb, it often feels like it’s just you and your host, although Airbnb sometimes intervenes. In contrast, if you encounter an issue with a hotel, you can always contact the corporate offices for assistance.

4. Hotels Typically Offer Superior Amenities

Most hotels feature a fitness center and a swimming pool. While the pool may not be a themed paradise like the one shown below, I've found that for my kids, the hotel pool ranks high on their list of vacation highlights—even if it’s just a tiny three-foot-deep pool at a 2.5-star hotel in the middle of nowhere.

I've also noticed that hotel beds, pillows, and furniture tend to be in better condition and more robust than what you usually find in an average Airbnb. Hotels invest in durable beds and furniture because they expect a high turnover of guests. In contrast, the furniture we've encountered in Airbnbs often seems like what was left over from an IKEA clearance sale.

5. Check-In Challenges

Upon arriving at a hotel (possibly feeling worn out) with kids in tow, you simply approach the front desk to check in. There may be a slight wait at times, but typically, a staffed lobby is available around the clock to help you secure your room keys.

Checking in at a vacation rental can be less straightforward. While some condo rentals have a designated lobby, others might require you to enter a code on a keypad—great until something goes awry. Alternatively, you might need to meet your host for access, which can complicate matters if your arrival is delayed. While many check-ins proceed smoothly, they don't always go as planned.

6. The Importance of Consistency

Ultimately, it's about reliability and knowing what to expect. At a DoubleTree, you can anticipate receiving a cookie during check-in. At Holiday Inn Express, cinnamon rolls await you at breakfast. In contrast, Airbnbs can be unpredictable; although you can filter out some issues by scrutinizing photos and reviews, many problems only surface later or upon arrival, often too late to address.

Final Thoughts

While there are perks to using Airbnb—like the chance to stay in a Game of Thrones-themed property or Tony Stark's cabin from Avengers: Endgame—our family places a high value on consistency and knowing exactly what to expect.

Interested in learning more about booking vacation rentals and timeshares? Check out these articles:

• When Airbnb Beats Hotels for Families
• Family Tips for Using Airbnb
• Are Homes and Villas By Marriott Worth It?
• Are Vacation Rentals by Choice Hotels Worth It for Families?
• How to Use Wyndham Rewards Points for Timeshare Bookings