Is The “Airbnbust” Finally Upon Us? Here’s Why People Are Fed Up With Airbnb And Switching To Hotels

A screenshot of a Facebook group dedicated to Airbnb hosts went viral on Twitter this week. One of the "super hosts" asked others on the platform: "Has anyone seen a huge decrease in bookings over the last 3 to 4 months? We went from at least 50% occupancy to literally 0% the last two months. I'm just curious if this is something only going on with my property or if other people are seeing similar things. I am in Palm Springs. Where are you located?"

Then, @texasrunnerdfw posted the screenshot on Twitter with the caption, "The Airbnbust is upon us." But why exactly are people no longer booking Airbnbs? Here are some of the reasons why people are saying they’d rather switch to a hotel. 

Airbnbs Have a Hefty Price Tag

Let’s start with the most obvious reason: Airbnbs just aren’t cheap anymore. Renting an Airbnb used to save you 20% to 40% on the average cost of a hotel room. That's not the case in 2022 – at least in the U.S. One user, @JoshhowardOR, shared an image of the fees one Airbnb property was charging. The total came to $2,252.50 for only five nights (that’s $450.50 a day). To put things in perspective, that’s the average monthly rent in Austin, a city that is now one of the least affordable cities to live in. 

What’s worse is the lack of transparency when it comes to booking on Airbnb. Some listings will advertise themselves as $120 a night, but when you’re about to check out, you’ll notice that the total is much higher. The reason could be because of the seemingly unnecessary fees that get added on top of the nightly rate. There are usually fees for cleaning, service, and occupancy (though the last one is understandable). At the end of the day, you’re saving more money at a hotel compared to an Airbnb.

The Dreaded Cleaning Fees and Chores

Most Airbnbs have expensive cleaning fees. I can excuse hosts charging a fee if the price is reasonable. However, you’ll find that some hosts require guests to clean the property despite them paying for cleaning already! Some of them have the audacity to give you a list of chores – strip the sheets off the bed, take the trash out, wash the dishes, etc. 

Last year, one TikToker, who goes by the username @melworeit, was about to book an Airbnb that included a $125 cleaning fee – until she saw the checkout instructions. "Removing garbage, removing bed linens, stating the dishwasher and one load of laundry," was written on the list of things a guest had to do prior to leaving their Airbnb.

Hotels Give You a Luxurious Feel 

Unlike Airbnbs, you don’t have to pay a cleaning fee at a hotel. You can get your room serviced daily and even get fresh towels at no extra cost. Plus, unlike before, you’re actually saving money at a hotel. The average nightly rate of a hotel room in LA is $169. If you want an Airbnb, well, have at least $234 prepared per night (note that this probably doesn’t include the other fees). In addition, you also get access to amenities! You get the pool, hot tub, gym, bar, and free breakfast. 

Airbnbs Are Making the Housing Crisis Worse

Lastly, there are ethical reasons why some people have stopped renting out Airbnbs. In the past couple of years, some landlords have listed their properties on Airbnb rather than leasing them out to individuals who need a place to rent long-term. In addition, Airbnb has contributed to the housing crisis by driving up the cost of living. "Airbnb taking rentals off the market means fewer options for renters to choose from, thereby driving up rates," writes Davide Mastracci. "The same is true for housing supply, with the wealthy buying up multiple properties to use as short-term rentals, thereby helping to raise the value of existing homes to a point where the vast majority of people are priced out."

Closing Thoughts 

Don’t get me wrong, I still love staying in cozy apartments and houses. Overseas, Airbnb prices are definitely more affordable. But when it comes to the Airbnb costs in the U.S., I’d rather opt for the classic: a hotel. 

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