Traveling has become an exciting adventure to explore the beautiful world, mingle with different cultures, and more significantly; relish a variety of cuisines. Speaking of awesome travel experience, Airbnb has become the go-to platform for millions to find a place to stay anywhere in the world. However, the online marketplace and hospitality service brokerage company has become way too expensive of late. Moreover, many have also complained that properties aren’t exactly what they are seen on the site. That’s why you should check out the best Airbnb alternatives in 2020 so that you can find the right places to stay at the right prices.
Covering 81,000 cities and 191 countries, Airbnb has its presence across the world. It also excels in maintaining quality hosts ensuring you can mingle with locals seamlessly. While choosing alternatives, I have kept these pivotal things in mind. And based on my findings, I can say that quite a few of them can’t only match Airbnb but also beat it in most aspects.
- What is The Problem with Airbnb?
While there are many issues with Airbnb in varying degrees, the most common complaint travelers make is that the host cancels the reservation at the last minute. It reflects poorly on Airbnb and the kind of hosts it onboards on its platform. Apart from that, overpricing has been a long-standing issue with Airbnb.
What is The Problem with Airbnb?
World Wide Airbnb Competitors & Alternatives
1. Booking.com
Booking.com has always been a top-notch site for booking hotels online. So, I’m really glad to know that the site now also allows booking apartments and vacation rentals. With a pretty neat interface coupled with the fast filtering process, finding the desired hotel, apartment or vacation rental is never a big deal.
2. Vrbo
When it comes to offering high-quality vacation properties, Vrbo (aka Vacation Rentals by Owner) has long been one of the best in the business. The company came into being way back in 1996 and has become a go-to platform for millions. Boasting more than two million properties, the sister company of HomeAway can let you find both luxurious vacation properties and affordable ones.
3. Homestay
Should your priority lies with genuine hosted experience, “Homestay” would be a great option. That means you can stay in a host home, meet locals, relish local cuisines and also get a chance to explore their culture. And that’s exactly what makes Homestay one of the best Airbnb alternatives on the market.
4. Agoda
Are you all geared up for a long trip in Asia? If yes, I would recommend you to try out “Agoda”. Just like Airbnb, the site has a massive collection of properties and also offers plenty of discounts. So, chances are pretty high that you would find a fantastic hotel or a beautiful tourist home at a much affordable price.
5. Flipkey
Simply put, there are very few online marketplace and hospitality service brokerage companies that can match the huge catalog of Flipkey. Owned by TripAdvisor, it provides vacation home rentals around the world. With a simple search, it shows a number of properties listed at different price points. So, you can compare the price and also read helpful reviews to decide whether or not a property meets your needs.
6. Outdoorsy
“Outdoorsy” claims to provide the best RV and trailer rentals in the world. And having given a close look at what it has to offer, I must say that it has got the quality to live up to the tall claim. To me, what makes it a great contender is the ever-growing catalog of RV and trailer rentals that can cater to a wide range of demands.
7. Turnkey
Though not as big a name as Airbnb, Turnkey is second to none when it comes to being a reliable online marketplace and hospitality service brokerage company. This is designed to be a one-stop platform for getting a variety of vacation home rentals. So, it doesn’t matter whether you are in a quest for a hotel for a couple, an elegant villa for a family or a big house for large groups, it will let you easily discover the perfect vacation home rental.
8. 9flats
If you find Airbnb’s collection of whole apartments to rent not up to the mark, you should keep 9flats in mind. It’s known to have one of the biggest collection of vacation rentals, apartments, and guest-houses owned by locals. So, you can use this site to choose a more suitable vacation rental and also make the most of the great hosting experience.
9. SellMyTimeshareNow
What makes “SellMyTimeshareNow” a notable alternative to Airbnb is the ever-growing presence and the massive catalog of Timeshare properties. The website features more than 4000 Timeshare resorts in over 1300 locations so you can find a suitable stay at most popular vacation locations.
10. onefinestay
When it comes to providing fantastic homes and services, you can count on “onefinestay” to live up to your billing. Both in terms of excellent service and affordability, it deserves to be rated as one of the finest alternatives to Airbnb. What has caught my eyes in this platform is the ability to create a remarkable collection of wishlist.
Best Airbnb Alternatives for Exploring India
Just in case you have set your sight on exploring India and its amazing places like Ooty, Manali or Leh Ladakh, let’s take a peek at a couple of India specific Airbnb alternatives.
For taking an amazing tour across India, Wandertrails has to be a top pick. As someone who has used its offerings, I can vouch for its quality. From fascinating jungle stay to waterfront stay to incredible Alibaug resorts, it has you fully covered pretty much like Airbnb. With such a wide variety of options vying for attention, picking out the most loving abode will never be a big ask.
12. 99roomz
For traveling across India and exploring its real beauty, 99roomz has to be one of the best picks. The site has an abundance of properties – from exotic resorts to beautiful homes – to let you find the most charming abode of your choice.
Asia & Pacific Airbnb Competitors & Alternatives
13. Stayz
Stayz is one of the popular Airbnb alternatives in the Asia-Pacific region. It’s known for its authentic listings, flexible cancellation policy, and overall customer support. Best of all, most of the homes listed on Stayz have full kitchens, laundry, pools, gardens, and more. Basically, you will have full privacy and access to all amenities just like your home.
Vila Finder is another promising homestay portal just like Airbnb that has got some great reviews from customers in Asia-Pacific. It primarily operates in Bali, Phuket, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and more. If you concerned whether they stick to the high standards of home inspection like Airbnb then worry not. Vila Finder goes through more than 80 quality points where they check the bedding, cutlery, air conditioners, swimming pool, and more.
15. Wimdu
Wimdu is a go-to choice for many travelers who want a safe and reliable homestay in Europe. Just like Airbnb, you will find many homestays in and around the cities. The whole idea of Wimdu is to make your experience different from traditional accommodation. You have got rental apartments, homestays, cottages, studio apartments and more.
The best part about Wimdu is that homestays are not overpriced and you will have complete overview of the cost without any hidden charges. Besides that, Wimdu is quite popular in Europe making the most bookings in Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, etc. I would say, if you are looking for a service like Airbnb in Europe then Wimdu is a great alternative.
After Airbnb and Vrbo, HomeToGo is considered a top service provider in Europe. It has more than 1300 trusted partners and 18 million places to stay on its portal which is amazing. No matter what you want — a rental apartment, homestay, mountain cabin, castles, studio — there is something for everyone. HomeToGo also ensures that wherever you stay, all the amenities are working and available for you.
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17. Vacasa
Vacasa is a rental management company just like Airbnb which promises to deliver the best accommodation in the whole of the Americas. It mainly operates in the US, Central, and South America and some parts of Europe. The portal offers more than 24,000 vacation rentals and thousands of homestays.
Best Airbnb Alternative for Property Owners
18. Expedia
If you are a property owner and looking for an Airbnb alternative then Expedia is a great choice. It’s among the few travel companies that offer flights, hotels, homestays, cruises, vacation rentals, and more. Having such a wide service, you are likely to get more customers through its various channels. Apart from that, it offers a seamless onboarding process and everything can be done online.
19. Casamundo
Casamundo is a perfect Airbnb alternative for small groups because it caters to all your need– no matter how small your group is. You can book a rental apartment, cabin, a beach house or a complete mansion in homestay style. The company mainly operates in the US and Europe and offers some of the lowest prices for top-notch accommodation. Casamundo hosts more than 700,000 houses which is really awesome.
20. HouseTrip
HouseTrip is a way to paradise for travelers who want complete freedom on their holiday trip. It offers services just like Airbnb, but with much more flexibility and liberty. Essentially, you will have to book a whole apartment and you can make yourself at home without any restrictions. Onefinstay hosts some of the best homes in the US, UK, and Europe.
It also has something called “Holiday Vilas” where everything is set up according to your need and preferences. And if you wish to have an apartment in a central location in the city then you can find curated homes from its City Collection. To sum up, HouseTrip has a great reputation for homes and hospitality and you can give it a shot.
21. Housing Anywhere
Housing Anywhere is an online marketplace for homestays similar to Airbnb and offers all kinds of rentals including short and long-term rentals. The portal hosts thousands of rental apartments and you can use them for as long as you want. Do note that the service is offered mainly in Europe with the highest listings in Berlin, followed by Vienna and Brussels. Coming to the pricing, it’s quite decent and comparable to Airbnb’s rental cost.
22. Luxury Retreats
If there is one place where you would find the best luxury rentals then it’s Luxury Retreats. I would even say that you would get better and far more beautiful homes on Luxury Retreats than Airbnb. The reason is that homes on Luxury Retreats are carefully curated and handpicked from the world’s most stunning locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What Can I Use Instead of Airbnb?
There are many services like Airbnb which offer similar homestay experience at a lower cost and in stunning locations. I would recommend you to try VRBO and Booking.com.
VRBO is generally preferred by users who want long-term rentals whereas Airbnb hosts all kinds of rentals. If you are with a family or in a large group then VRBO is much better because it offers you the whole apartment. Apart from that, Airbnb is quite good.
Yes, you would find many cheaper options than Airbnb on Booking.com and Homestay. Just make sure to use the right filters.
For home rentals, VRBO, Vacasa, and Housing Anywhere are great options. You would get short-term, mid, and long-term rentals at a much cheaper cost than Airbnb.
Airbnb may have been more popular than many of the sites mentioned above but it’s certainly not the only one that offers memorable hospitality. In terms of affordability, there are also quite a few contenders that can beat it fair and square. So, take a look at the wide range of offerings and put your money on the one that looks spot-on for your amazing holiday. Now that my talk is over, let me know your top Airbnb alternatives and also give the reasons why they stand out for you.
