Press Release

For immediate release

Majority of holidaymakers believe hotels trump Airbnbs for value, cleanliness and experience

  • 7 out of 10 holidaymakers (71%) believe hotels offer the same or better value than Airbnbs
  • Only 3% believe Airbnbs are cleaner than hotels
  • 49% believe hotels offer a more authentic experience vs 24% for Airbnbs
  • Travelling in parties of four or more is the most popular reason for booking an Airbnb whereas few would book one for a business trip

22 May 2019, London

Picking the right accommodation can make or break any holiday whether it’s a weekend getaway to the country, a city break or week by a beach. Airbnb is one of the greatest success stories in the business of hospitality having hosted over 400 million guests since launching 11 years ago, but the debate on preference between an Airbnb or hotel stay continues. finder.com has investigated whether British holidaymakers find Airbnbs offer the same standards or better than hotels for various elements including cleanliness, value for money and authentic local experiences.

Surprisingly, finder.com’s research revealed 7 out of 10 holidaymakers (71%) do not believe Airbnbs provide better value for money compared to a traditional hotel. Although all Airbnb properties must abide by global hospitality standards, only 3% believe them to be cleaner than hotels and fewer than a quarter (23%) expect Airbnbs and hotels to offer the same level of cleanliness.

Despite Airbnb priding itself on offering authentic “home away from home” experiences, fewer than a quarter of holidaymakers (24%) feel an Airbnb will provide them with a genuine experience of a city or country compared to staying at a hotel.

Fewer than 1 in 10 (9%) believe that Airbnbs offer better locations compared to 62% who would favour a traditional hotel stay. However, when asked which type of accommodation they would prefer for a rural holiday, 41% would opt for a B&B or Airbnb.

Business or leisure? While a hotel stay comes out on top as the preference for all reasons for travel, below is the breakdown of the most popular reasons for booking each accommodation:

AccommodationMost popular forLeast popular for
HotelBusiness tripsRural getaways
AirbnbTrips for four or more peopleBusiness trips
HostelSolo holidaysRomantic breaks
B&BRural getawaysSki holidays

To view the complete breakdown of Finder’s Airbnb vs hotel statistics, including gender, age and regional figures please visit: https://www.finder.com/uk/hotel-statistics

–Ends–

Methodology

  • Finder.com commissioned Onepoll to carry out a nationally representative survey of adults aged 18+.

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Disclaimer

The information in this release is accurate as of the date published, but rates, fees and other product features may have changed. Please see updated product information on finder.com's review pages for the current correct values.

About finder.com

finder.com is a personal finance website, which helps consumers compare products online so they can make better informed decisions. Consumers can visit the website to compare utilities, mortgages, credit cards, insurance products, shopping voucher codes, and so much more before choosing the option that best suits their needs.

Best of all, finder.com is completely free to use. We’re not a bank or insurer, nor are we owned by one, and we are not a product issuer or a credit provider. We’re not affiliated with any one institution or outlet, so it’s genuine advice from a team of experts who care about helping you find better.

finder.com launched in the UK in February 2017 and is privately owned and self-funded by two Australian entrepreneurs – Fred Schebesta and Frank Restuccia – who successfully grew finder.com.au to be Australia's most visited personal finance website (Source: Experian Hitwise).

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