You’ve picked a destination, gathered your group of travel buddies, and booked your flights. But where are you all going to stay once you’ve landed at your destination? Perhaps one of the most important aspects of planning a group trip is deciding what accommodations are right for you.
There are unique benefits to staying in an Airbnb vs. a hotel, but which one is best for your travel crew?
Airbnb vs. hotel: How to choose accommodations for a group
In addition, once you decide whether you’re staying in an Airbnb vs. hotel, you still need to choose the perfect accommodation for your group.
We’ll take a look at what is most important when evaluating housing options. Is it the overall review score or the number of ratings? How many beds or bedrooms does your particular group need? What’s the best location for the activities you all want to do?
Let’s take a look at all the pros and cons of each accommodation option for group travel.
Airbnb vs. hotel
Group travel in hotels
Staying in hotels is one of the most standard travel accommodations, but what are the true advantages and disadvantages to group hotel stays?
When you have plenty of people that may be on the fence about committing to a group trip, hotels offer individuals or couples the ability to book their own room as they’re ready to make a commitment. This helps clarify costs for everyone from the beginning of the planning process.
Some hotels also offer group hotel rates, though this is frequently for much larger groups. Be sure to check on the websites for all the hotels you’re looking at to see if they offer a group hotel rate. Otherwise, call the reservations team at the hotels and ask them about group rates.
In addition, here are a few more pros and cons when it comes to group hotel stays:
Pros
- Everyone book their own rooms
- More privacy
- All-inclusive options
Cons
- Harder to cook
- Not in one space
- More need for communication between activities
Group travel in Airbnbs
Holiday homes have been around forever, but with the streamlined search and booking process now available through Airbnb (or VRBO or others), staying in a house while on vacation with a group has become more popular than ever.
Finding a home to accommodate your group can be a really enjoyable process. Whether you’re looking for a cabin in the woods with a hot tub big enough for 8 people, or a beachfront villa with enough beds to sleep a group of 20, there are plenty of options out there. It may take a little extra work to find an Airbnb that’s right for you, but the rewards are also huge.
Staying in an Airbnb allows your group, whether it’s a college reunion or a multi-family getaway, to maximize the quality time spent together. Easily gather in the living room for game nights or congregate by the pool and have a BBQ. This minimizes the need for constant phone calls/texts while you’re away.
If you’re spending a lot of time at your Airbnb as a big group, make sure to be aware of things like cooking and cleaning so that no one is getting the short end of the stick while on vacation. Consider looking into hiring a caterer or daily cleaning service at your destination.
Pros
- Lots of quality time
- Easier communication
- Ability to cook
- Ability to choose amenities that matter the most to your group (pool, hot tub, BBQ, beach access, ski-in/ski-out, etc.)
Cons
- Lack of privacy
- Keeping it clean
- Harder to organize
- Money issues over different bedrooms
- Can be harder to decide sleeping arrangements
Choosing the perfect fit
Once you’ve decided what you’re going to do, Airbnb vs. hotel, you still need to choose your perfect fit. When you’re evaluating housing options it’s easy to get overwhelmed by star ratings, review scores, amenities, and more.
Before you begin the hunt for your perfect place, use Troupe to help group members vote on what is most important to them. Use the majority opinion to guide your search. For instance, narrow down results to only beachfront resorts or only Airbnbs with a hot tub. Use these specific parameters in addition to the number of bedrooms needed and maximum nightly prices (as decided by your group when having pre-travel conversations).
Then, narrow your results down to the 3 top options and use Troupe to let your group vote on their favorites!
Ready to get started planning your next group trip? Allow your group to vote on their favorite Airbnb vs. hotel options by using Troupe’s group travel planner. Also, discover the best order to plan a group trip.
FAQ
Airbnb vs. hotel is all about what is most important to you. An Airbnb might be better if you’re looking to minimize the need for calls/texts between travel buddies while you’re away, or if you’re wanting to maximize time at your accommodation with a kitchen, private pool, etc.
Airbnb can certainly be cheaper than a hotel, especially when traveling with a big enough group. Often times, multiple hotel rooms are going to cost more when compared to sharing the price of one house.