Planetware: Why Rick Steves Wants Travelers To Think Twice About Booking An Airbnb In Europe
For all the criticisms of short-term rental platforms, not all the blame for overtourism and rising housing costs can be shouldered by companies like Airbnb alone. Speaking to Business Insider, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky pushes back: “We support modern, targeted regulations that protect housing without blocking hosts from occasionally sharing their homes.”
As Airbnb and similar platforms have gained in popularity, brand-name hotels, family-owned bed and breakfasts, and boutique retreats alike have had to adjust pricing and incentives to compete. For example, Airbnbs and hotels in the Gothic Quarter tend to have similar pricing for like accommodations when considering short-term travel. However, for slow or long-term travelers like myself, Airbnb and similar platforms still offer significant savings over traditional hotels. Whatever the overall impact of these platforms ultimately is, as Rick Steves mentions in his initial post, “each traveler has to decide whether Airbnb is right for them.”
While the “right” solution will likely require institutional change, immediate impact begins on the human level. We must decide how to balance potential negatives with positives. As the price of convenience rises, we need to understand the invisible costs of our choices. If you stay in an Airbnb, choose one owned by an individual or small company, rather than a large property management company or real estate firm. Spending time and money with community vendors and small restaurants also reinvests resources back into the local economy. Getting to know residents may even lead to discovering a family-owned bed and breakfast or lesser-known attraction that enriches your stay. As Steves suggests, we need to decide what we truly value in travel: an authentic experience or a temporary escape? The answer will ultimately impact the quality and sustainability of travel now and into the future.
Read More: https://www.planetware.com/2036024/why-rick-steves-wants-travelers-think-twice-booking-airbnb-europe/