During our first year as parents, we travelled extensively with our baby, staying in a mixture of both hotels and AirBNB holidays lets.  From Santorini to Budapest to Dubai, we covered a lot of ground in 12 months.  When it comes to AirBNB vs hotel, both of them have their advantages and disadvantages.  It is therefore worth considering both options when you are booking accommodation for your next family holiday with a baby in tow.

There are obviously such a wide variety of hotels and AirBNBs available all around the world, offering different things. Therefore, my thoughts are very much a generalization.  So with that being said, AirBNB vs hotel with a baby – what is the better option?

AirBNB vs Hotel – What’s Better With A Baby?

#1: Rooms 

Generally when you book a hotel you will simply have a room and a bathroom, meaning the baby is bunking in with you.  Unless of course you want to splash out on a suite or shut them in the bathroom?  And whilst the bathroom is a useful option, it also makes it difficult if you need to use the facilities.

AirBNB accommodation will often be an apartment or a house (although you can book just a room), meaning that you will likely have a couple of living areas and can therefore arrange for the baby to sleep elsewhere.  If bubs is young and still in your room at home, you may not have an issue with either situation.  However, if they are in their own room and sleeping well at night, it can be difficult to all be back in the same room and disturbing each other (babies are noisy, as are snoring husbands!).

It’s best to check the amenities provided by the hotel and AirBNB and try to find out if they provide an extra cot for your child or maybe they have a crib. Many hotels will store a few units just in case a guest asks.

We have found that when it comes to AirBNB vs hotel, both will generally provide a cot free of charge.

That being said, I highly recommend asking the hotel or host BEFORE you make your booking.  We have been caught out on a couple of occasions, and co-sleeping is not very restful for anyone.

And before you book your stay check if they provide quality hotel and BNB supplies that improve guest satisfaction. You can try to scour reviews to check this because a night of good restful sleep is what you need on a much-awaited vacation and not the opposite.

#2: Food 

Part of the joy of being on holidays is not having to do the daily mundane chores.  So, access to room service can be delightful, especially if you arrive late in the night or want a lazy morning.  We have also found it useful when we have needed milk to put the baby to bed – instead of running out and trying to find the closest convenience store we can simply pick up the phone.

But we have spent many mornings mixing porridge in a glass cup and trying to entice the baby to sit nicely on the floor to eat her breakfast … it generally ends up everywhere!

In an exotic destination, you can look forward to sumptuous local cuisine while you stay in a hotel. You can even ask for the chef’s special while you’re at it.

In an AirBNB, you will most likely find a fully equipped kitchen and whilst it means you might do some cooking, we have found it really useful with the little one.  A decent size fridge for food, a kettle to warm and sterilize things and even a high chair in one of our recent apartments made the holiday with baby much easier.

If you’re familiar with the locality, you can pass by the local market to shop for fresh ingredients or befriend a local to show you where these can be bought. They can even offer to cook for you if you’d like. Friendly locals cooked some of the best dishes we’ve tried. Of course, the little one has their own prepped meal.

#3: Cleaning 

Hotels will offer a daily turn down service with fresh sheets and towels, providing that true holiday feeling.  In an AirBNB it is very unlikely that the accommodation will be cleaned on a daily basis however, when we have stayed for a couple of weeks, a cleaner has visited weekly to keep everything in order.  One big benefit of an AirBNB vs hotel with a baby is that the property might have a washing machine, making life much easier with little ones whom are notorious for getting messy.  Once again, check with your host before booking!

#4: Customer Service

Most hotels will have a concierge and staff at hand to assist with any queries or issues during your family holiday.  Its easy to call down from your room or stop by at the front desk on your way out to ask a question.  Compare an AirBNB vs hotel, and we have found in most situations that the hosts do not meet us.  They have a friend or company contracted to let you into the property, show you around and hand over the keys.  In some instances the keys have even been in a lock box attached to a lamp post at the front of the apartment block!

But then there was that time in New York when our hosts treated us to a fabulous lunch at a nearby restaurant and listed off all the celebrities whom lived close by and where to look out for them.  The AirBNB hosts are always available via text or phone, so it just depends what level of interaction you would prefer.

Hosts have a reputation to preserve on the platform that’s why they really try their best to deliver the best service to their guests. Going the extra mile for them is sometimes more natural.

#5: Facilities

Hotels vary greatly in the facilities that they offer, but you could have access to a spa, gym, pool or club room during your stay.  And depending on the type of hotel you choose, some even have baby clubs with qualified nannies and baby sitting services available.  These options seem to be popular in family friendly destinations and it is worth keeping in mind when choosing your destination and looking for hotels.

In my experience, AirBNBs have very little facilities to offer.  That is probably due to the fact that the original concept for AirBNB was people letting out their homes to travelers as opposed to competing directly with hotels.  If you are going on a city break and will be out and about the entire time, you may not want to pay the price tag for a hotel with a pool and gym which you will not use.

#6: Cost

I would generally say that when it comes to AirBNB vs hotel, an AirBNB will be cheaper than a hotel in any given destination.  Or if they are the same price, then per square meter you get a lot more for your money in an AirBNB compared to a hotel.  And that extra space can be very useful when you have all the baby travel essentials with you.  Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and I interchange what accommodation I book depending on the type of trip we are going on.

The only thing I will say when it comes to an AirBNB vs hotel, is that an AirBNB has to be paid upfront (or at least half of it) and the cancellation policies are often quite strict (dependent on what the host chooses).  So, if you have to change your plans last minute you may not have a right to a refund.  Bigger hotels can be much more lenient and it may be a better option for families travelling with a baby and young children.

So there you have it – my thoughts on an AirBNB vs hotel with a baby.  And to be fair, a lot of these same arguments apply when you are travelling with older children too.  I would love to hear your thoughts and accommodation preferences when travelling with your family, so be sure to leave a comment below.  Safe travels – Shell x

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