Airbnb vs. hotel for honeymoon

Not married yet, but we have used AirBnB or VRBO for family vacations twice in the past. We have had good luck with it, and it's nice because it's generally more space and privacy than a hotel, for similar rates. I think for a honeymoon I'm choosing a destination because I've also never been out of the country, but it's probably best to just look at options with your fiancé and choose together!

If you have never traveled outside, maybe a hotel would be best.

Where are you traveling?

Some countries I'd say Airbnb are good, some probably not as good.

I switched to AirBnB a long time ago and not looking back. It's a more intimate experience than hotels because you don't have to deal with staff or other guests. It's also a chance to immerse yourself in the local culture better.

Just make sure to book well in advance and find a place with a lot of positive reviews and photos. Oh, and steer clear off agencies - try to find real people renting their place out.

@VC I think Cabo or Costa Rica. Maybe Hawaii. We still have plenty of time to decide, but I think where we stay will be a big factor in deciding where we choose to go

We are staying in 3 towns across Ireland. 2 out of the 3 accommodations are Airbnbs. I have always had great experiences.

I'd read up on Airbnb reviews in those countries to see how acceptable they are to you.

I did Airbnb internationally in Japan and it was fantastic!!! So it's really what you expect, what you want to pay and how comfortable you are in someone else's home.

My FH and I got an airbnb for our trip to Japan with lots of success!

My FH and I have used Airbnb all over the US. as well as Europe and Japan. It's a great experience to really feel the culture and where you are visiting!! You usually also get better bang for your buck than a hotel or resort. However there are things that you don't get, like room service, a spa (if you want) and someone to clean your room. Also every country is a little different and you do have to think and know the neighborhoods that you are looking into and the safety. We decided to do a hotel for our honeymoon, because we just don't want to worry about planning anything and be stressed. We want to be pampered after our wedding!

We used airbnb exclusively when we went to Hawaii, so much more affordable and both places had a kitchen. In Honolulu, we stayed in a condo just one block from the beach, on the big island we stayed in a house on someone's property. They were very helpful with local info (very helpful since the big island is not as touristy). We have used airbnb for all of our vacations since! I say go for it!

It depends on what you want out of your holiday! Do you want what @oceankissed mentioned about , or a hotel where you have most things on site and can call down to reception when you need something. It really depends on the holiday you want. For a regular holiday I would have no problem in useing air bnb, I'd do the touristy things see places talk to the locals etc. For our honeymoon we treated ourselves and stayed in a nice hotel, we had plans to see loads of places nearby but to be honest out of 11 nights we went to see two places, we were so shattered after the wedding that it was lovely to relax and do nothing but chill out for the holiday. It was the best thing ever!! Think about the type of the if holiday you want and plan around that. Everyone enjoys something different when they go away.

AirBNB has a reputation from owners cancelling reservations at the last minute. I don't trust them.

I have used VRBO several times and love it!! It makes me feel as if I'm living in that vacation (even if only for a weekend). This is my preferred lodging option most of the time.

Hotels are great for destinations where you've never traveled. You can take advantage of the concierge for suggestions on everything from restaurants to things to do, to traffic.

VRBO is great if you like the "home" feeling. They charge a lot of fees though so I would be careful when budgeting. The deposit is refundable, but there's always a service fee, cleaning fee, etc that's tacked on and those fees can almost double the rent.

It totally depends on what you are going for. They each have pluses and minuses.

I LOVE airbnb. You can rent a whole home instead if just a little room like you would get at a hotel. You can cool your own food if you want, or even just have room to keep a couple of bottles of champagne chilled. You get to experience the place the way locals do. It's often cheaper. But...you don't get the same level of service that you would at a hotel. No daily housekeeping, no concierge, no room service. You also don't get to socialize with other guests the way you would at a resort.

At its core, I would say it comes down to a choice of what appears more to you: space and a local experience or amenities and the tourist experience.

What country are you going to? Ive only had excellent experiences with AirBnB. Just make sure you see lots of pictures, that the owner is responsive and read the reviews!!

I suppose it also depends if you are looking for more of an apartment feel or resort feel. Do you want someone to clean after you and have buffets or are you good with the luxe apartment feel? Do you need a pool. It depends on what you are going for.

We used Airbnb almost exclusively for our multi-country European honeymoon.

Be aware of the cancellation terms and any additional fees, and ALWAYS read reviews thoroughly so you know what you're getting in to.

As others have said, you should also spend time researching the neighborhood you are planning to stay in, to make sure it is safe, especially for tourists.

My husband and I just recently came back from a four days trip to Canada using Airbnb. It was our first time using it and was a great experience!!! We will definitely use it again.

Thank you all for advice and feedback!! I feel much more comfortable potentially using airbnb knowing so many others have had good experiences

I used homeaway but I hear airbnb is good too

FMM, I have had people have good and bad experiences with AirBnB. Some of the negative things have been property not as described - 4 friends rented a finished garage - it wasn't finished, they slept on the floor in sleeping bags or air mattresses, provided by the owner as the "4 beds" she said were in the room, the owner was present the entire time, and they had to get permission to walk through her house to use the facilities. Another person rented a nice property, but unbeknownst to them, the property was restricted by local laws and the homeowner's association for rental, so when the people who booked through AirBnB arrived, they were not allowed to stay there! No, it doesn't happen all the time, but do you want it to happen to you when you're on your honeymoon?

So a lot depends on the type of experience you are looking for: Do you want a romantic honeymoon where you can order room service and have breakfast in bed? Do you want maid service so you don't have to do any cleaning. Do you want rose petals decorating your room and sparkling wine? Or, do you mind cleaning and tidying up your rental every day, perhaps even doing laundry? If there's a kitchen in your rental, does that mean you will be doing the cooking? And while the rental may be beautiful, how do you make sure the neighborhood is safe and convenient? Will you need to rent a car?

Everything truly depends on what you want out of your honeymoon. This is the most important trip you will take in your married life together, why leave it to chance?

AirBNB is great, and I'm absolutely considering it for my honeymoon (actually, considering part of the time in a hotel so we feel that true "honeymoon" experience, and part in an AirBNB). As others said, just be sure to read the reviews profusely, especially the bad ones (if any).