It was personal, affordable, and you felt like you were sticking it to the man by skipping overpriced hotels.

But now it's starting to feel like the man has moved in, slapped on some hidden fees, left you a chore list, and oh yeah, might just be helping ruin entire cities in the process.

So is it time to give up on short-term rentals entirely?

Or is there a way to make them work for you and the places you visit?

In this video, I'm gonna unpack the problems with Airbnb and short-term rentals, and I'll share practical tips for booking responsibly while showing you a few great alternatives that might just save you time, money, and hassle.

But first, let's talk about why short-term rentals and Airbnb are facing so much backlash.

Airbnb was started in 2008 by these guys who couldn't afford their San Francisco rent.

So they put an air mattress in their living room and they charged strangers to stay there.

What started as a quirky way to make some extra cash quickly grew into a global platform connecting travelers with unique, affordable places to stay.

And it was awesome.

It was a cheap, easy way to stay with locals.

They made a little extra money, and you, the traveler, got to save, stay in a cool spot, and maybe even make some friends.

Win, win, win.

Win, win, win.

On my very first trip throughout Europe, we stayed almost entirely in private rooms in locals' homes thanks to Airbnb.

And it was such a great way to meet people and learn about the culture.

Sometimes it was like a charming little bed and breakfast.

Other times we were just crashing in someone's spare room while they slept next door.

We even shared bathrooms.

But it was personal and it was affordable.

But now it's something much different.

Here's the reality.

Short-term rentals like Airbnb have changed dramatically and not in ways that really benefit travelers.

First, let's talk about costs.

You've probably noticed that those great deals aren't so great anymore.

Cleaning fees, service fees, and taxes can add hundreds to your booking.

In many cases, you're paying more than a hotel without the perks like daily cleaning or room service or someone else taking out your trash.

You gotta do that stuff now.

Trust and reliability are a problem.

You might think you're booking a cozy getaway only to show up and find something completely different.

And then there's the economic and societal impact that's come from the rise of short-term rentals.

In cities worldwide, housing markets are being turned upside down.

Investors are buying up homes and converting them into short-term rentals, driving up rents, and pushing locals out.

Entire neighborhoods are losing their sense of community, becoming these revolving door zones designed for tourists rather than residents.

Cities like Barcelona, New York, and Kyoto are fighting back with strict regulations, limits on short-term rental listings, and even bans to curb the damage.

The impact is real and people are pushing for change.

So let's tackle these issues one by one.

I've got a few practical solutions for you.

Let's start with all the fees because nothing ruins a good deal faster than hidden costs.

If you're using Airbnb, plan to invest some time in your search.

Turn on display total to see the actual costs upfront.

A listing that looks like a great deal can suddenly be $100 extra per night once all those fees hit.

One example is cleaning fees.

Some hosts use these to drive down the advertised nightly rate while making up the difference elsewhere.

A few ways to save.

Look for long-stay discounts.

Many hosts offer automatic discounts for week-long or month-long stays.

If your trip is flexible, adjust your dates and see if a discount pops up.

You can message the host and simply ask.

Some hosts will negotiate rates for longer stays or last-minute bookings.

Airbnb doesn't advertise this, but it happens.

You could check other platforms.

Some properties are listed on both Airbnb and Vrbo at different price points, and you should definitely compare before booking.

I also recommend you know what's driving the cost.

Platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com take a big cut in the form of service fees, which mean hosts often raise prices to compensate.

On Airbnb, many times the fees are split between guests and hosts, but no matter the structure, that extra cost gets baked in.

And so a great way to save is book direct whenever possible.

By cutting out the middleman, you and the host both save money.

I've done this for years, and it definitely takes some searching and sleuthing.

However, a few months ago, I discovered a tool that makes this process super easy.

I mentioned them in a previous video, and I like it so much I asked them to sponsor this video because I think it's such a good fit.

It's a free Chrome extension called Directo.

With Directo, you search for lodging the way that you normally would.

And once you find a place you like, Directo scans for contact info or alternate booking options that connect you directly with the host or property owner.

You get the same place for less.

Plus, you're directly supporting the people who actually run the property and not some big platform.

If you're interested in Directo, check it out using the link in the description below.

Hey, if you've gotten value out of this video, please hit that like button so that YouTube knows to suggest it to other travelers like you.

Thanks.

Okay, next, how to avoid disappointment and unpleasant surprises when booking Airbnbs or other short-term rentals.

The best way to get what you want is to know what you want, all right?

And I know that sounds kind of cliche, but really, you should start by making a list of your deal breakers.

Do you need blazing fast Wi-Fi for remote work?

Are you traveling with kids and need a crib or a high chair?

Planning a longer stay and want a washing machine or a full kitchen?

Maybe it's free parking or proximity to public transit.

Whatever your priorities are, write them down.

Make sure when you're searching, you have a lot of people in your group, you're not searching by number of rooms, you're searching by number of beds, right?

Whatever it is, once you have your list, use filters to narrow down your search and make sure the listing explicitly mentions these must-haves because if it's not in the description, don't assume it's gonna be there.

If you're unsure, you can always message the host and ask, and this is also a good way to see how responsive they are.

Then you wanna get into the reviews.

Don't just look at star rating, dig deep.

Recent reviews are key.

Anything older than six months, in my opinion, doesn't necessarily reflect reality.

And you're gonna search for terms like clean, quiet, responsive host.

And if you see words like dirty, misleading photos, last-minute cancellation, those can be red flags that you wanna probe deeper on.

And speaking of cancellations, always check the cancellation policy.

Some listings have super strict refund terms which can leave you out of luck if your plans change.

Don't overlook the photos.

Do they show the spaces that you actually care about, the kitchen, the bathroom, the common areas, whatever is on your list, right?

If the photos are all artsy angles and vibes without much substance or detail, that's a cue to dig deeper or to just move on.

The other thing I would dig into is knowing who is actually hosting you.

Is it a local family or is it some investment group?

When researching, if you found a place you like, do some digging and go check out the host.

Read their bio.

Are they from the area or are they just running a bunch of properties remotely?

How many listings do they have?

That can be a cue as well.

And honestly, even if you don't care about the economic and societal side of this stuff, working with a local is still just a better experience.

Some of our favorite places we've ever stayed were private homes hosted by locals where it was on their property like a mother-in-law suite, so you get to meet a local or hang out with a local family, but you also get some privacy.

We stayed at this place in Leiden in the Netherlands, for example, where the view out our back door was a historic windmill.

Our host even gave me a tour of the mill and it was awesome.

But sometimes Airbnb isn't the right fit.

Maybe you're in a market where short-term rentals aren't allowed or you've decided they're not for you.

Either way, I wanna give you some great alternatives you could consider, family-run hotels and B&Bs.

Whether it's a charming bed and breakfast in Croatia, an Italian pensione or a cozy Zimmer in Germany, you're gonna meet locals, enjoy personalized hospitality, and importantly, support small businesses.

This is one of my favorite ways to travel.

And although my examples were all based in Europe, you can find these in markets all over the world.

I tend to find these through guidebooks.

If you're into credit cards, points and miles, et cetera, chain hotels can be a no-brainer, especially if you have points or free nights laying around.

Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, they let you redeem points, earn rewards, and enjoy perks like free breakfast and late checkout.

My only beef with these is if you're visiting historic cities, let's say ones that have an old town or a historic district, these tend to be on the outskirts of the action and maybe not in an ideal location for exploration.

Agrotourism is another cool option.

On our trip to the Dolomites, we stayed at a family-run Agroturismo, a working farm that hosts guests.

We had fresh bread, fresh milk, and stunning mountain views.

It was peaceful and authentic.

These are called different things in different countries, but for example, we used agroturismo.it in Italy.

Hostels aren't only for backpackers.

Many hostels offer private rooms with stylish modern designs and co-working spaces, making them a solid option for budget-conscious travelers who want a little comfort.

If you love animals, Trusted House Sitters is a platform that lets you stay in someone else's home for free while caring for their pets.

It's a win-win for budget-friendly travel and cozy homestays.

And these are just the tip of the iceberg on Airbnb and popular short-term rental alternatives.

My friend Nora actually wrote an amazing guide to Airbnb alternatives, especially for digital nomads and longer-term travelers.

But honestly, there's so much gold in there for anyone.

I went ahead and linked it below.

And hey, any trip you take, you're gonna need to make sure you have the right apps on your phone.

So check out this next video for my breakdown on the travel apps that you shouldn't leave home without.

Thanks so much for watching.

Happy travels.