For some time, I have been defending short-term rentals (STRs), such as the accommodations offered through companies like Airbnb. This past weekend, I spent two nights at a home that was rented through Airbnb.
Critics of STRs like to portray them as “party houses,” homes that are turned into raucous bastions of mayhem and disruption to a neighborhood. While I don’t doubt that this can happen, my experience was quite different.
The house I rented was located on Canyon Lake in Texas. It was in a quiet neighborhood, and I am certain that the neighbors would have been appalled if I had hosted a raucous party. And I wouldn’t have blamed them. But I wasn’t interested in a raucous party. I was interested in a quiet weekend in a serene environment, and that is precisely what I experienced.
I would not have had that experience if I went through “normal” modes of arranging accommodations. I investigated numerous bed and breakfasts, and while I enjoy bed and breakfasts, they have certain limitations. First, breakfast is usually served at a specific time. As an early riser, I usually find the prescribed time to be too late. Second, the nature of a bed and breakfast includes some interaction with strangers. This can be enjoyable, but it wasn’t what my partner and I desired for that weekend. Third, in a bed and breakfast one is given limited space for privacy.
Airbnb provided us with an alternative. We had an entire house, complete with a kitchen and game room. We played ping pong, sat on the deck and enjoyed a cocktail, and cooked dinner. That weekend we didn’t want a lot of contact with others, and that is what we experienced.
Prior to going to Canyon Lake, we spent two nights in Austin at a Holiday Inn. Everything about that part of the trip was enjoyable, but it was mundane. Holiday Inn offered a certain kind of experience. Airbnb offered a different kind of experience.
The house we rented is a weekend retreat for the owner. When he isn’t using it, he rents it out. He made a little money to help cover his costs for owning the property. And we got to enjoy a very relaxing weekend. It was a win for him, and it was a win for us.
When individuals are free to use their property as they choose, they tend to create win-win situations. They create and offer values to willing buyers. That is what my host (and Airbnb) did.