You’ve almost certainly heard of Airbnb; in fact, you might even have booked through them before. Some people are confused about the difference between an Airbnb and a serviced apartment, but it’s pretty easy to understand. Essentially, Airbnb is just a platform – it’s a place where ordinary people can sublet their homes. In contrast, serviced apartments are managed and overseen by a specific company.
Now you understand how a serviced apartment differs from an Airbnb, you should learn what serviced apartments can offer that an Airbnb cannot.
Peace of Mind
Most people who advertise on Airbnb are trustworthy, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few bad apples. The internet is rife with stories of people turning up to what looked like a luxurious Airbnb to find an apartment in desperate need of repair. Even if the advert was honest, there are things people forget to consider. For example, internet speed is sometimes poor and heating sometimes unable to keep things warm. When you book a serviced apartment, you’ll enjoy superior peace of mind because the company will be able to stand by each property they are offering.
Amenities
An Airbnb will provide some of the home comforts you’re looking for, but they’re often sadly lacking in basic amenities. Again, internet is going to be a big one, but you may also find that your Airbnb misses other items, such as certain cookware, a hairdryer, washing machine, and so on. A serviced apartment is designed to accommodate anyone from a tourist to a businessperson, so it will have all the amenities you could want. Also, keep in mind that an Airbnb may also have internet problems, such as struggling to get even basic internet speed to play online games, and you may be constantly checking internet speed using platforms such as test my speed, depending on where the hotel is located. That is why, booking an Airbnb hotel cannot be considered a benefit, which is why a serviced apartment may be a much better option to consider.
Service
They aren’t called ‘serviced’ apartments for nothing. If you notice anything wrong, have something to ask about the property, or simply want some advice about the surrounding area, you can just contact your concierge. An Airbnb is usually sublet by a regular person, so they aren’t going to be happy if you keep calling them up. Additionally, they probably won’t know how to get any repairs done quickly, and they’ll lack the city knowledge of a dedicated concierge.