‘Surprising’ study finds hotels generally cheaper than Airbnb

Hotels generally beat Airbnb on price, according to a study which claimed many holidaymakers will be “surprised” by the finding.

Consumer group Which? compared the cost of thousands of hotel rooms with 300,000 one-bed listings on popular accommodation rental websites.

The study included 13 destinations in the UK and 37 across the rest of the world.

It found that a one-night stay in a hotel was an average of £101, compared with £120 across Airbnb and Vrbo.

Accommodation rental companies have a reputation for being cheaper than traditional options due to guests not paying for on-site staff.

But Which? believes their growth in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic sparked rising prices.

It highlighted a series of destinations where travellers can make “stark” savings by staying in hotels.

On the Greek island of Santorini, Airbnb and Vrbo listings were typically 71% more expensive at £203, compared with £119 for hotels.

Listings on the rental companies’ websites for Dutch capital Amsterdam cost 58 per cent more than hotels, at an average of £183 versus £116.

Hotel rates were also generally cheaper in many Asian destinations.

In Hong Kong, the price difference was 85%, with similar findings in Singapore and Dubai.

It was also revealed that it typically costs less to stay in a hotel than book through Airbnb and Vrbo in several UK tourist hotspots.

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Hotels in the picturesque seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk, charge £155 on average, but listings on accommodation rental websites were typically a hefty £223.

It also usually works out cheaper to stay in hotels in all four of the UK’s capital cities, researchers stated.

Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: “Many holidaymakers may be surprised to discover that the average cost of hotels in many destinations is cheaper than one-bedroom holiday lets, which are often promoted as a popular option for travellers trying to save money.

“When planning your next trip, don’t assume a hotel will cost more, but instead check rates across different…