Airbnb or serviced apartments: which are best for family stays?
Whilst a family trip away can curate special memories, there is no doubt you want to make your stay as hassle-free as possible – especially when you have little ones. Whether you are embarking on a short or long-term stay, deciding whether to opt for an Airbnb or serviced apartment for your family stay can be a head scratcher. And of course, you ideally want to choose the option that is most cost-effective. So, which is better for your family stay – Airbnb or serviced apartments? We’re here to give you a breakdown of each.
What’s the difference between a serviced apartment at aparthotel Birmingham and Airbnb?
The most obvious difference between the two is that here at aparthotel Birmingham, we offer hotel-like services, such as a reception, housekeeping services, which offers guests more security and the comfort of having professional guest service on-site if they need assistance. We also allow any length of stay. With Airbnb rentals, one can be completely different to the next in terms of the property, décor, quality, and amenities, which all depend on the location, property and host so you're never quite sure what you're going to get. Additionally, if you are planning a long-term stay, Airbnb doesn’t allow properties to be rented out for more than 90 nights per year.
Let’s go into more detail…
What is Airbnb?
Airbnb is an online marketplace which enables people to lease or rent vacation rentals, lodges, apartment rentals, homestays, hostel beds, or even hotel rooms for either short-term or long-term stays. These can range from cosy cottages, stylish apartments, or something eccentric and quirky – yes, a treehouse! In previous years, Airbnb was considered the more ‘affordable’ option offering cheaper alternatives to hotel stays, however nowadays, this has become debatable and are now similar, if not more, than hotel prices. On the flip side, Airbnbs do typically offer larger spaces for group/family stays and offer a more ‘causal’ feel as well as unique experience, with a large variety of rentals.
What is a serviced apartment?
A serviced apartment is a completely furnished apartment available for both short-term and long- term stays, inclusive of utility bills. Additionally, aparthotel Birmingham provides hotel-like amenities such as customer service, a reception, housekeeping service, and a 24/7 concierge service. Although both may have different very appeals, i.e. Airbnb offering a more unique and homelier feel and serviced apartments offering hotel services, it’s crucial to remember that there can be both pros and cons to every experience.
Pricing:
Airbnb
The total price of an Airbnb reservation is based on a few factors. Determined initially by the host (and depending on the amount of guests staying), the nightly price is usually a one-time fee to help the host, plus fees or costs determine by the host or Airbnb such as Airbnb service fee (this provides 24/7 help and support should you need it) a cleaning fee, extra guest fee, and there may also be Value Added Tax (VAT) and Local taxes depending on the location. You can view the full list Airbnb’s types of fees you may be charged here.
Serviced Apartments
The price of your serviced apartments will depend on how many nights you are likely to stay, the location, and the size of the apartment. Here at aparthotel Birmingham, rates start from £91.20 for our apartments that are best suited to a family stay. Find out more information about family stays at aparthotel Birmingham, here.
Facilities:
Airbnb
Located on the Airbnb hospitality page, there is a checklist of what is expected of the property if it is to become an official residence for guests and naturally, each place will vary with facilities. One residence may have a swimming pool (which you might pay more to use). A large majority, if not all Airbnb accommodation, will come equipped with laundry, cooking and shower facilities. Depending on your group size, or if you are looking for a jacuzzi for example, this may affect the overall price of your stay. Don’t forget that some Airbnb listings often have shared bathroom and kitchen areas which may not be desirable for everyone.
Serviced Apartments
A serviced apartment on the other hand may not offer the glamorous likes of star gazing in a hot tub, but what they can offer are fully-equipped features as though you were staying in luxury hotel accommodation, such as a kitchen meaning you can save on having meals out and the ticking bomb that are your little ones getting hungry as you search for a restaurant that isn’t fully-booked! Serviced apartments also offer the advantage of a qualified person on hand should guests ever need help or support. But if not, guests simply get to enjoy the privacy of their own self-contained apartment. A notable facility here at aparthotel Birmingham which has proven great satisfaction amongst our guests, is our onsite Nisa shop. Concerned about having the added luggage of meals to bring you? Fear not! The added bonus? You don’t even have to leave the building to grab tonight’s dinner, meaning you can pop down in your slippers to quickly grab tonight’s dinner.
Deposits:
Airbnb
Airbnb hosts can add a security deposit to their booking as long as they do so before a reservation is booked. Alternatively, if a host wants to make a claim on the security deposit, they must do so within 14 days of the checkout date or before a new guest checks in. If a claim is officially made, Airbnb will collect payment from the guest as necessary. It’s important to remember that security deposits cannot be handled as cash payments or off-site as these payments are a violation of Airbnb terms.
Serviced Apartments
When it comes to serviced apartments, usually a full pre-payment is requested before arrival on or booking, therefore making it easier for everyone. At aparthotel Birmingham we require a £200 full refundable deposit on arrival and for a full refund on your stay the cancellation policy is 3pm, 7 days prior to arrival for a full refund but it may vary elsewhere. For stays less than 7 days at aparthotel Birmingham, a cancellation can be made up until 4PM the day prior to arrival.
Cleaning:
Airbnb
Some Airbnb accommodations are great but can vary greatly from visit to visit. After the stay, guests can rate the tidiness and cleanliness of the property which then appears on the host’s listing page. Host can charge a cleaning fee and use the extra money to pay for cleaning supplies or hire a professional cleaning service if they want to.
Serviced Apartments
Alternatively, serviced apartments can offer the cleanliness and safety that a hotel offers and are able to provide those ‘home away from home’ options with equipped kitchens, comfy living spaces and other sought after facilities similar to Airbnb. They offer a guaranteed level of quality, cleanliness and consistency for every visit, similar to what you would expect at a hotel. If there is an accident or if you require any further assistance, someone will also be at hand to help. Here at aparthotel Birmingham, we provide housekeeping services. You can find out the breakdown of this on our FAQ’S page, here.
What should I expect from my serviced apartment at aparthotel Birmingham?
Here at aparthotel Birmingham, our 4 star serviced apartments come with the bonus of hotel services. For example, we have a dedicated 24/7 concierge team who will be on hand for assistance any day, any time and housekeeping services. What’s more, all of aparthotel Birmingham’s apartments are furnished with a fully equipped kitchen (everything from cutlery, an oven, fridge freezer, and kitchen utensils), a washing machine, and a living room space to really make you feel at home away from home. Have a furry friend you don’t want to miss out? We also have pet friendly rooms. Here at aparthotel Birmingham, luxury meets sustainability – be sure to indulge in our eco-friendly Rituals toiletries stocked in your bathroom.
If you are planning to stay long-term with us, we recommend booking via our ‘Stay Longer & Save’ offer which offers a 15% discount when you stay 3+ nights, or short-term, why not book our ‘City Break’ offer which will gift you a £10 voucher to spend in our on-site Nisa shop as well as a 10% discount when staying 2+ nights, or our ‘Switch to us’ offer for 10% off our Best Available Rate.