I'm Choosing Hotels Over Airbnb—For Good!

Hotels aren’t perfect—but in my experience, they’ve consistently delivered something I haven’t found with Airbnb: actual standards.

My last Airbnb stay? I had to file a dispute with my bank just to get reimbursed.

Here’s what pushed me over the edge: a heavy, solid glass balcony door came off its hinges and crashed into my arms. Had I dropped it—or had it shattered—it could’ve rained glass on me and the neighboring balconies below. This incident happened after I’d communicated the problem twice before to the property owner. Each technical fix was to put the door back in place.

The unit also had rotting wood, a roach infestation, and a bathroom that hadn’t seen professional cleaning in ages.

If you’ve ever wondered how to avoid bad Airbnb rentals—or how to get your money back when your so-called stay turns into a full-time problem—this post is for you.

What I Missed in the Airbnb Listing—and Why It Matters When You’re Traveling Alone

When you're traveling solo, a bad rental doesn’t just disrupt your comfort—it drains your energy, your time, and your focus. There’s no one to split the cost, share the stress, or manage the mess. You’re left to fix it, absorb it, or leave it.

Looking back, I missed several red flags.

The view is what drew me in—a desk positioned in front of a wide window showcasing the sea. And the beach was right across the street.

What wasn’t shown was the massive construction site directly below the window.

The reviews didn’t mention it either. It was a textbook case of a misleading listing—the place sold serenity.

What I got was jackhammers and cockroaches.

Why I’m Booking Hotels From Now On

I left that Airbnb early for a bed I could trust, a floor that wouldn’t soil my socks, and quiet that didn’t require earplugs.

Hotels are built on systems and while they may not offer charm, they rarely leave you Googling ‘where can I get a tetanus shot’ at 3 a.m.

Hotels are also accountable in ways peer-to-peer platforms aren’t. There’s usually staff onsite. Cleanliness standards are clear. And if something goes wrong, there’s a process that doesn’t require chasing down a host in another time zone.

Emergency, Stranded, or Stressed? Here's Where Travelers Can Book a Safe Room—Fast! 

Whether you're locked out, let down, or just plain exhausted, if you're a traveler who suddenly needs a safe place, these under-the-radar options can help you find a clean, room without overpaying.

Use HotelTonight: They focus on same-day bookings and offer rooms from quality independent and boutique hotels at a discounted cost. In some locations you can book a room for up to a week. The company is owned by Airbnb, but it offers amenities and services of a traditional hotel.

Search on booking.com with filters set to ‘available tonight’: This surfaces immediate openings and cancellation-friendly listings.

Try Agoda’s last-minute filters, especially in Asia where coverage is strong, and pricing is typically lower.

Consider safe, well-reviewed hostels with private rooms: Sites like Hostelworld and even Booking.com offer these. You may need to share a bathroom, but you’ll have a door you can lock.

Contact the front desk directly (for hotels listed online) and ask for their walk-in rate—you’ll sometimes get a better price. 

The Three-Month Dilemma: When Long-Term Travel Makes Airbnb Seem Practical

I may stay in the country I’m visiting for three months, so a hotel stay for that entire time might not be practical. This is what made Airbnb seem like a reasonable choice.

In retrospect, booking shorter hotel stays up front—say, three to five days—would’ve given me time to explore the area in person and evaluate longer-term rentals without locking myself into a questionable stay. Unfortunately, it’s often those longer agreements that come with the best discounts—leaving many travelers stuck between affordability and risk.

That’s why I now treat hotels as a launchpad. I use them to land safely, get grounded, and then scout out long-stay options with my own eyes.

Hotel Platforms I Trust

For regular travel situations I recommend:

• booking.com – Great options, cancellation flexibility, and fast customer support. When my taxi never showed, they refunded me and covered my alternate car fare.
  

• Agoda – Often has better deals than U.S.-based platforms.
  

• hotels.com – A solid loyalty program for frequent stays.
  

• Expedia / Orbitz / Travelocity – Excellent for hotel+flight bundles and business-class properties.
  

Use a VPN when searching. Countries like Thailand and Indonesia often display significantly lower local rates—worth checking before you book.

Use Keyword Phrases to Find Rentals for Long-Term Stays Abroad

Google is my main choice for finding things. And as an SEO, I lean into those skills to conduct Google search queries that return useful results. For instance, below are keyword phrases that reflect how people are actually finding monthly rentals:

• monthly rentals abroad

• long-term rentals for digital nomads

• furnished apartments for monthly rent overseas

• mid-term rentals outside the US

• best websites for international monthly rentals

• how to find long-term stays abroad

• monthly apartment rentals for expats

• international monthly stays for solo travelers

• cheap monthly rentals for remote workers

• digital nomad housing platforms

Bonus Google Search Tip:

To get better, even more relevant results, pair these phrases with a location or personal travel style. The combinations help narrow your search and raise the chances of finding listings that match your budget, timeline, and unique needs.

For example:

• monthly rentals in Portugal for digital nomads

• furnished apartments in Mexico City for solo travelers

• long-term stays in Southeast Asia for women over 50

I’ve heard that many slow-travelers find affordable accommodations through Facebook groups. At the time of this writing, I’m not a Facebook user. But after this? I’m signing up and may join every group with the words ‘digital nomad’ and ‘avoid regret’.

What I Wish I’d Checked Before Confirming That Long-Term Airbnb Stay

• Mentions of professional cleaning in recent reviews—not just “tidy” or “cute”. Generic reviews tend to gloss over serious issues.

  
  

• Full-room photos, not just flattering angles. Overly stylized photos often hide the state of the furniture, floors, balcony, or bathroom. If everything is photographed in dim light or cropped tightly, there’s a reason.

  
  

• Bathroom and floor details, especially tile and corners

  
  

• What reviews don’t say—cleanliness, noise, repairs

  
  

• Whether the host manages multiple listings—if so, confirm the unit you’re booking is the one shown. Hosts with multiple listings may rotate guests through whatever unit is available—not necessarily the one shown in the listing that you’re viewing.

How to File an Airbnb Dispute and Get a Real Response

If your Airbnb stay goes bad and you're forced to cancel or leave, here’s where to start:

• Visit the Airbnb Resolution Center

• Keep all communication on the platform. Be factual and specific.

• Mention safety concerns, include timestamps, and attach photo/video proof.

• Use language that signals urgency:

  • “This is a health and safety issue.”

  • “I’ve documented the issue and am requesting escalation.”

  • “I attempted resolution with the host and need platform-level assistance.”

• Don’t wait—Airbnb disputes generally must be filed within 24–72 hours of the incident.

It’s Your Turn:

Even if you’ve had great Airbnb stays, it only takes one bad experience to erode your confidence—or your travel budget. 

Have you had a rental disaster that made you rethink where you stay? Or do you have a go-to resource for long-term travel accommodations that’s never let you down? Your insight might help another traveler just like you.

Place a comment below. Or if you like, drop me a message—I read every word.