Disillusioned with Airbnb? These are the ethical alternatives for booking apartments and homestays

Ditch Airbnb and TUI in favor of more ethical and eco-friendly alternatives, a leading consumer organization has urged.

Ethical Consumer ranked 29 self-booked travel agencies using a range of factors such as emissions and community engagement.

TUI and Airbnb performed poorly, losing out to ethical alternatives such as Canopy & Stars and Fairbnb. As a result, the alternative consumer organization is asking people to think twice before booking with some popular services.

Why did AirBnb and TUI rank so poorly?

The report criticized Airbnb for not engaging with the local community.

“While Airbnb at first seemed like an exciting new way to earn some extra cash with a spare room, and for some hosts it still is, less than 10% of listings are actually of this type. “said lead researcher Ruth. Odd.

“Most come from people who own more than one property, and may even be managed by a specialist company.”

Report Encourages Airbnb Users to Seek ‘Authentic’ hostschecking how many ads they have to avoid career hosts.

TUI ranked last in the ethics ranking. Due to the large size of the organization, it is subject to surveys like the UK Modern Slavery Act report – an assessment that Strange indicated the company could improve on.

“In 2018, TUI was still only scoring 39% in this assessment and not showing the leadership needed to help raise industry-level standards,” she said.

TUI also deducted points for the sale of trips to animal parks detention of orcas and its involvement in deportation flights until 2021. Until last year, the company operated charter deportation flights on behalf of the Home Office, bringing migrants back to countries after attempting to enter the UK.

of a environmental perspective, the report criticizes TUI – as well as booking.com and Expedia – for failing to report annually on their emissions.

Euronews has contacted Airbnb and TUI for comment.

So if you are looking to vacation with a clear consciencehere are some of the companies you should try.

What are the ethical alternatives to large travel agencies?

You don’t need to feel guilty when you book a stayhowever – there are many ethical options.

1. For community finance and carbon management: Fairbnb

Fairbnb’s mission is to “create a fair alternative to existing home-sharing platforms”.

Founded in 2016 in Italy and amsterdamit now has members in more than nine European countries.

The organization is collective property and shares its 15% commission costs 50/50 with the community projects.

The platform also filters hosts “according to destination-specific rules.”

“In specific areas, we promote the one host – one house rule: legal hosts, preferably residents, with only one second home in their city’s tourist market,” the Fairbnb website says.

“It’s our way of promoting a greater sustainablegenuine and authentic tourism.”

According to the Ethical Consumer Report, the company received the highest possible rating for carbon management.

2. For a positive relationship between travel and the environment: Canopy & Stars

Canopy & Stars is a small, employee-owned company offering glamping trips to the UK.

The company has founded a charitable trust – which owns almost a quarter of the company – which donates to environmental causes.

The company plans to be net zero by 2030. They also say they will plant a total of 250,000 trees this year.

“We believe that a positive relationship between travel and environment is possible,” reads their website.

“We also believe that companies should contribute to the communities they are based on and have an effect on.

3. For eco-hostels and dormitories: Independent Hostels UK

Independent Hostels UK brings together independent properties hostels across the UK in an online guide.

If you are looking for a ecological holidays option that won’t break the bank, this could be a good option. Not all hostels listed by IHUK are ecological – but the guide allows users to specifically search for eco-hostels and dorms.

A quarter of listed hostels have a ‘green ethic’, according to the organization – and many have signed up to the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

IHUK also received the highest possible rating from Ethical Consumer for carbon management.

4. For a more local experience: BeWelcome

BeWelcome is an international hotel exchange network.

Members of the nonprofit community can offer accommodation, dinner, a guided tour, local information, or simply meet up for a coffee or one Beer.

“At BeWelcome, we believe that sharing creates a better world,” their website exclaims.

5. To meet like-minded hosts: Trustroots

Trustroots is a non-profit organisation’travel community‘ with over 70,000 members.

It lists almost 50 “circles”, including cyclists, the Pirates and street musicians, so you can find like-minded members to meet you while traveling, host you, and make friends. Users create profiles and find each other through the online platform.

“Our desire to help each other is universal. Trustroots is completely free and will remain so forever,” their manifesto promises.