Airbnb, the biggest player in the short-term home rental market, has recently received its fair share of criticism.
Local towns pushed back against the rental giant that is exacerbating the housing crisis and destroying their sense of community. Visitors have complained about the security and cleanliness of properties as neighbors battled against Airbnb party mat.
Airbnb has responded to varying degrees to complaints, but some travelers are still looking for a different option for renting houses and apartments when they travel.
Many people want something more specialized for families or a particular style of accommodation. Others may want a rental property to be more connected to local communities, or a rental network that is just smaller and more visitor-focused.
Fortunately, travelers have a variety of alternative choices outside of Airbnb for renting properties both domestically and internationally.
TPG has looked at some of the Airbnb alternatives to help you decide if any of them might be right for you.
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Fairbnb
Fairbnb specifically addresses some of the issues that Airbnb is facing. As its name suggests, the Fairbnb cooperative promises to be fairer to visitors, hosts and the community around them. Their booking fees are split equally between the company and local community projects.
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Fairbnb also restricts hosts from owning more than one rental property in an effort to maintain a closer relationship with communities. The goal is to exclude mega-landlord real estate speculators, the types of rental property owners accused of emptying communities and causing housing shortages, especially for affordable housing.
Fairbnb rents out properties in nine European countries, including Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and Italy, which has the largest selection of rental properties.
Rentals are pretty cheap, from around 30 euros (just under $30) a night for a basic apartment to over 300 euros ($299) a night for a two-bedroom house plus cleaning and 10% booking fee, half of which goes to local projects.
perfect paris
Paris Perfect is the original France segment of the Vacation Perfect booking agency. He coordinates the rentals of high-end vacation properties in destinations such as Bali, Italy, London and Paris.
Paris Perfect rental properties, and others in its network, focus on luxurious and stylish apartments and house rentals close to popular tourist locations in the destination’s upscale neighborhoods.
Bookings for one-bedroom apartments in Paris start at $350 per night, so it’s definitely not a budget travel option. But the interiors and views of the apartments are quite nice, and user reviews are glowing.
“For Europe, one of my personal favorites is Paris Perfect and its affiliates,” said Melissa Klurman, editor-in-chief of TPG. “I stayed in one of their apartments for my birthday and it was amazing.”
child and coe
For families looking for a kid-friendly place to stay, it can be difficult to sort through and judge the near-endless options on a site like Airbnb. You’re never quite sure until you’ve researched user reviews, and sometimes not even before you arrive, if the property is suitable for children. Website photos can be misleading in determining whether a home truly has a living space suitable for a family vacation.
Enter Kid & Coe, a network of rental companies specializing in child and family-friendly properties. Its staff and partners visit and curate a collection of homes with specific qualities families may seek, such as swimming pools, playrooms and separate sitting areas for parents.
Kid & Coe even stocks the houses with books and toys so you have a little less to pack for family vacations. Properties also mention nearby playgrounds and other attractions for children.
Kid & Coe sorts its properties across destinations around the world, including the major European tourist cities of Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, London and Paris. The company also offers country retreats and island beach houses, some suitable for large, multi-generational family gatherings.
onefinestay
Onefinestay is the collection of first-class concierge-level rental properties. Imagine a lavish seaside resort home in St. Tropez, townhouses in London’s trendiest neighborhoods or a villa on the shores of Lake Como, Italy.
The company can customize your stay with concierge services, including private chefs and drivers, babysitting, grocery delivery, and reservation services for area restaurants and events.
Rentals for Onefinestay start in the $500 per night range and go well over $2,000 per night, with additional charges for special services. The company has travel consultants who can help you find your dream home (especially if budget isn’t an issue). They also have luxury options that can be affordable when shared between two families.
At the end of the line
Travelers who want to book a short-term rental, both in the United States and abroad, have many other options than the big names of Airbnb and Vrbo, especially in Europe.
If you’re looking for kid-focused properties, luxury options in prime destinations, or just a place that contributes to the community, it’s worth checking out one of the choices above.
Do your own research on rental websites, read user reviews, and contact both the business and the owner if you have questions about a potential rental. Read the fine print about deposits, cleaning fees and house rules – luxury properties may have very particular rules and fees associated with them.
TPG will continue to monitor offers from short-term house and apartment rental companies and report on further developments in this sector.
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