Crazy cleaning fees have pushed once-loyal Airbnb travelers back to hotels
DENVER — For years, Airbnb gave travelers access to reasonably priced, home-like stays. From staying in a Victorian home to a charming downtown loft, users of the popular short-term rental app were loyal and happy to shun corporate-owned chain hotels.
Airbnb offers a diverse range of accommodations in Denver with over 1,000 active listings. And Denver was listed as part of Airbnb’s top 10 U.S. cities with the most adventurous travelers in 2023. Tied for third among Houston and Atlanta, Airbnb guests from Denver visited nearly 80% of counties in the U.S.
But many users have begun to grapple with the shifting economics of short-term rentals. The cost of an Airbnb has increased so much that in many cases it’s no longer a cheaper option than a hotel.
Airbnb users like New York resident Jack Hahne, said the cost and experience of a stay is not what it used to be as he recently completed a solo road trip across the U.S.
“For a lot of the cases, either the price was about the same, maybe a little cheaper, but just wasn’t as convenient as like a hotel would be in terms of flexibility of like check-in times,” he said.