Hotel vs. Airbnb When Visiting Flagstaff

Featured Properties: Left: Little America Hotel | Right: Mountain Star Vacation Home

A nice pillow for your head to rest on, a mountain view, and clean linens – what else do you look for when choosing where to book your overnight stay away from home?

There's a wide variety of accommodations when traveling in today's world. The two most popular choices are hotels and Airbnb homes. So, when you are traveling to Flagstaff, Arizona what's the right option for you? We decided to sort through the pros and cons to see which is a better fit between today's two largest competitors. In the end, we realized, it's up to you – your preferences and what you want out of your trip. Just remember that your overnight experience can make or break your trip. Luckily, Flagstaff has such a wide selection of places to rest your head that you can't go wrong – and you will most likely leave Flagstaff happy and rested.

Whether you want a luxury hotel with a mountain view, a cabin in the woods or a tiny-home downtown, Flagstaff accommodations will not only provide a warm place to rest your feet but great people to interact with. You will find that most of the Airbnb's in Flagstaff are run by their owners, not a separate vacation company, and they take pride in their homes and town. And if you stay at a hotel, you'll likely be speaking to one of Northern Arizona University's hotel management students and be treated with respect. So, is it the people or the bed that make that overnight experience memorable?

Hotels provide comfort and ease every time. They make you feel like you are on that relaxing vacation you wanted. Although in Flagstaff, compared to Airbnb, hotels are more expensive. We averaged out over a dozen hotels and Airbnb prices and it showed that hotels can be twice as expensive as an Airbnb. Even though hotels average $102/night and you can easily find an Airbnb for $52/night, we admit that money isn't everything. Maybe the extra splurge is worth it; or maybe the local vibes and inspiring experience you receive with an Airbnb home is worth any hesitation you have at sleeping in someone else's space.

Here's a list of questions that will help you choose the best place to stay:

What it comes down to: If you want comfort, ease and familiarity stay at a hotel. If you want a unique, extra-ordinary visit stay at an Airbnb. Either way, whichever route you choose, you'll have fun and a great experience wherever you rest your head.