Airbnb vs Hotels in Thailand — What We Actually Learned Booking Both

We booked both on our Thailand trip — Airbnb for most nights, hotels for a few — so this isn't a "which is better" opinion piece, it's what we actually experienced with both.

Our Airbnb: ₹2,000 (~$23 / ฿830) a night, for two

This is the one that surprised us. For ₹2,000 a night, we had access to an infinity pool, a gym, and a lounge area. It genuinely felt closer to a resort than a typical Airbnb setup. If you're staying somewhere longer (we did multiple nights in the same place), Airbnb tends to give you more space and amenities for the price compared to an equivalent hotel.

Our hotel nights: ₹1,000 (~$12 / ฿415) a night, for two, with breakfast

On the nights we switched to a hotel, it was actually cheaper per night than the Airbnb — ₹1,000 including breakfast for both of us. What stood out wasn't the price, it was the crowd — we ended up meeting people from several different countries staying there. Want to be clear though: this was a real hotel, not a hostel-style shared setup.

So which one do we actually recommend?

Bcoz honestly, it depends on what you want out of the stay:

• Airbnb if you want space, amenities like a pool/gym, and you're staying multiple nights in one place
• Hotel if you want simplicity, breakfast included, and don't mind a smaller room — and if meeting other travelers matters to you, a well-located hotel does that naturally

We didn't pick one over the other for the whole trip — mixing both actually worked out well, since it broke up the trip and gave us different experiences.

If you're planning your own stay, check Skytrippa's hotel search to compare options before booking.