It’s the ultimate battle royale: Airbnb vs. hotel. Both avid and occasional travelers know that the choice can be a difficult one. Especially when we travel somewhere new, there’s a lot of pressure to find the right accommodations for our specific wants and needs.

To take some of that pressure off, here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of Airbnb vs. hotel stays, including considerations such as safety, price, and overall quality:

Pros of Airbnb

Opportunities to meet locals

Staying in a private room in someone’s home through Airbnb can be a great opportunity to meet locals, if that’s what you’re hoping to do. When Airbnb first launched, the platform was more like a paid version of Couchsurfing. Hosts would receive guests in their homes, who would rent a room at a fraction of the cost of a hotel. When I first used