It was, when it was just people looking to get a tiny bit of income from renting a room in their house. Then people tried to make it their sole income, and then companies got into the game. Part of it is that the service became popular, so any cheaper rooms are snatched up instantly, and the user now gets to choose between a hotel-looking hotel, or a house-looking hotel, with nasty fees to get more money from you.

In theory. If you actually take the time to check hotel prices, you'll often find plenty of options in the same price range as ABNB.

It really depends what you're looking for. ABNB is good if you're heading out into the sticks and looking to rent a whole house. If you're in a city for a few days and need a room to stay in, hotels are often the better option.

For me the advantage of an AirBnB is the ability to stay in a remote cabin in the middle of the mountains with a bonfire and a fenced yard for my dog.

I'm not sure why anyone stays in an AirBnB in the middle of a city (although I've found them to be cheaper and with better walkability in parts of Europe)

@AlexisFR @snixyz it is cheaper just not for the ones who are paying