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.
Hahne visited Denver in 2016 and paid $41 a night to stay on an air mattress in someone’s basement apartment, an experience he said he couldn’t imagine in 2024.
“When I think about Airbnb now, a lot of it is more kind of absentee landlords,” he said of Airbnb’s current listings. “Back in 2015, 2016 — there was a lot more to like the social aspect of it. Where it’s just some guy who was renting out a bedroom.”
The total price of an Airbnb reservation is based on the nightly price set by the host, plus fees or costs determined by either the host or Airbnb.
Besides Airbnb service fees and local taxes, hosts may impose cleaning fees, extra guest fees and pet fees, according to Airbnb’s website on how pricing works.
A recent search revealed an entire guest suite in Denver for just $55 per night. However, the total cost for a two-night weekend stay ended up being $254.25, far above the expected $110, because of hidden fees. The cleaning fee alone was $85.
Another Airbnb listing of an entire home in Englewood, nearly seven miles away from Denver, costs $130 for a one-night weekend stay. Their cleaning fee after selecting their required minimum two-night stay was nearly as much as their one-night stay — $120. The total cost after fees would come out to be over $470.
The highest cleaning fee The Post found was $129 for an apartment in Lakewood.
“Ridiculous” fees
Washington state resident Nicole Hernandez, who visited Denver and booked through the Airbnb app last September, said she’s noticed a change in pricing.
“When I first started using Airbnb, it felt like I could find a good deal on accommodations while staying in a less commercial place that was more connected to the community,” she said.
The Queen Anne Bed & Breakfast is located in front …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
