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The analysis of properties on the online booking portal shows that overall, renting an individual room in someone’s house works out much cheaper than staying in a hotel in some cities.
However, some hosts who rent out an entire one-bed property are charging prices similar to hotels and adding on expensive cleaning fees. Some individual rooms are also being rented out for up to €220 a night in certain areas.
More than half of hosts in Ireland say they use Airbnb to afford the rising cost of living, while more than a third say the additional income helps them make ends meet as energy prices and mortgage repayments increase.
Nearly one-quarter of hosts work in education, healthcare or hospitality, according to Airbnb.
But it’s not just homeowners using the house-share site, with other accommodation providers now getting in on the act.
Hotels with apartment options are also using the site. The Montenotte Hotel in Cork city is currently renting out one-bedroom flats for €283 a night.
The advert says Airbnb guests can “enjoy access to hotel facilities, including Motion Health Club, Bellevue Spa with make-up salon, nail bar, hair salon and relaxation room, and ‘The Cameo’ in-house cinema”.
Some properties are also being used as full-time holiday rentals.
A survey of properties available for two people in four Irish cities on a weekend in October for three nights shows prices ranging from €120 to €880.
In Galway city, of the 36 properties viewed, the average price works out at €482, compared to €633 for four-star hotels in the area.
Only three of the eight four-star hotels available include breakfast in the price.
The majority of properties available on Airbnb are individual rooms in a house-share, but there are also apartments, lofts and boats for rent.
An apartment in Eyre Square costs €207 a night, the cleaning fee is €65 and the Airbnb service charge is €119, working out at more than €800 for three nights.
A room in a shared apartment in the Latin Quarter, a popular nightlife area, costs €235 a night.
There are other one-bed flats available for between €600 and €700 for the weekend, while individual rooms cost between €69 and €235 a night.
The cleaning fees charged vary in price, with some hosts charging nothing at all.
Of the 36 properties available, 21 people charged for cleaning. Some charged as little as €5, while others asked for between €40 and €70.
In Ireland, the total price always has to be displayed upfront before booking and a breakdown of all costs must be given. This includes Airbnb’s service charge, cleaning fees and discounts.
Airbnb says that among its active listings globally, 45pc of people do not charge a cleaning fee.
In Cork city centre, there are 43 properties available for two people on the weekend of October 13-16. The average price works out as €401 for three nights.
However, some individual rooms cost nearly €800.
A room in a teacher’s house is being rented out for €200 a night, the cleaning fee is €50 and the Airbnb service charge is €113.
By comparison, the average cost for three nights in a four-star hotel in Cork city centre is €617.
Of the 13 hotels available, only one includes breakfast in the price.
Prices range between €449 and €840.
The majority of Airbnb availability is individual rooms.
Less than half of the Cork city hosts charge a cleaning fee, while others ask for between €10 and €60.
In Dublin city centre, a survey of 70 properties shows the average price is around €478, compared to €772 for a hotel. Individual rooms in Airbnbs work out cheaper, with some one-bed apartments available for around €800.
In Kilkenny, there are a small number of rooms and properties available in the city centre. Some are situated above pubs, while homeowners are also renting out rooms.
Of the 10 properties available, the average price is €383 for three nights.
By comparison, the average price for a hotel stay is €691.
Just five hotels are available on Booking.com, with prices ranging from €527 to €800.
It was reported earlier this year how the daily rate for Airbnbs had risen by 36pc between 2019 and 2023.
The property-sharing site says it has introduced a number of initiatives “to make Airbnb affordable”.
In response to complaints by guests about rising prices, the company said it is aiming to make long-term stays more economical and wants to encourage room rental over entire homes.
The company told the Irish Independent: “Over half of guests in Ireland say booking on Airbnb saved them money and more than four in 10 said they specifically chose Airbnb over other types of accommodation to save money.”
The Irish Hotels Federation was contacted for comment but did not respond.
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