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Homestay accommodation is taking over the market and Airbnb is undoubtedly the best-known homestay booking website at the moment.
Stayz is its lesser-known Australian competitor, specialising in truly exceptional holiday rentals ranging from yacht trips to farmstays. So which should you trust to find the perfect accommodation for your next trip?
We've made the choice easy by comparing Airbnb and Stayz on their property types, inclusions, locations, security, policies, deals and more.
Feature | Airbnb | Stayz | Winner |
---|---|---|---|
Where are its hotels/stays? | Airbnb has lodgings in 81,000 cities across 191 countries. | Stays has over 40,000 holiday rentals across Australia. | Airbnb |
Is it safe? | Yes. Hosts and guests are vetted and monitored and payments are secure. Feedback allows hosts and guests to evaluate one another. However, you should always watch for suspicious behaviour and put your safety first at all times. | Yes. Listings and owners are vetted and monitored and payments are secure. Reviews give you insight into past guests' experiences. However, you should always remain alert for fraudulent listings or suspicious behaviour. | Both |
Is there free breakfast? | Hosts have the option to provide free breakfast. | At the property manager’s discretion. | Both |
Is there a loyalty program? Is it free to join? | No. | No. | Both |
Is it partnered with anyone? | No. | No. However, Stayz is part of the Expedia family and has strong connections to its sister brands. | Stayz |
Is there free Wi-Fi? | Most properties offer free Wi-Fi. | Most properties offer free Wi-Fi. | Both |
Are properties pet friendly? | Some properties are pet-friendly; this is outlined in the listing. | Stayz features over 10,000 pet-friendly properties around Australia. | Both |
Are stays family-friendly? | Airbnb has many family-friendly listings. Potential hazards for children, such as stairs, are outlined in property descriptions. | Most listings are family-friendly. Search filters like "child friendly" and "family holiday" can help you find a suitable place. | Both |
Is there online chat? | No. | No. | Both |
What are my payment options? |
|
| Airbnb |
Are there gift cards? | Yes. | No. | Airbnb |
Are there service fees? | Yes, for most listings. | Yes. The service fee is 2%. | Both |
Is there an age limit? | Typically, no. Age limits are imposed at the host’s discretion. | Most listings have no age limit, but some may not be suitable for infants, children or the elderly. | Both |
Is there a deposit? | Yes. Payments are processed when the booking is approved. | Yes. Payments are processed when the booking is approved. | Both |
Does it allow for long term rentals? | Some properties allow long term rentals, which are charged on a monthly basis. | Some properties accept long-term rentals; this will be specified in the description. | Both |
Do hosts provide towels and shampoo? | Hosts can provide towels and shampoo, but this is not a requirement. | Hosts have the option to provide towels and shampoo; typically, this is mentioned in the listing. | Both |
Will the host be there? | This depends on the accommodation type. If you book a whole property, you will have it to yourself, although your host will usually be there to welcome you. | Typically, your host will welcome you to the property, but not remain for the duration of your stay. | Both |
Can I price match? | No. | No. | Both |
Does it allow for cancellations/changes? | Yes. Fees may apply. Refunds are sometimes available. | Yes. Cancellation policies vary from listing to listing. | Both |
Does it have smoking rooms? | Some listings have smoking rooms. | Typically, no. | Airbnb |
Book with" | Stayz |
Airbnb and Stayz are both driven by the hosts and the prices that they ask for their rooms. To give an idea of which could offer the better price we looked at similar homestays (stays for 4 people) available for both on the same days (22-26 June 2018) and in the same city (Balaclava and St Kilda). The below example is taken from a search on 5 May 2018.
In a similar search Airbnb came up significantly cheaper with a $154 stay in a 2 bedroom apartment. Stayz pulled up a pricier $234 stay for an apartment with only one bedroom. Its stay however was in St Kilda which is more ideal than Balaclava despite being only a suburb apart.
Airbnb's special offers are created and managed by the hosts. Hosts can set low prices for certain dates, or take a certain percentage off the overall price. Long-term rental discounts and service fee discounts are also available.
Stayz allows you to filter your search by last minute deals and special offers. However, at the moment it’s unclear if any deals or offers are available, or what the deals and offers might be.
See below for the latest homestay deals available:
Last checked | Code description | Code |
---|---|---|
20 Jan 2021 | Australia beach holidays from $82/night | ******** |
20 Jan 2021 | Australia stays from $39/night | ******** |
20 Jan 2021 | New Zealand stays from $28/night | ******** |
20 Jan 2021 | Sunshine Coast stays from $72 per night | ******** |
20 Jan 2021 | Gold Coast stays from $39 per night | ******** |
It's worth reiterating that Airbnb lists a much greater range of accommodation options, especially for travellers on a budget. It’s therefore very important to read the entire listing before making a booking so that you know what to expect in terms of sleeping arrangements, space sharing and inclusions.
You could be sharing a property with the host, or even with other guests, which can be a positive or a negative depending on your needs.
Another difference is additional services. Airbnb operates Airbnb Experiences, which allows locals to sell experiences to visitors, Airbnb Restaurants, which lets you browse and book the top restaurants in your location, and Airbnb Plus, which offers upmarket, quality verified accommodation.
Stayz offers travel insurance, car rental and flight bookings thanks to its online partners, which include Expedia, VroomVroomVroom and Chubb Holiday Protection.
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