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Airbnb vs Stayz
Planning a trip? Find out whether Airbnb or Stayz is the best choice for accommodation.
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Homestays & Rentals
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.
Airbnb vs Stayz
| 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" | Airbnb | Stayz |
Who offers the best price?
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.
The winner: Airbnb
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 and Stayz deals
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:
Airbnb
Gold Coast stays from $49/night
Available on select stay dates from June 2020 onward. Sample accommodation is in Surfers Paradise. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Airbnb
New Zealand stays from $30/night
Available on select dates from July onward for Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch stays. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Airbnb
Melbourne stays from $50/night
Available on select stay dates from June 2020 onward. Sample accommodation is in Melbourne Central Business District. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Airbnb
Refer a friend and get $25 Airbnb credit
Give a friend $50 toward their first stay and get $25 credit for yourself toward a future booking.
Last verified
Stayz
Australia beach holidays from $82/night
Available on select stay dates in 2020 and 2021. Destinations include Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne and more. Sample price is for a stay at a private beach cottage in South Greenough, Western Australia. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Airbnb
Sydney stay from just $113
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample accommodation is in Kings Cross. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Australia stays from $54/night
Available on select 2020 dates across Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Brisbane, Perth and more. Sample fare is for a stay at McSweeney Ranch Casino. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Airbnb
Los Angeles stay from just $116
Valid for travel on select dates. Sample accommodation is in Rancho Park. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
New Zealand stays from $20/night
Available on stays in 2020 in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and more. Sample stay is for a bed in a dormitory in Queenstown.
Last verified
Airbnb
Perth stays from $35 /night
Available on select stay dates from June 2020 onward. Sample accommodation is in East Victoria Park. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Airbnb
Brisbane stays from $29/night
Available on select stay dates from June 2020 onward. Sample accommodation is in Riverhills, Queensland. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Airbnb
Adelaide stays from $32/night
Available on select stay dates from June 2020 onward. Sample accommodation is in Central Adelaide. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Mount Hotham accommodation from $127
Compare apartments, houses and cottages right at Mount Hotham and in nearby towns like Hotham Heights, Dinner Plain, Harrietville and Mount Beauty.
Last verified
Deal ends
Stayz
Sunshine Coast stays from $55 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a modern stay near Sunshine Coast centre. Destinations include Sunshine Beach, Hinterland, Waterfront, Noosa and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Byron Bay stays from $40 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is a hostel near Byron Bay Centre. Destinations include Tallow Beach, Hinterland and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Gold Coast stays from $20 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a seaside holiday home in Gold Coast centre. Includes street parking and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Sydney stays from $30 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a holiday home near Sydney Centre. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Melbourne stays from $20 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a hostel room in Melbourne Central. Destinations include Melbourne Airport, Melbourne Cricket Ground and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Tasmania stays from $54 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward Sample fare is for a pet friendly accommodation in the hills of Old Beach. Destinations include Launceston, Hobart and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Adelaide stays from $35 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a stay near Adelaide Centre. Destinations include Adelaide Hills, Port Adelaide, North Adelaide and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Hobart stays from $54 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a pet friendly room near Hobart Centre. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Noosa stays from $63 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a studio haven near Noosa Centre. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Darwin stays from $60 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a bed and breakfast at Johnston. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Perth stays from $40 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a private room at Wilson ParkLane. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Cairns stays from $26 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a room in Brinsmead. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Brisbane stays from $26 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a double room in Mount Gravatt. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Falls Creek stays from $132/night
Available on select stay dates from July 2020 onward. Sample rate is for Glen Wills Retreat.
Last verified
Stayz
Canberra stays from $53 per night
Valid for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Sample fare is for a room with an ensuite near Canberra centre. Destinations include City East, City West, Canberra Airport and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Popular Airbnb coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Aug 2020 | Gold Coast stays from $49/night | ******** |
| 17 Jun 2020 | New Zealand stays from $30/night | ******** |
| 16 Jun 2020 | Melbourne stays from $50/night | ******** |
| 16 Jun 2020 | Refer a friend and get $25 Airbnb credit | ******** |
| 23 Sep 2020 | Australia beach holidays from $82/night | ******** |
Any other differences worth noting?
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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