Airbnb is best known for home rentals but has steadily expanded into experiences and services, letting you book activities and hire local pros alongside a place to stay. You can reserve a food tour or art workshop in the city you’re visiting, or schedule a massage therapist, private trainer, or chef through the same platform. While some cities have restricted short-term home rentals to protect housing stock and limit overtourism, hotels remain available on Airbnb — including in New York City — and there are practical benefits to booking them there.
What are hotels on Airbnb?
Hotels have been listed on Airbnb for years, and recent design changes make them easier to find. Use the type-of-place filter to choose hotels, then apply the usual filters such as self-check-in, free cancellation, and accessibility to refine results. In New York City you may also see a toggle that switches results between homes, hotels, or any.
Listings on Airbnb tend to skew toward boutique and independently owned hotels rather than large chains. That means you’ll often get hotel-style services like a front desk, fresh towels, or room service while staying in properties with a local, design-forward vibe. Examples in New York include The Hoxton, Williamsburg and The William Vale.
Key benefits of booking a hotel through Airbnb
– Airbnb credit: Eligible hotel stays can earn you account credit (often up to 10% back) that posts after your stay and can be used for future rentals, hotels, services, or experiences on the platform.
– Consolidated information: Hotel pages include the same helpful details as regular Airbnb listings — guest reviews, amenity lists (luggage drop, pet policies, elevator), exact location and proximity to attractions, and host or property ratings.
– Direct booking: You can book different room types without being redirected to a third-party site, and some properties offer an Airbnb guest discount at checkout.
– Local boutique options: Because many listings are independent properties, you can find distinctive, locally minded hotels that feel different from standard chains.
Where you can find them
New York has one of the largest hotel selections on Airbnb, often 100 or more depending on filters, but Airbnb also lists hotels in other major cities that restrict home rentals, such as Singapore, Paris, Barcelona, and Berlin.
Bottom line
If you want the convenience of Airbnb’s review system, filters, and potential credit but prefer a hotel experience or need an option in a city where home rentals are limited, searching hotels on Airbnb is a useful choice. It combines hotel services with the platform’s booking tools and often highlights independent, design-forward properties you might not find on traditional hotel sites.
