I want to address the 'is Airbnb still cheaper' question because the answer has genuinely changed in the last 3 years.

In 2019, Airbnb was reliably 30-50% cheaper than hotels for private rooms. The combination of service fees (now 14-20% of the booking total), cleaning fees ($50-150 on short stays), and the rate creep that happened when hosts realized they could charge more has eroded most of that advantage.

Current reality for budget travelers:

For single nights: hostels beat Airbnb almost everywhere. The cleaning fee alone on a 1-night Airbnb stay often makes it more expensive than a decent hotel.

For stays of 7+ nights in the same city: Airbnb monthly rates (available if you filter for 28+ days) are often still competitive, especially outside major tourist areas. A month-long booking in Tbilisi or Kraków via Airbnb at a monthly rate often beats comparable guesthouses.

For groups of 3+ sharing a private accommodation: Airbnb private apartments still make sense. A 3-bedroom apartment split three ways in Lisbon at €120/night is €40 each, beating individual hostel dorm rates.

The alternative I prefer now for solo stays: Booking.com for guesthouses and small hotels in Europe and Asia. The prices are often better than Airbnb with no service fee and the review system is reliable.