Travelers are flocking to Airbnb, Vrbo more than hotels during COVID-19 pandemic. But why?
Which is safer: A hotel or short-term rental?
Sean Malin and his friends, like many Americans this summer, were desperate to get the heck out of (quarantine) Dodge despite the coronavirus pandemic.
"We needed to vacation somewhere," Malin, 28, told USA TODAY.
But they didn't want to go just anywhere over July Fourth weekend. They were looking for safety and seclusion, but also weren't willing to drive more than two or three hours away.
The group of five crammed into a Toyota Camry and wound through narrow uphill roads to reach their Airbnb in Sugarloaf, California, outside Big Bear. Perhaps it was too secluded, considering they had no Wi-Fi signal there and were given an incorrect address.
Still, Malin managed to enjoy himself, given the circumstances.
"It wasn't paradise, unfortunately, but we enjoyed the company and the natural surroundings were beautiful," Malin, of Canyon Country, California, told USA TODAY. "It sufficed."
Their choice mirrors a trend in the industry as travelers have sought out socially distanced excursionswithin half a day's drive from home.Some are also opting to stay in private homes where they can prepare their own food and won't come into contact with strangers from outside their quarantine bubble.