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10 U.S. Cities With The Highest Airbnb Fees

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Which cities in the United States have the highest Airbnb fees? If you’re planning a trip this summer and thinking of staying in an Airbnb to save money, you’ll want to think twice about these destinations.

According to Forbes, these cities have the worst Airbnb fees, which can add as much as 48% to the total cost of your stay.

Airbnb has already come under fire for the unpopular practice of allowing hosts to charge guests an exorbitant cleaning fee on top of requiring guests to perform cleaning chores before checking out.

In addition to cleaning fees, Airbnb hosts can also charge a “service fee.”

When combined with taxes, these fees can add up and make the total cost of your stay much higher than the advertised price, which only includes the nightly rate.

These are the top 10 U.S. cities with the highest Airbnb fees:

1. Atlanta, Georgia

While Atlanta has one of the lowest average nightly rates on this list at $192 per night, your savings won’t go as far as you might expect due to sky-high fees.

The average fees, combining cleaning fees, service fees, and taxes, on an Airbnb rental in Atlanta comes to a whopping 48% additional cost.

2. Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is a popular destination in the American Southwest known for its year-round sun and warmth, and desert beauty. But booking an Airbnb in Phoenix is not without high costs.

With an average nightly rate of $202, Phoenix Airbnbs also comes with a staggering 47% in additional fees.

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3. Fort Myers Beach, Florida

Fort Myers Beach has some of the best beaches in Florida.

But if you’re planning a vacation to this popular Florida beach destination, expect to pay an average nightly rate of $248 with 46% extra in fees.

4. Davenport, Florida

Davenport, Florida has the lowest average nightly rate on this list, at just $166 per night.

However, guests at Airbnbs in this town less than half an hour from Disney World should still expect to be hit with high fees, adding an additional 45% to the total cost of their stay.

5. Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee falls squarely in the middle of this list of cities with the worst Airbnb fees.

Guests staying at Airbnbs in this Southern city will pay, on average, $215 per night, along with an additional 45% in fees.

6. Park City, Utah

Park City, Utah is one of the most popular winter destinations in the United States for skiing and snowboarding. But Airbnbs in this city come at a premium.

Guests will pay, on average, $293 per night (the highest cost on this list) with an additional 45% in fees.

7. Scottsdale, Arizona

Another Arizona city on this list is Scottsdale. Known as an upscale luxury destination with access to nature, Scottsdale Airbnbs have an average nightly price of $253.

But additional fees will tack on an additional 45% to the total cost.

8. Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and growing quickly.

For travelers staying at an Airbnb in this Texas city, you can expect to pay $193 per night (on the lower end of this list) but with 45% in additional fees.

9. New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans, also known as The Big Easy, is famous for letting the good times roll.

But when it comes to Airbnb fees, this city is notorious, charging an additional 45% in fees on top of an average nightly rate of $203.

10. Chicago, Illinois

Rounding out the list of cities with the worst Airbnb fees is Chicago.

Guests staying at an Airbnb rental in The Windy City should expect an additional 44% in fees on top of the average nightly rate of $257.

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April 7, 2023
These Are The Top 5 Cities With The Highest Airbnb Fees According To New Study

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Nothing is worse than putting in hours of research trying to book the perfect getaway, then reaching the final page and seeing exorbitant fees tacked on.

Random cleaning fees, pet fees, high deposits, service charges, and more have sent frustrated travelers into a frenzy!

Hotels have made a big comeback after the COVID-19 pandemic, while Airbnb continues to charge high fees and has had some unfortunate incidents in recent headlines.

Travelers have a dilemma on their hands when trying to choose between a more spacious stay at an Airbnb or a more traditional stay at a hotel.

What Is Included In New Study

It’s not surprising since Airbnb users are expected to encounter an average of 36% in various fees this summer.

For example, if guests were to pick a comfortable home to stay at for roughly $180 per night, the added fees would potentially make the new cost almost $250 per night.

These numbers are found in a recent study by Forbes to determine the highest fees for each market this summer.

The study was performed by searching over 30,000 listings in 100 of the most sought-after Airbnb destinations ranging from major cities, such as Houston and Chicago, to smaller markets, such as Montauk and Kissimmee.

The following are the top 5 cities for the highest AirBnB fees:

Number 5 – Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a fun city to explore and waste the night away on the famous Beale Street.

Known for Hall-of-Fame musical talents, such as B.B. King and Elvis Presley, who began their careers in this marvelous city, music lovers will have the time of their lives.

It’s also a haven for BBQ enthusiasts, with many mouthwatering restaurants across the city.

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While visitors will have a blast here, it may not be so fun to check the bill of your Airbnb.

The blues capitol of Tennessee comes in ranked at Number 5 due to its very high costs.

At a nightly rate averaging $215, the fees average 45% spread across various cleaning fees, service fees, and taxes.

Number 4 – Davenport, Florida

While many may not recognize this town, it is located in close proximity to the more popular city of Orlando.

About a 40-minute drive from the city, guests who would stay here would still be able to explore beaches and Walt Disney World in an easy day trip.

Those considering staying in this area might want to reconsider, as Davenport comes in ranked at Number 4.

At a nightly rate of $166, the fees are very expensive, also averaging 45% spread across various fees and taxes.

Number 3 – Fort Myers, Florida

Famous for beautiful beaches, fishing trips, and shopping options, Fort Myers is a popular destination for Airbnb-ers.

Unfortunately, this market is the highest in fees for the state of Florida. Beachgoers will need to keep a close eye on their bill when booking here.

Fort Myers ranks Number 3 due to its slightly higher costs than its other Florida counterpart, Davenport.

The average nightly rate is $248, with the average fees coming out to 46% when including a variety of fees and taxes.

Number 2 – Phoenix, Arizona

The capital of the beautiful desert state of Arizona is known for its warm weather, pristine golf courses, and trendy suburbs. This city is a very popular place for Airbnbs.

Although, those coming to Phoenix and the surrounding areas may experience shocking costs when looking beyond the average nightly rate of $202.

Phoenix ranks Number 2 on the list, with total fees averaging 47%. Cleaning fees alone come in at a very high 20% compared to other cities remaining in the teens.

Nearby Scottsdale, where many guests choose to stay when visiting the Valley of The Sun, also ranks Number 7 with very similar results to bigger Phoenix.

Number 1 – Atlanta, Georgia

The city of Atlanta is the largest city in Georgia, as well as being the Capital. A city with deep ties to its Southern roots, this area has a diverse music scene and an underrated food hub for foodie travelers.

The Atlanta airport is one of the busiest in the nation, which means many travelers opt to stay here even when passing through.

Those looking to stay at an Airbnb may find fees larger than a Georgia peach!

Atlanta ranks Number 1 in the country. Airbnbs in Atlanta have an average nightly rate of $192.

The fees are the highest in the country, with the average total of fees at 47%

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March 28, 2023
These 5 Popular European Destinations Have The Highest Rates Of Theft
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Last Updated 15 hours ago

Europe has been historically regarded as safe for Americans going abroad. The continent as a whole is incredibly tourist-friendly compared to other destinations in the Americas, and the incidence of violence is indeed low, but there are five countries in particular where theft rates have risen substantially in recent years.

In total, 28 sovereign states in Europe feature on the U.S. Department of State’s list of ‘safest for travel’, such as the highly sought-after Adriatic gem of Croatia, America’s sister nation of Ireland, and even the lesser-known Georgia, a digital nomad hub that’s been welcoming U.S. passport holders without a visa for up to a year.

On the other hand, a handful of countries – surprisingly on the Western flank – have seen an increase in criminal offenses since 2019:

The New East/West Divide

Eurostat, the agency responsible for European statistics, has unveiled the official theft crime rate comprising the 2019-2020 period in the lead-up to the Covid pandemic. While the present data does not yet cover 2021 or 2022, it indicates where the crime surge was centered prior to the virus hitting and suggests a clear East/West divide.

On a positive note, with figures for EU/EFTA countries, which are closely aligned and form a Single Market, and aspiring EU candidates like Albania and Ukraine, the Eurostat report found that criminal acts have been on a downward trend, with theft reports in urban centers decreasing by as much as 19%, and burglaries by 13%.

Regardless of the positive indicator, experts consider it an incidental drop attributed to Covid restrictions and other social curbs. After all, prior to the health crisis, ‘serious assaults and drug-related crimes’ had been rising steadily in the Union, with an average of 40.8 theft offenses per hundred thousand inhabitants recorded between 2019 and 2020.

Some have been more affected than others, and contrary to popular belief, these are not obscure Eastern European nations with hard-to-pronounce names. More specifically, five Western EU have been suffering from a higher frequency of police-recorded theft offenses, including Portugal, one of the most popular sunny getaways of the year:
1. Belgium – 102.2/100,000
2. Spain – 95.6/100,000
3. Portugal – 87.2/100,000
4. Sweden – 83.3/100,000
5. Luxembourg – 75.4/100,000
Pickpocketing Remains A Widespread Issue In Europe

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Eurostat reiterates the number of crimes can vary ‘widely’ in the EU, and it is relative to population size, divergent national rules, and even over-estimation due to different ‘recording practices’. Other data is available for intentional homicides and sexual violence, but we will focus exclusively on theft as it tends to affect visitors more.

To sum it up, pick-pocketing remains a widespread issue in major cities like Brussels, the capital of Belgium, number one for police-recorded offenses in the 2019-2020 interval. This year, Belgian authorities issued their own warning against purse snatchers in the city amid a surge in wallet and phone thefts.

In Madrid, Spain’s number one city, other recent research informs us criminality is up 28.82% in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period in 2021, according to the latest Home Office Crime Statistics. Meanwhile, in Portugal, the third highest-ranking country on the list, Lisbon has registered a 7.7% increase in youth crime and gang activity in 2022.

Proving even Scandinavian countries are not immune to the crime wave, Sweden is reportedly facing a ‘very chaotic situation’ with gun violence on the rise, as assessed by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention. Lastly, figures for Luxembourg show an uptick in ‘violent robberies,’ up 16% from the pre-pandemic era.

Conversely, all five countries with the lowest number of recorded thefts are non-EU*:
- Albania – 3.7/100,000
- Montenegro – 7.7/100,000
- Kosovo – 9.4/100,000
- Serbia – 11.9/100,000
- Türkiye (formerly Turkey) – 12.8/100,000
*These rates may be influenced by under-reporting.

Does This Mean Europe Is Unsafe For Visitors?

The fact that European officials are alarmed by slightly higher crime rates does not necessarily mean these countries are dangerous for visitors. Europe has experienced enduring stability and prosperity in recent decades, and despite a moderate decline, it fares much better on the safety front than other global regions, including the U.S.

Stateside, theft (including auto theft) is approximately twice as high, while the homicide rate per 100,000 population nears 10.5 – Europe’s, on the other hand, falls below 2 per 100,000. Moreover, the U.S. has included nearly all of Europe, with the exception of four countries, in Levels 1 or 2 on their Travel Advisory listings.

For instance, Sweden’s gun violence stats, albeit higher than they used to be, are still negligible enough for the country to enjoy an enviable Level 1 status. The same applies to Luxembourg and Portugal, while Belgium and Spain rank lower in Level 2, mostly due to the potential threat of terrorism – in that case, exercising ‘increased caution’ in public spaces is advised.

In general, very few Americans fall victim to crime or find themselves in adverse situations vacationing across the pond, but there are four basic rules you can follow to minimize risks even further:
- Keep a high level of situational awareness when visiting tourist attractions (e.g., watching your belongings and never accepting gifts from friendly strangers)
- Never put your wallet in the back pocket, especially in crowded areas where people are close enough to bump into you
- When you’re on the subway, always wear your backpack on your front or place it safely between your legs
- Check the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory for the European country you’re visiting, and verify whether there are any no-go zones listed
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December 6, 2022
Cancun Has The Highest Number Of Clean Beaches In Mexico Despite Overtourism
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Cancun is a highly sought-after international destination that sees millions upon millions of tourists arriving all-year round. Its massive popularity would lead you to think the quality of local beaches is decreasing dramatically – after all, more tourists generally result in more waste and, subsequently, beach pollution. That is shockingly not the case, as Cancun has, in fact, the highest number of clean beaches in all of Mexico.

Overtourism is one of the biggest threats facing Cancun, but local authorities have risen to the challenge and are not only encouraging Americans to visit but keeping the city safe and all of its popular swimming areas spotless. Crowding risks aside, the oceans bordering Cancun and the wider Riviera Maya are as beautiful and crystal-clear as ever.

You don’t have to believe us. The proof is in the numbers:

No Other Coastal City In Mexico Has More Blue Flag Beaches

As reported by our sister website, The Cancun Sun, no other coastal destination in Mexico has more ‘Blue Flag’ beaches than Cancun. The status, which is the highest a natural landmark within this category can achieve, is only awarded to those with the best quality standards and environmental controls, also serving as an unofficial ‘safe for tourism’ badge.

A huge part of Cancun’s global fame has always been attributed to its pearl-white sands and warm, turquoise-colored seas, though the city’s visible transformation in light of mass tourism has been an ongoing concern for environmentalists. They are often critical of the Government’s development plans, particularly the upcoming Tren Maya, and have shown skepticism at their promises to protect the surrounding nature.

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As it turns out, their apprehensiveness is unfounded, at least when it comes to the preservation of marine life, after seven beaches in Cancun were awarded a Blue Flag certificate at an event recently held by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in Playa Delfines. This proves the city has managed to maintain the beachfront perfectly clean in spite of the overwhelming number of visitors.

Cancun Authorities Want To Keep Tourists Coming Back

Officially, Cancun outnumbers Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, its partners in the triad of Mexico’s world-class destinations, as well as any other beach hub when it comes to Blue Flag beaches. For months on end, authorities have worked around the clock to ensure the Pearl of the Caribbean wouldn’t lose its sparkle amid the landfall of sargassum and a rise in crime.

This year, the Quintana Roo Government has surely stepped up its game when it comes to improving the tourist experience. Over the summer, 300 army soldiers were deployed to keep visitors safe, despite the fact that violent incidents occur almost exclusively in suburban areas, while beach cleaners worked tirelessly throughout the fall to manually remove the dreaded seaweed.

Few destinations value tourism as much as Cancun does, a quality recognized by Joaquín Díaz Ríos, head of the FEE. According to Ríos himself, Cancun is Mexico’s ‘Blue Flag capital’, meaning it has passed all the cleanliness, safety, and water quality tests with flying colors. More specifically, the below spots have attained the honor:
- Del Nino
- Las Perlas
- Chach Mool
- Ballenas
- Marlín
- Delfines
- Coral
Additionally, three private beaches were certified ‘Blue’: Fiesta Americana Condesa’s, Hotel Live Aqua’s, and Iberostar’s.

Overtourism Major Threat To Blue Flag Status Moving Forward

This will undoubtedly prove challenging, considering Cancun is close to selling out for the peak season, with occupancy reaching 95% and packed beaches equal littering. In preparation for the phenomenon, more than 150 full-time cleaners have been hired to ensure beaches look pristine at all times, on top of increased surveillance by patrol units.

Winter is fast approaching, and you can certainly expect the Pearl of the Mayan Riviera to get busier by the minute. This may involve waiting longer in line arriving at the airport, finding it more difficult to arrange a hotel transfer unless you have pre-booked one ahead of traveling, and even staying in a sub-optimal location far from the trendy Hotel Zone due to low room availability.

Remember: if overtouristed destinations are not a big turn-off for you and a Blue Flag-certified Cancun remains your dream getaway, you should be booking that vacation package right away before rooms and airplane seats sell out. Other destinations in Mexico close to being booked up this winter are Playa Del Carmen, south of Cancun, and the insular municipality of Isla Mujeres.

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November 23, 2022