Firstly I must admit I am a huge fan of Airbnb. I have now stayed at 70 Airbnb's on every continent except Antartica and have had one bad (but not terrible) experience. The are several reasons I choose to stay at Airbnb's the foremost being value. I generally save 50 to 75 percent by staying in an Airbnb rather than a hotel. I also get to stay amongst the local population and experience first hand a little of how they live. I've had fabulous stays living locally in Istanbul, South Africa, Easter Island and Siem Reap and many others as well. Not all of my stays have been close to the city centre but when they aren't it forces me to use the public transport system which is another great way to get to know the location. The hosts are also another major asset of Airbnb, some, of course, are better than others but all strive to make your stay enjoyable. Some of my hosts have picked me up from airports and train stations while others have fed me. Many leave a bottle of wine and food for your arrival and they are always on hand to give you locality tips or to help you if needed. There is nothing wrong with hotels but give me the authenticity and experience of living amongst locals.