Accounts of tenants illegally subletting rental properties by listing them on Airbnb and Booking.com, without the permission of their landlords, have hit theheadlinesin recent months. While there’s no denying that the convenience of these accommodation booking platforms has transformed holidays – making independent travel more accessible and affordable – that convenience often comes at a cost. In tourism hotspots like Barcelona, which banned short-term rentals in 2021 (andwill ban all apartment rentals to touristsby late 2028), platforms such as Airbnb are being blamed for driving up rents and house prices for residents.
However, there are alternatives to these search engine and booking monoliths, with an increasing number of smaller websites offering hand-picked owner-run, independent B&Bs, home swaps, or rental properties that are primary homes (rather than fuelling a second home market). With a focus on passionate, local hosts who know their patch inside out, using these platforms can also take some of the pain out of researching a destination. Better for locals and better for your holiday; it’s often a win-win.
A direct challenger to Airbnb,Fairbnbis a cooperative short-term rental platform that started in Venice with a mission to “redefine tourism”. It claims to do this in two ways: by only listing places to stay that are owned and lived in by local people, and by donating 50% of the commission earned on each booking to community projects chosen collectively by hosts. Today, the platform has about 2,000 listings in 10 countries across Europe. In 2023, Fairbnb launchedfairUP, listing experiences that support underrepresented local businesses.
For example, half of the commission earned on bookings for thisflat sleeping up to sixinMouraria, a vibrant neighbourhood near the centre of Lisbon (£221 a night), will be donated to local homeless charityCentro de Apoio ao Sem Abrigo.
Initially developed as a student project in Cologne,Socialbnbconnects travellers with social and ecological projects across the world. Many of these projects have rooms to rent, providing travellers with engaging experiences while funding important grassroots projects. It lists over 400 experiences and places to stay worldwide.
Stay ina restored water millsurrounded by 60 miles of hiking and biking routes in a biosphere reserve in Förstgen, Germany, (from £60 a night), orbook a room at PitaSana, an organic farm 15 miles inland from Spain’s north coast (doubles from £42).
Once an award-winning blog for green travel,Ecobnbnow lists about 3,000 sustainable places to stay in more than 55 countries. Each of these – primarily small hotels and self-catering properties in rural locations – must submit data across 10 sustainability criteria, including organic produce use, wastewater recycling and renewable energy. Independently owned and run, these B&Bs often use local suppliers and experience providers, making sure locals benefit from tourism as well.
A 90-minute drive from Milan,Valtidone Verdeis a bio-agriturismo with a pool and sweeping views offering two nights for one at weekends (from £168 for two people for two nights).
Most travel companies bandy around the term “living like a local”, but one way to guarantee doing just that is house swapping. Unsurprisingly, this way of travelling is on the rise – it’s affordable, offers a home away from home, and reduces tourism’s environmental impact.Kindredis one of the newer platforms, with 80,000 homes available, 90% of which are primary residences. The platform has differentiated itself by taking away traditional home-swapping pain points like inconsistent cleaning and not having a 24/7 point of contact. Hosts must apply to join and, once approved, must host someone before booking a home swap for themselves.
Hole up in acolourful loft studioin Berlin’s creative Neukölln district, orenjoy mid-century stylein Amsterdam. A credit system means you don’t have to do a direct swap, but you do have to pay a cleaning and service fee for each stay, which is about £250 a week.
This Danish start-up is on a mission to get people into nature, drawing on the concept offriluftsliv, which translates as “living in the free air”. Launched by a group of seven former Airbnb colleagues,Landfolkprioritises personality, access to nature and enthusiastic hosts (each host has to write a local guide for guests). It now operates in six European countries, but the majority of the properties listed are in Scandinavia.
Typical properties include a cosy woodenfisherman’s houseoverlooking the fjord at Mjosundet, about 93 miles west of Trondheim in Norway, which has been the holiday home of host Lars since 1959 (from £128 a night), anda traditional holiday cottagesurrounded by forest in southern Jutland, Denmark (from £173 a night).
One of the highest-scoringB Corptravel companies in the UK,Sawday’s(which owns the glamping siteCanopy & Stars) takes active steps to overcome the social and environmental cost of tourism. By introducing caps on listings in places suffering from overtourism, (including the Isle of Skye, Lake District, St Ives and Palma de Mallorca), the company won’t solve overtourism, but it might help mitigate demand and highlight the need for action. Sawday’s also offers discounts on designated “Community Champion” listings that give money back to social causes.
Yaffle and Dumbledore are two cabins set among the trees atWilderness Woodin East Sussex (from £167 a night sleeps two, with extra space for two children). Proceeds from the accommodation help to fund community access to woodland craft and adventure in the vicinity.
Focused on unique places to stay, from converted grain stores to rail carriages,Cool Staysoffers thousands of properties across Europe. A comprehensive search function makes it possible to pick out its more sustainable accommodation, such as off-grid cabins or converted historical buildings, which are less likely to take away from local housing stock. Find properties with high green credentials in theeco-friendly collection.
Coety Bachis an off-grid hideaway handcrafted from repurposed materials for two in mid-Wales’ Radnorshire Hills (from £110 a night, sleeps two), andMagic Woodis an ecocabin in the Peak District national park (from £150 a night).