In Australia, the terms Airbnb, holiday let, and serviced accommodation are often used when discussing short-term rental options, especially for holiday stays. At first glance, they seem similar; all provide furnished spaces for guests who don’t want a hotel.
Yet there are important differences in how each works, from booking methods to length of stay and the kind of experience offered. This guide explains what each term means and highlights the key points of comparison.
What is a holiday let?
A holiday let is a fully furnished property rented to travellers for short leisure stays, usually ranging from a few nights to around three weeks. In Australia, councils often classify holiday lets as short-term rentals, used primarily as tourist accommodation for their vacations rather than long-term housing.
Properties can vary widely in style and location. In coastal towns, guests might choose a beachside cottage or villas; in cities, it could be an inner-city apartment close to attractions.
Guests can access kitchens, laundry facilities, and private living areas to enjoy a homely environment while travelling. This independence appeals to families and groups who value privacy, extra space, and flexibility in their stay. This is one of the key reasons why travellers prefer short-term rentals over hotels.
For owners, holiday lets are often managed directly or through professional agencies. L’Abode Accommodation, for example, provides a luxury home rental management service, helping property owners maximise income while ensuring high guest standards are maintained.
What is Airbnb?
Airbnb is an online booking platform connecting travellers with hosts willing to rent their properties for short stays. Launched in 2008 as a way to rent spare rooms in private homes, the Airbnb market has since grown into one of the world’s largest short-term rental platforms, with millions of listings across more than 100,000 cities.
While its origins were tied to homeowners offering empty bedrooms or their house while away, Airbnb has evolved far beyond that. Today, listings span everything from private rooms to entire apartments, townhouses, and holiday villas.
When comparing Airbnb vs holiday let, the difference lies less in the property and more in the online booking method. Airbnb acts as the platform, providing hosts with a global marketplace and travellers with user-friendly search, reviews, and secure payment systems. For guests, it often feels like a more personal and cost-effective alternative to hotels, while hosts gain visibility, streamlined bookings, and access to a large international audience.
What is serviced accommodation?
Serviced accommodation refers to a fully furnished rental designed to provide the comfort of a home while adding the convenience of hotel-style services. These properties have practical amenities such as a full kitchen, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, and regular housekeeping, making them far more adaptable than a standard hotel room.
This accommodation type is particularly popular among business travellers on extended assignments, contractors working away from home, and families relocating or taking an extended holiday.
Unlike hotels, which are often restrictive during longer stays, serviced accommodation provides extra space, greater privacy, and the flexibility to settle in comfortably, without losing access to essential services.
Guests might stay for several weeks or even months, enjoying the ability to cook, do laundry, and live as they would at home, all while benefitting from the professional upkeep and convenience of managed hospitality.
Comparison between Airbnb, holiday let and serviced accommodation
The table below provides a side-by-side summary of Airbnb vs holiday let vs serviced accommodation.
| Aspect | Holiday Let | Airbnb | Serviced Accommodation |
| Core concept | Privately-owned holiday home (cottage, villa, apartment) rented short-term for leisure stays. | An online marketplace platform for booking a wide variety of short-term rentals (hosts list rooms, apartments, houses). | Fully furnished accommodation (often an apartment) with hotel-like services, providing a home-away-from-home experience. |
| Typical duration | Short vacation stays (a few days up to around 3 weeks per booking). | Very flexible – from one-night stopovers to multi-week or even month-long trips. | Flexible, but ideal for longer stays (weeks to months at a time). |
| Target customers | Holidaymakers – families or groups on vacation looking for private space and comfort. | Leisure and business travellers seeking unique accommodations (from budget rooms to entire homes). | Corporate travellers and relocating families in need of long-term stays with home comforts. |
| Key features | Fully furnished, self-catering; often in tourist destinations; managed by owner or agency. | Global booking platform with diverse property types; user reviews, secure payments, and a handy mobile app. | Includes kitchen, laundry, Wi-Fi, and housekeeping; often centrally located (business districts); utilities and services included. |
| Primary benefits | Privacy, extra space, and local character – a more personal, cost-effective vacation stay than a hotel. | Convenient online search and booking; wide selection worldwide; often cheaper and more authentic than a hotel. | Home comfort plus hotel-like convenience; cost-effective for long stays; spacious, private, and ideal for work or family life. |
L’Abode Accommodation helps holiday rental owners maximise profit
Managing a holiday rental often begins with enthusiasm but can soon become overwhelming. Constant pricing changes, demanding guests, and shifting regulations quickly consume time and energy that you would otherwise invest elsewhere. L’Abode Accommodation takes that weight off your shoulders.
L’Abode delivers complete holiday rental management, covering dynamic pricing, guest vetting, professional marketing, and round-the-clock support. Each service reduces the day-to-day workload and increases your property’s earning potential.
With L’Abode Accommodation, your property performs at its best: higher occupancy, happier guests, and stronger income. Explore L’Abode Accommodation’s services and start maximising profit by listing your home with us.