Airbnb is not collapsing, but its magic is fading. Travellers increasingly complain that short-term rentals now cost as much as hotels once cleaning and service fees are added, yet come with chore lists, house rules and no one to cook or clean. Airbnb has responded by removing more than 100,000 low-quality listings and promoting its best homes. My view: Airbnb is splitting into excellent, professionally run stays and everything else, and in Jamaica, where all-inclusive resorts set the bar for effortless holidays, “everything else” is in trouble.
I will make a confession for a realtor who advises Airbnb investors: I do not stay in Airbnbs myself.
Where I am coming from: I have managed several Airbnb properties myself, and I have sold homes to many overseas and local clients, so I have seen short-term rentals from both sides, the owner’s spreadsheet and the guest’s review. Reach out and find out what’s right for you.
When I go on holiday, I want to feel that I have got away. I do not want to arrive at a lockbox, read four pages of house rules, drive out to find groceries, cook, wash up, take out the rubbish, strip the beds and start the laundry before checkout. By the time I have done all that, it does not feel like a holiday. It feels like housekeeping somewhere with a nicer view.
It turns out I am not alone.
What travellers are saying
Search online and the complaints are remarkably consistent. On forums and in travel publications, guests describe the same frustrations:
- The price is no longer a bargain. Once cleaning fees, service fees and taxes are added, a short-term rental can cost as much as a good hotel, without the service.
- Chore lists after cleaning fees. Paying a cleaning fee and then being asked to strip beds, run the dishwasher and take out the rubbish is the grievance I hear most.
- Too many rules. Check-in windows, noise rules, guest limits, towel rules, thermostat rules. It can feel like renting from a strict landlord for a weekend.
- No food, no help. No restaurant downstairs, no room service, no one to call when something breaks at night.
- Imperfect for the price. Worn linens, weak Wi-Fi, a missing kettle. Small things, but at hotel prices, they add up.
Travel publications have picked up the theme. Travel Off Path declared that mediocre Airbnbs with chore lists are “done” in 2026, and online communities are full of travellers explaining why they have gone back to hotels.
So is Airbnb actually declining?
Not in the way the headlines suggest. By Airbnb’s own reporting, nights booked reached record levels in late 2025. What is happening is a shake-out. The company has removed more than 100,000 low-quality listings, introduced “Guest Favourites” to promote its best-reviewed homes, and pushed hosts towards clearer, all-in pricing after years of complaints about surprise fees.
In other words, Airbnb is not disappearing. It is dividing. The excellent, professionally run, well-located stays are thriving. The average apartment with a chore list and a hefty cleaning fee is being left behind.
What this means in Jamaica
In Jamaica the pressure is sharper, because our competition is the all-inclusive resort. Visitors can pay one price for a room, every meal, every drink, the beach, the pool and someone to clean up after them. Against that, a rental where you shop, cook and wash up has to offer something special: space for a family, a real neighbourhood, a private pool, a view you cannot get elsewhere.
The data hints at the shift. AirDNA figures reported by the Gleaner in April 2026 showed average revenue per listing slipping slightly in Montego Bay and Negril, where supply has grown fastest, while rising in St Ann and Mandeville. And from 1 April 2027, short-term rentals come into the GCT net, which will push prices closer to hotel territory still.
My view
I do not think Airbnb is dying. I think the idea that any apartment can be a holiday is dying, and that is a good thing for guests and for serious owners alike.
The rentals that will thrive in Jamaica will feel more like boutique hospitality: spotless, generously equipped, honestly priced, with no chore lists, and ideally with services such as a housekeeper, a cook on request or a stocked fridge on arrival. The rest will need to become long-term homes again, which, given how many families are searching for a real community, may be the best outcome of all.
If you own a short-term rental and wonder whether to upgrade, reposition or switch to long-term, read my honest take on whether Airbnb is right for you, or call me. And if you are simply planning a holiday in Montego Bay, my advice as a local is simple: treat yourself. You deserve to get away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Airbnb on the decline?
Not overall. Airbnb reported record nights booked in late 2025. But the platform is splitting: well-run, well-located listings are thriving, while mediocre listings with high cleaning fees and chore lists are losing guests. Airbnb has removed more than 100,000 low-quality listings.
Why are travellers going back to hotels instead of Airbnb?
Common reasons include cleaning and service fees that make Airbnb as expensive as hotels, checkout chore lists, strict house rules, no daily housekeeping, no on-site food and inconsistent quality for the price.
Is Airbnb cheaper than an all-inclusive in Jamaica?
Not always. Once fees, groceries, meals out, transport and your own time are counted, an all-inclusive resort can compare well, especially for couples. Short-term rentals often make more sense for larger groups, families wanting space or longer stays.
Will Airbnb prices rise in Jamaica?
Likely. Short-term rentals come into Jamaica’s General Consumption Tax system from 1 April 2027, when the tourism GCT rate is also scheduled to rise from 10% to 15%, and hosts have warned that costs will be passed on to guests.
Should I convert my Airbnb to a long-term rental?
If your listing competes mainly on price, carries high cleaning fees or has uneven reviews, a long-term or mid-term rental may deliver steadier, lower-effort income. Kamilah McGann Fairclough, a Montego Bay realtor with Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty, can help you compare the numbers. She has managed several Airbnb properties and sold homes to many overseas and local clients. Call or WhatsApp +1 876 324 6295.