Benefits of sharing economy

I use Airbnb often, as it helps me to find comparatively cheaper accommodations, which, in turn, generates leads to good friends. But people should be careful and read terms and conditions of hosts and be clear about the charges, to avoid disputes and negative experiences.

Gotskaya Tatiana, an exchange student from Russia

I often use Airbnb when traveling abroad. I used it the first time for a trip to Miami with my boyfriend. Through Airbnb, we found an independent suite with an open-air balcony, which was just perfect to have drinks. The room was clean and the lights romantic. Through Airbnb, you can find homestays, if you do not prefer to stay in hotels. When we went to Key West, we found a local American family through Airbnb and had hearty meals with them.

Ruan Chenxin, legal worker from China

The room I booked through a home-sharing website afforded me a totally different experience. When I travel to Shanghai, I often book a room in the city's former French Concession. The house I stayed in once had distinctive features and a long history. On another occasion, I booked a room in the United States, but the rental website did not state the room was near a graveyard. When I reached there, the unexpected location took me by surprise.

Molly Xu, an internet company employee

When I traveled to Turkey, I used Airbnb to book accommodations. I stayed in an en suite single room in a villa and paid no more than 300 yuan ($46; 39 euros; ￡35) per night. I was very satisfied. The host showed us around in the evenings and introduced us to tasty local food. The guests in other rooms were from different countries and we all befriended each other and spent a lot of happy time together.

Vitto Zhong, a researcher at a university

(China Daily European Weekly 09/08/2017 page27)