In my travels to Denver, Colo., last week, I had the opportunity to try out two of the years’ most innovative and empowering start-up companies: AirBnb, Inc. and Uber.
AirBnb, Inc., a hotel-alternative founded in 2008, allows hosts to rent their living spaces to guests in more than 34,000 cities in 192 countries.
Guests can choose to rent out a bed, a single room, or an entire house for up to a month. AirBnb offers a huge variety of living spaces, from modest cottages or apartments to the more adventurous tree houses, tents, and trains.
Pricing can range from as low as a few dollars a night to several thousand for more extravagant properties.
The consumer-approved home rental site has helped thousands of homeowners make extra cash while facilitating a safe and friendly trade off between people all over the world.
Uber, an alternative to traditional taxi services, lets you request a ride and pay for it with the touch of a button.
The app-centered Uber offers fast, reliable pickups using the GPS on your phone. Professional drivers respond promptly to each request, and arrive in a high-end sedan, SUV, Uber taxi or an every day car- whichever you prefer.
All rides are cashless and drivers do not accept tips. Uber has proved to be faster, cheaper, more reliable and more stylish method of transportation than city taxis.
These consumer-approved market entrepreneurs are giving the people exactly what they want (maybe even a little more.) for a fair price and with great customer service.
Naturally, someone is going to have a problem with it.
These new sites pose a threat to large corporate hotel chains and city taxis that have had the fair share of the market for decades. Several states have tried to regulate AirBnb and Uber to try and shut down services, saying that they “provide unfair and unsafe competition.”
AirBnb and Uber are revolutionary services that give the power back to the people.
Travelers should have options that fit their wants and needs instead of settling for the business standard. Consumers should have options to choose from where they are away from home and in need of a place to stay and a safe way to travel.
The experiences are unique and memorable, with the added value of meeting and interacting with new people who are genuinely concerned with your comfort while you are using their services.
I had the opportunity to rent out an adorable studio apartment and a beautifully remodeled basement suite for around seventy dollars a night. (To be clear, I had my own room, a kitchen, bathroom, and living room.) Both hosts were extremely accommodating and let me have free reign of their spaces. It is a fair trade of respect and trust.
I requested several Uber rides, and was picked up in under 6 minutes each time in luxurious black cars.
I encourage students with limited funds to support one or both of these services the next time they are looking to travel. You can’t beat the pricing, and the experiences are much more fun than a hotel room or meter-run taxi ride. Uber even offers a promotion of twenty dollars for your first ride or two.
I’d like to see another company that offers the perfect balance of experience, low pricing, comfort, and ease in so many cities across the globe like these two do.
