What is a Guest Suite on Airbnb (Your Airbnb Room Type Guide)
This article answers the question what is a guest suite on Airbnb. I use Airbnb a lot, and understanding differences in home type is important before you book. So I’m sharing short explanations of guest suits versus other room types on Airbnb.
What is a Guest Suite on Airbnb: The Bottom Line
Airbnb has 4 clear distinctions in listing types: Entire Place, Private Room, Hotel Room, and Shared Room. In my experience, a guest suite falls under the Entire Place listing category. This means you will have a separate entrance. And, you won’t share any common spaces with other guests.
While there’s some debate about the definition of Guest Suite in the Airbnb online community, this seems pretty clear when reading this Airbnb Community Blog post for hosts on defining the space you’re hosting.
Bottom line: A guest suite gives you your own space and added privacy. You’ll have your own entrance, and you shouldn’t be interacting with the host or guest while in the suite.
You might book a guest suite if you’re looking for extra privacy and full amenities during your stay. I hope that helps clear things up a bit!
Keep reading and I’ll explain the listing types in a bit more depth.
What Are The Airbnb Listing Types
Airbnb organizes its platform by property type. There are four unique listing types:
- Entire Place
- Private Room
- Hotel Room
- Shared Room
There are three other unique classifications outside of the types I just listed:
- Unique Stays
- Airbnb Plus
- Airbnb Lux
Here is a super brief description of each listing type.
Entire Place
If an Airbnb listing is classified under Entire Place, you’ll know you have the whole place totally to yourself. The listing might be connected by a wall or completely separate. It has its own private entry. Airbnb hosts use this definition when listing things like their entire home, or a shared house or shared space with a separate entrance.
Private Room
A private room means you’ll have your own private bedroom for sleeping. It does not mean the entire house or a private bathroom. One important note is that a private room must have a door on it. This type of listing might have common areas like a living room in a shared house. This can also be spare rooms in a hosts’s home.
Hotel Room
Hotel rooms are listed on Airbnb too. To be a hotel room, a listing must perform hospitality level service like traditional hotels. Bed and Breakfasts, hostels, and lifestyle hotels might be classified like this. If you want some extra pampering on your trip, this could be a perfect place to book.
Shared Room
A shared rooms are often located in a main house. This type of property means you’ll be sleeping in a shared bedroom or common space with others. Check the listing description to understand how many people share a room. If you want a whole house or private suite, don’t book this type of listing.
Guest Suites: What Definitions to Look for When You Book
Here are some different definitions Airbnb hosts might use inside of a listing to describe the space:
- Apartment
- House
- Secondary Unit (aka guest suite or guesthouse typically)
- Bed and Breakfast
- Boutique Hotel
If a listing fits in more than one of these categories, hosts are able to choose the description that best fits their space. Hosts will also mention who else is staying onsite. For example, a host will typically state whether they or other guests will be on premise. Let’s take a look at each of these listing definitions.
Apartment
An apartment could be a loft or condo in a multi-unit complex. I stayed at one recently when visiting Cancun Mexico. It was still very private, with three other units in the same building.
House
A private unit that does or does not share walls. This could be a duplex or a single family home. I stayed in an Airbnb that could have been classified as a house in Helen, Georgia.
If you’re visiting Helen, Georgia I recommend staying at Viking Hilltop Suites, a luxury mountaintop Airbnb in the North Georgia Mountains.
Secondary Unit
Now this is typically where guest suites and guesthouses are classified. A secondary unit rests on a property thats shared with other dwellings and has a private entrance. Here’s where things can seem a bit confusing, because that incredible mountaintop suite I just mentioned could probably be considered a secondary unit as well.
Bed and Breakfast
Bed and Breakfasts have an onsite host, offer guests breakfast, and are run like a hospitality business.
Boutique Hotels
This classification is reserved for hospitality businesses with their own unique theme or flare, how fun!
Pro Travel Tip: Use my Airbnb Message Template when messaging any host, and never struggle with what to say to a host again.
Airbnb Room Type FAQs
Here are some common questions you might have about Airbnb room types.
What is a Guest Suit Versus Unique Space
I just shared what a guest suite on Airbnb is, now let’s talk about a unique space. A unique space on Airbnb is a usually something like a tree house, yurt, or other type of structure that is unconventional.
What is an Entire Rental Unit on Airbnb
An entire rental unit on Airbnb means a complete building or space. Hosts may live on the same property, but not in a connected space.
How to Check Property Details on Airbnb
You can view property details by clicking on an individual Airbnb listing.
Conclusion
This article was all about answering the question what is a guest suite on Airbnb. Understanding Airbnb listing definitions before booking is a great way to make sure you’ve got the perfect spot for your next adventure.
The type of accommodation you book will differ depending on your needs. But overall, guest suites can be a really good option for private space and relaxation.
Great post! I don’t choose AirBnb very often, mainly because I didn’t understand the difference between the options..now, I do! Thanks so much for the clear explanations- I might try a few different set ups for future trips.
Very informative post, thank you for putting it together. I usually just book “entire place” because I like to make it feel as if it’s my home away from home
Thank you for sharing all the details!
We use Airbnb a lot because it’s difficult to fit two adults and two kids in a hotel. Great summary of how it all works!
Great summary of all the different airbnb types!