By Alex Fitzpatrick and Arpita Aneja
Airbnb is to hotels as Uber is to taxis. An accommodations-booking platform with more than 2 million listings worldwide, Airbnb lets users rent out their unused space to travelers. It’s also known for its offbeat accommodations, like lighthouses and castles.
However, the site is not without controversy: Some critics argue Airbnb lets property owners run de-facto hotels in apartments intended for long-term housing, driving up real estate prices in some cities.
For more about Airbnb, watch the Tech Time video above.
Airbnb Has Some of the Most Unique Offices in the World
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Arpita Aneja at arpita.aneja@time.com