Airbnb has its shortcomings, as do its competitors in the home-sharing space. But the concept of online home-sharing is a very good thing. It has dramatically helped bring down the cost and improve the experience of both business and vacation travel. It’s made a tangible difference in my life.

I’ve used Airbnb at least a dozen times now and for both business and pleasure. Most recently, I used it to rent a nice home in coastal Maine, along with extended family for a reunion. Hotel accommodations would have been quite a bit more expensive and less comfortable for our group. Hotel rooms also would have been less useful and a whole lot less fun than our beautiful, large house where we could cook meals together, play euchre, and host other groups of relatives while letting everyone’s children run wild.