[The Washington Post] Makarand Mody Weighs In on the Great Vacation Rental Debate
Splitting the cost of a shared vacation rental is a familiar source of tension among friends and family. Should everyone pay the same amount per person, or should the bill be divided by room? The Washington Post recently explored this question, bringing in experts from hospitality, economics, and personal finance to weigh in, including Boston University School of Hospitality Administration’s own Makarand Mody.
Mody, an associate professor of hospitality marketing at BU SHA who studies sharing-economy platforms like Airbnb, offered a nuanced take. He suggested that a half-and-half split works well for families traveling together, while dividing costs per person makes more sense for a mixed group of adults. He also noted that the debate is rarely just about math: travelers are weighing whether an arrangement feels fair based on what each person is getting out of the trip. His advice to groups heading into a shared rental: agree on an approach before booking. As he put it, “A clear process upfront can prevent resentment later.”
Read the full article, The great vacation rental debate: Should costs be split per person or room?, or download the PDF version.
- Date: July 6, 2026
- News source: The Washington Post