question for people who use airbnb: If you've had a good experience with a host and you're going back to the area would you bother booking through Airbnb or just contact the host directly?
I'd go through airbnb again unless i really expected to stay there frequently. Dispute mitigation cuts both ways.
I'm a host and send people back through Airbnb anyway. The fees they charge are minor compared to the insurance and ease of use. Plus you want the reviews from those repeat customers.
If I'm going to stay more than a week or two, or more than once or twice, I cut out AirBnB and contract/pay directly with the host.