I suspect we pay a higher price because of the competition for short term rentals in much the same way that it has an impact on rental and for-sale markets.

Assuming it was still possible, without AirBnB we would likely be paying private rental rates on Craigslist/Gumtree.

Both Christmas' and NYE so far we have not stayed in AirBnBs because we get priced out of the market (we have ended up house sitting instead)