How to Save Money on Airbnb - Digital Nomads Blog

Airbnb has established itself as the primary platform for reserving holiday homes in any location around the globe.

Airbnb isn’t the only game in town

While Airbnb is the most prevalent and prominently known holiday letting website, there are other options too that offer reliable, authenticated stays.

Many holiday accommodation listings can be found on multiple websites at the same time. It’s possible that you could locate your preferred property listed for a lower cost on some other rental website. Do a Google image search to determine if your preferred property is being sold on any other sites.

You can use Google Images to search for an image appearing in an Airbnb listing. To do so, simply right-click on the image, copy the link, and paste it into the search box at images.google.com. If you’re using Google Chrome, all you have to do is right-click the image and choose “search google for image” to be redirected to a new window with the search results.

Airbnb doesn’t just offer vacation condos, apartments, and houses

Airbnb is always increasing its lineup and variety of lodging options. Many special and out of the ordinary accommodation locations can be found, such as glamping tents, miniature houses, camper vehicles, treehouses, and floating residences. Make your next vacation an unforgettable experience by staying somewhere remarkable.

The longer you stay at an Airbnb, the more you save

Airbnb is now suggesting that hosts provide special cost cuts for any booking of a full week (7 nights or more) and a significantly greater reduction of price for bookings that span an entire month (28 nights and more). Hosts have an incentive to provide discounts since extended visits lead to reduced turnover and less labor for them. See what sort of savings you can get if you book for a week or four weeks. If the host has not yet given a reduction for extended stays, you can reach out to them to request a price cut for a long-term stay.

Let Airbnb be your inspirational travel guide

Do you have an idea of where you’d like to go, but only know that you want to be by the ocean? Or near the ski slopes? Look into Airbnb’s “I’m flexible” option, and look at the types of vacation experiences that interest you such as seaside, luxurious pools, arid terrain, skiing, or isles to get ideas. You can refine your hunt by entering in dates or cost and determine where your upcoming journey will lead you.

Read reviews carefully (and take them with a grain of salt)

Only individuals who have finished their reservation of an Airbnb lodging can express their opinion in a review. Any guests who are currently in a disagreement with the host concerning security deposits or other matters should be aware that they will not be able to leave a review after two weeks. If a visitor books an Airbnb but it turns out to be fake, they cannot write a review if they immediately cancel without having stayed there, as the stay wasn’t verified. Due to the restrictions on reviews, some concerning qualities of hosts may not be known to the guests.

Know how to protect yourself from Airbnb scams

While Airbnb scams are rare they do still happen. When booking a rental as opposed to a hotel, you must be more careful to guarantee your funds and get the best out of your vacation. It is advisable to be prepared before attempting to receive a refund from Airbnb, as the process can be complicated. Prior to reserving your upcoming accommodation investigate the different forms of Airbnb frauds and how to forestall them.

Always communicate with an Airbnb host (and make payments) through the app

By interacting through Airbnb, you can feel safer and more secure since any issues can be backed up with written proof if you ever need to argue a point with Airbnb. Get in touch with the host prior to reserving to make sure that the house and host are suitable for your needs.

Using the app to complete payments safeguarded your funds because all transactions done outside of the app are not sustained by Airbnb’s regulations. It is against Airbnb regulations to make payments off the Airbnb platform, and one risk being removed from the application if done.

You can negotiate a discount with an Airbnb host

Airbnb properties are owned and hosted primarily by individuals. It indicates that it is possible to speak to the person in control of the lodging to come to an agreement on a reduction if it is favorable to both parties. For instance, if you reserve during the slow season or plan to remain a long stretch of time, you might be able to discuss a cheaper rate with the host. Go through my piece to discover the most effective tactics for a successful haggling with an Airbnb host for a reduced rate.

Airbnb has coupons for first-time users and business travelers

Newcomers to the platform are eligible for a reduced price on their first reservation. If you have a companion who has not experienced Airbnb booking earlier, think about having them complete the booking to make use of the savings.

Travelers on business can acquire a $25 voucher if they incorporate their work email address to their already present account information. To receive the coupon, go to your account settings page, select “Travel for work,” and submit your work email address. Verify your email address by clicking on the link provided in the email you received. Once you have reserved a stay with an amount of at least $250, the coupon code will be credited to your Airbnb account. When you book your next hotel accommodation, don’t forget to select the option that says “Traveling for work?” when confirming your booking. This will make sure that the coupon is applied to your final bill.

There are lots of travel hacks for saving money on Airbnb rentals

Apart from the first use promotion and discounts for corporate visitors, there are several other tactics, tricks, and methods for cutting down costs when using Airbnb. Those who have a bit of knowledge on the subject of travel hacking will be able to take advantage of the savings, while others who are interested in reduced prices for their trips, or those who often utilize Airbnbs, can also reap the rewards of these tips. Combine the most advantageous tactics for your circumstance and itineraries.

Score a massive discount with an Airbnb referral

Airbnb does not usually issue coupon codes, however there is one plan of action that can easily help to acquire a lower cost for your stay: for those who have not used Airbnb before, or those who create a new account, can avail of a lower price with an Airbnb referral. It is worth noting that when the referred person books a stay, the referrer also earns credit.

The gist of it is this: You can receive credit for a future booking by clicking a referral link when you book your initial stay either on the website or on the app for Airbnb. Your first Airbnb stay could net you a discount of as much as $50, depending on which nation you reside in. You get some of your money back while helping out local tourism businesses, just like with an Airbnb coupon.

How does it work? When you join and reserve your initial stay, the reduction will be subtracted instantly from your journey cost on the checkout page. It is like utilizing a promotion code, rebate code, or coupon for Airbnb.

Purchase discounted Airbnb gift cards

If you wish to get points and a savings on your following Airbnb getaway, you could check to see if there are lowered prices on Airbnb gift cards.

It is noteworthy to point out that Airbnb gift cards are limited to the United States, so unfortunately this Airbnb savings tip isn’t available in Australia. You must be a USA resident and pay with a U.S.-issued payment method in order to buy an Airbnb gift card.

If you have the ability to buy an Airbnb gift card, be on the lookout for special offers and discounts. Airbnb gift cards never expire, which means that once they are used, the credit is kept in your Airbnb account for you to use whenever you please.

Head to one of the retailers listed below to purchase your Airbnb gift card:

Lowe’s
• Whole Foods
• Staples
• Safeway
• Krogers
• Vons

It is possible to acquire an Airbnb gift card from an online eBay store or you can buy one from a grocery store that offers a gift card selection.

It would be a good idea to buy your Airbnb gift card through an internet mall or a cashback website to get even better Airbnb discounts.

Book via an airline to earn frequent flyer points or miles

If you are a hoarder of airline frequent flyer reward points and miles, you likely choose to stay at a hotel chain rather than Airbnb. Despite not having its own loyalty program, Airbnb offers a great selection of airline partners. If you act carefully and strategically, you could end up with a great amount of points or miles related to your booking.

Granted, this isn’t a straight cash Airbnb discount. The worth of an airline point or mile could actually be as high as one cent or higher, so it pays off to get points and miles on the side.

Be prepared to show flexibility with your dates

You’ve identified the ideal Airbnb and now it is time to book your dates. The amount charged per night for an Airbnb reservation can be significantly different from other accommodation options. Many properties feature fluctuating pricing. The value of a stay may vary depending on the time of year and location.

You could anticipate that prices will increase right before school breaks, national holidays, and annual events (such as Valentine’s Day). Consider also the day of the week. It is probable that you can acquire a better rate for an Airbnb accommodation if you book it for a Sunday to Monday period, in contrast to Fridays and Saturdays.

If you are able to adjust your times of arrival and departure, it is advantageous to experiment with the calendar on the Airbnb site. See if you can adjust your arrival and departure times to get a great deal on your accommodation.

Book as early as you can (up to two years in advance!)

If you’re the type of person who likes to plan out your trips ahead of time, then this is the suggestion for a discount with Airbnb.

The most popular and sought after locations are the first to be entirely reserved on any accommodation website. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may be unable to reserve your ideal accommodation and could end up paying extra. This is because, when Airbnb spots get taken quickly, it leaves fewer good options which will raise their prices in response to people needing a place to stay.

So, how early can you book? We explored diverse local and international possibilities to verify the accessibility of our timetable, and discovered that numerous high-caliber housing choices are taking bookings for up to two years in the future!

Understand Airbnb’s cancellation policies (Read the fine print!)

The host of the rental chooses from among the various levels of cancellation policies that Airbnb has put in place. It is imperative that you thoroughly review the cancellation rules linked to the lodging you intend to reserve. Be aware of the cancellation regulations before paying for anything non-refundable due to the uncertainty of travel resulting from the pandemic which may involve sudden adjustments.

Booking /Cancellation Policy	How it works:
Flexible	You may cancel at no cost prior to 24 hours before your scheduled check-in (as indicated in the confirmation message). After that, you should annul your reservation prior to checking in and obtain a complete reimbursement, apart from the first night’s charge and the service fee.
Moderate	You can cancel your reservation up to five days prior to the stated check-in time in your confirmation email. After you have finished your stay, you can cancel before checking in and get half of your money back, excluding the charge for the initial night of your stay and the service fee.
Strict	Guests are able to cancel for free within two days of booking, as long as it takes place at least two weeks prior to the scheduled check-in date (which will be stated in the confirmation email). Any cancellations occurring within one week of check-in are eligible for a partial refund of the nightly rate, the cleaning fee, but not the service fee.
Long Term	For reservations of 28 or more nights, a confirmation requires a 48-hour window for the guest to receive a full refund, as long as the cancellation is at least 28 days before check-in (3:00 PM in the destination’s local time if not specified). After 48 hours from the time of booking, guests are allowed to cancel their reservation and receive a full compensation, however, the first 30 days and the service fee will be deducted.
Super Strict 30 Days	Guests who are invited to be under special circumstances may cancel their reservation at least 30 days before the scheduled check-in and receive a 50% refund of the nightly rate and cleaning fee, though not the Airbnb service fee. The service fee is not eligible for a refund.
Super Strict 60 Days	If invited to the special circumstances agreement, guests may be able to be refunded 50% of their nightly rate and the cleaning cost if they cancel at least two months prior to the check-in date. Please note that the Airbnb service fee is not eligible for a refund no matter what.