Looking to save money on your next trip? These Airbnb tips for travelers will help you find amazing stays without breaking the bank. From unlocking hidden discounts to optimizing your search strategy, these tricks will make your Airbnb experience both affordable and enjoyable.
Airbnb is a useful tool for long-term travel and Hannah and I use the platform regularly whilst traversing the world, predominantly to fill gaps between house sits. Although the occasional night in a hotel is fine, we always prefer the added comfort and more homely feel of an Airbnb.
Here are my top tips for travelers when booking an Airbnb.
Contact Hosts Directly for Discounts
One of the best Airbnb tips for travelers is to reach out to hosts directly to negotiate a lower price. This works particularly well for longer stays or last-minute bookings. Hosts often prefer longer-term guests because it reduces turnover and cleaning costs.
A polite message explaining your plans and asking for a discount can go a long way. For last-minute stays, mention the upcoming dates and express your enthusiasm for their property – you might be surprised at the deals they offer. We’ve saved $100s on Airbnb stays with this method.
Exploit Length-Based Discounts
Many Airbnb properties offer discounts for stays that hit certain milestones. For example, weekly discounts of 10-30% often apply to bookings of seven or more days, so extending a five-night stay to a full week could save you money. Even if you don’t stay the whole week check if it’s cheaper to book 7 nights.
Monthly discounts are even better, with some properties reducing rates by up to 50% for stays of 28 nights or more. These length-based discounts are perfect for digital nomads or travelers planning an extended visit.
Just be warned you may not trigger the discount by booking 26 or 27 days, it often needs to be exactly 28 days. So adjust your travel dates to see if you unlock some serious savings.
Lower Your Maximum Budget
Airbnb’s algorithm often prioritizes listings that generate higher revenue for the platform. One of my top Airbnb tips for travelers is to reduce your maximum budget in the search filters and force Airbnb to display more affordable properties.
For example, if your budget is $100 per night, setting your filter to $80 can reveal hidden gems that are otherwise buried in the results. It’s a simple trick, but it can lead to significant savings
Look for New Listings
New hosts on Airbnb are often eager to attract guests and will price their properties lower than market value to build reviews. These listings are often excellent deals, offering high-quality stays at a fraction of the usual price.
To find them, avoid sorting by reviews and instead look for properties with minimal or no feedback. Be sure to carefully read the descriptions and house rules, as newer hosts may lack clarity on some details.
Use Flexible Search Options
Flexibility with your travel dates or destination can open up a world of affordable options. Airbnb’s “I’m Flexible” feature is an excellent tool for discovering properties at a lower price.
Staying in a nearby suburb instead of a city center or choosing off-season dates can save you money while still providing access to your desired location. Adjusting your location slightly can lead to surprising and budget-friendly options.
Check Extra Fees Before Booking
Hidden costs like cleaning fees, service fees, and taxes can inflate the total price of a stay. Usually, the total cost is not displayed until you are ready to pay. Sorting listings by total cost ensures that you aren’t surprised by extra charges at checkout.
If a property is otherwise perfect, contacting the host to ask if they’d be willing to reduce the cleaning fee or waive extras for a longer stay can sometimes lead to a better deal.
Stay Outside the Tourist Zone
Accommodations in central locations or near major attractions usually come with higher prices. By choosing properties slightly outside these areas, you can save money without sacrificing convenience.
Look for places with good public transport links or nearby bike rentals to stay connected while keeping costs down. Click here to read my 5 important hacks for saving money while exploring expensive cities.
Book Early for Peak Seasons
For peak travel times like holidays or festivals, booking early is essential. Properties fill up quickly, and prices tend to rise as dates approach. Setting price alerts or periodically checking Airbnb can help you secure the best rates well in advance of your trip.
Early planning ensures that you won’t be stuck with expensive last-minute options. Combining this with my other Airbnb tips for travelers can save a heap of money.
Ask for Gift Cards at Christmas and Birthdays
Despite being in our late 30s we still have several family members that insist on buying us birthday and Christmas gifts. I’m not knocking it, it’s a sweet thing. But as we’re not able to carry much more in our luggage and are often on the other side of the world it presents gift-giving challenges.
We ask for Airbnb vouchers which are easy to buy and can be sent directly to our email address. You simply load them up to your Airbnb account and use them against your next stay. Sometimes we forget we have them in our account and it’s a fantastic bonus!
Balance Budget and Comfort
While saving money is a priority, it’s important to consider overall value. A central location might save on transport costs while a property with a kitchen allows you to prepare meals instead of dining out.
Weighing these factors ensures that you’ll find a balance between affordability and comfort, making your trip both enjoyable and budget-friendly.
Adjusting Your Filters
Airbnb has several accommodation options that range from a shared sleeping space to an entire private house. Play around with the filters and see what comes up around your price point for each option. You may just find you can get what you want by choosing a different more affordable category.
For example, as a married couple, we like our privacy, but by reading the shared home listings we often find stays that are more affordable than an entire house and better equipped than a hotel. Read descriptions to see if more affordable options have private bathrooms, cooking facilities, or added extras.
Do Your Research
If you’re heading for a sunny getaway and want a swimming pool or a sun deck, finding these with an Airbnb is going to drive the price right up. Instead, consider researching the area to see if there are communal pools, recreational areas, parks, lakes, or beaches close by.
It may even be cheaper to inquire with nearby hotels about paying to use their facilities. Whilst house sitting in Phu Quoc, Vietnam we were able to pay a huge 5-star resort around $6 a day to use their pools, gym, and business center. Click here to learn everything you need to know about house sitting.
Find Alternate Accommodation Options
Airbnb has been around for a long time and it’s a trusty platform for booking accommodation. However, it is not the cheapest way to travel, and booking Airbnbs can quickly eat up a massive chunk of your travel budget.
So, firstly, don’t be tied to Airbnb as a platform, several major websites do exactly the same thing and may have cheaper, better, or more convenient options available. Vrbo and Booking.com both have an abundant range of apartments, houses, and hotel rooms. Always shop around for better deals.
House Sit and Travel for Free
As full-time world travelers now 3 years into exploring the globe, Hannah and I use house sitting for 95% of our accommodation. But it’s not just for world travelers, it’s a great option for anybody wanting to cut their vacation expenses while expanding their travel experiences.
Trusted Housesitters is the biggest platform on the market, they currently have over 9000 listings accepting applications for house sits globally. These range from 1-night city stays in London to 3 months house sitting on a ranch in Texas. Sign up for free and start browsing the amazing listings.
To apply for a house sit you’ll need to be a paying member, but annual membership starts at just $129/year. How does that compare to one night in an Airbnb? Our readers also save 25% when they use code BEACHES25 at checkout, click here to sign up. For more info about Trusted Housesitters, click here.
Conclusion
By using these Airbnb tips for travelers, you can uncover incredible deals and make the most of your travel budget. Start applying these strategies today, and you’ll be on your way to affordable and unforgettable stays.
For more budget-friendly advice, next read How to Travel the World on an Accommodation Budget.
Happy traveling!
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