Top Airbnb Hacks for a Budget-Friendly Stay
Airbnb is a popular alternative to traditional hotels with a rising popularity. It involves factors such as offering a more home-like experience, variety, location, and being a cost-effective option, especially for longer stays and groups. We are constantly looking for the best Airbnb hacks to secure a budget-friendly accommodation without compromising quality. If you are also looking for some savings while traveling, these tips can help to make your dream gateway more affordable.
Finding Direct Booking Options with Reverse Image Search
This method will uncover the true ownership and potentially lower rates for vacation rentals by bypassing Airbnb fees. It could also expose other listings of the same property on other platforms like VRBO, which might be offering more competitive rates.
To initiate a reverse image search, you will start by right-clicking on a photo from an Airbnb listing. Depending on the browser, the next steps may vary slightly. For instance, in Firefox, one would click on the image, select “View Background Image,” then right-click and choose “Copy image location” to paste it into a search engine like Google Images. Google Chrome users can simply right-click the photo and select “Search image with Google”.
Avoid Instant Booking – Negotiate a Discount
Instant Booking on Airbnb offers the convenience of securing a rental without waiting for host approval but at the same time, you lose your chance to negotiate directly with the host. When negotiating discounts, the approach matters significantly. You should be polite at all moments. Talking to the host before confirming the booking also presents an opportunity to negotiate terms such as check-out times or even special requests like the number of pets.
Book Longer Stays
Extended stays inherently come with financial benefits for you and the host. As a host myself, I can attest that longer bookings help fill the calendar more efficiently, ensuring a steady income with fewer vacant days. For that reason, hosts feel encouraged to offer automatic discounts mostly for weekly and monthly stays. Per Nerdwallet.com, on average, the nightly rate for a seven-night Airbnb stay turns out to be 32% cheaper than the nightly rate for a one-night stay with nightly rates even lower — a 46% discount for committing to 30 days versus just one.” Note this is just an average and discounts will vary based on location. If a listing does not automatically provide you with a substantial discount for extended stays, this is a great opportunity to apply the previous hack and negotiate directly with the host for potential savings.
Book New Listings
Booking new listings on Airbnb can be highly advantageous for guests seeking competitive rates. Hosts of new listings often offer introductory discounts to attract their initial guests and garner reviews. You can easily spot new listings by searching for a ‘New’ logo within the search results on Airbnb. We touched this topic in Our First Airbnb.
Using Coupons
Airbnb occasionally offers limited-time promo codes and discounts for new users, existing users, and specific occasions (e.g., holidays, special events). If you happen to be also a Host, Airbnb will give you a coupon to use 1 time within a year every time you acquire and maintain Superhost status.
Compare with Hotel Prices
When looking for accommodations, it’s crucial to look for both Airbnb and hotel rates. Since rates differ depending on the city, you may find that hotels are less expensive in some places while the scenario will flip in others. Factors such as length of stay and number of guests need to be considered as they could tip the balance either way. We have found that 1-night stays are usually less expensive when booked through a hotel and Airbnb will offer significant savings, especially for larger groups or longer stays.
These are just tips to get the best pricing for your vacation rental without compromising quality. Let us know in the comments if you have any additional tips. We would love to hear from you!
