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Airbnbs are great for those who want a good deal on a place to stay while on vacation. There are also a lot of interesting properties and hidden gems that you might not find on hotel listings. However, just with any service, you’ll have to do some research to land the best stay and experience.
Some helpful Airbnb hacks that guests use for the best experience include being the first to book a new property for a major discount and using the Experiences section to book local events.
If you’re thinking of booking an Airbnb (and maybe for the first time), you’ve come to the right place. This article will cover 10 Airbnb hacks that guests can use for the best experience. We’ll explain how to book the best place and what to watch out for before booking your next accommodation, so let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Be The First To Book A New Property
While it’s generally a good idea to book properties with lots of good reviews, newly listed properties on Airbnb often come with an exclusive 20% discount for the first 3 bookings.
And just because a property is new doesn’t mean the host isn’t a Superhost. Check out the host profile to get a sense of their other properties and if they are responsive.
Get Off-Season Pricing With Shorter Notice Bookings
Although not technically a consistent feature with Airbnb, many hosts employ a pricing strategy that will be more expensive farther into the future a booking is. When it gets within a week and their properties are still vacant, panic pricing is more prevalent and you’ll be able to snag up a good deal.
In general, the shorter notice a reservation is to the date of arrival, the lower the price can be negotiated. Some hosts will even drop their prices by over 50% for same day bookings.
Choose Properties With High Quality Photos
Everybody can take photos with their phones these days, but not everyone is able to take good photos. Hosts who take the time to hire a professional are usually serious about presenting their property in the best light and care about their reputation.
This usually means you’ll be dealing with a host who is much more professional and non-invasive.
Browse Through the Verified Airbnb Plus Accommodations
The Airbnb website has a new feature called Airbnb Plus. All homes that are in this category are very highly rated and have a lot of features. Most Airbnb Plus homes will have fast wifi, fully-equipped amenities and kitchens, and easy check-ins.
The great thing about Airbnb Plus homes is that they’re not necessarily more expensive than regular Airbnb listings. Potentially, you could book a higher-rated place with lots of amenities for the same price as the average listing.
Read Through All of the Listing’s Reviews
One of the most important things to do before booking accommodations is reading through all of the reviews. While the hosts may sugar-coat the description of the listing, you can get a good idea of what the listing is really like through the reviews.
The helpful thing about reading all of the reviews is that you can pick up any recurring problems that guests have had. Furthermore, only people who’ve had verified stays can write reviews, so they all will be legitimate.
The reviews will be the only way you can get a truthful evaluation of the place, so be sure to check them out.
Use Airbnb Experiences To Book Activities and Events
Not only can you book great places to stay on the Airbnb website, but you can also book activities such as concerts and workshops at a much greater discount in the area you’re staying.
Booking through other websites can be pretty expensive. If you want to save money on activities, make sure to take advantage of this. You can find this page under the “Explore Airbnb” section.
Furthermore, this page will be great to look at if you are unfamiliar with the area. The page will have different categories of activities to choose from, such as arts and history, music, food, etc.
Read All of the Information on the Listing Before Booking
It’s tempting to simply skim the listing, look at a few photos, and book. However, you could miss some key information if you do this.
It’s very important to read the entire listing before booking. Ensure you know what amenities the house has and what they don’t have; you may need to bring some extra items. You should also read all of the house rules and the cancelation policy.
Some other things to look for will be wifi availability and if they allow pets or not.
If the property allows pets and you’re allergic, you may want to book elsewhere since a previous guests stay may not have been cleaned properly.
Ask Host for a Discount if Staying for More Than A Few Days
Not many people know this, but you can message the host and let them know you’re staying for more than two weeks. Many listings will mention that they have discounts for longer stays, but for those that don’t, you can still ask for one.
Most of the time, the host will be open to give you a discount for a longer stay.
Many guests have been able to successfully reduce their travel costs by hundreds of dollars by doing this, and the sooner your reservation is, the more negotiating power you’ll have.
Carefully Inspect All of the Photos
Be wary of listings that only have one or two photos. Listings that don’t have many photos are usually hiding something. Furthermore, make sure the photos aren’t blurry at all. If the place is nice, the host will want to show it off.
Try to look out for places with multiple photos and angles of all the main rooms like the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and master bedroom. If you book a listing with a lot of clear photos, there will be no surprises when you arrive.
Use the Filters To Narrow Down Your Search
Depending on where you’re looking, there can be thousands of listings to choose from. Take advantage of the filters to narrow down your search.
You can specify whether you want an entire home to yourself or just a bedroom, for example. You’ll also be able to only see listings that have certain amenities such as a full kitchen, hot tub/pool, washer, dryer, wifi, etc.
You will also be able to use the filters to find the new listings that offer major discounts.
Stay With Local Hosts for a More Authentic Experience
If you’re traveling internationally, consider staying with a local host for a more authentic experience. You’ll be able to see if the host is a local by reading the host description. You can also get a gist of their personality and hosting style by reading the description.
Another great reason to stay with local hosts while traveling internationally is that they’ll be able to give you great recommendations.
Use Google Street View To Scope The Neighborhood
Location is just as important as the accommodation itself. Before you book a place, it’ll be a good idea to use Google maps and scout out any restaurants or parks that are nearby.
Depending on your plans, you might need to make sure there’s an LRT station nearby. You can also use Google street view to see what the neighborhood is like or what kind of stores are nearby. If you’re comfortable with the neighborhood, then you’ll feel more at home during your stay.
Be Aware of Extra Fees Before Booking
There may be a few extra fees that’ll add to the cost. Here are a few you may run into:
- Cleaning fee: Not all Airbnb hosts will charge a cleaning fee. However, many of them do. This fee covers the cleaning they will do after your stay.
- Service fee: Websites such as the Airbnb site will most likely charge a service fee. Expect the fee to be about 5 to 15% of the subtotal of your reservation.
- Extra guest fee: Every accommodation will have a max number of guests. If you want to bring more guests, you’ll have to pay the extra guest fee. The Airbnb host is the one who sets this fee.
- Local taxes: Depending on the location, you may have to pay a local tax. You should see this price in the description of the listing.
Conclusion
We hope that this guide will help you have the best Airbnb experience during your next trip.
The most important thing before booking accommodations is to look through the entire listing thoroughly. Read through the entire description and brush up on the house rules. Make sure it has all of the amenities you want and need.
Furthermore, use search filters and Google maps to find places that meet your expectations.
If you plan to travel abroad soon, check out the Before You Go Abroad Handbook (available on Amazo.com), as it’s a helpful guide for tips and other resources.
