Staying in Airbnb is my favorite type of accommodation whenever I travel. We’ve stayed in over 50 Airbnbs across 20 countries and I’m not stopping anytime soon.
With staying in all of the Airbnbs, it’s always appreciated when you can get a small discount. This article provides 6 ways to get a discount on Airbnb.
Table of Contents
- How Does Airbnb Work?
- Why Choose an Airbnb over a Hotel or Hostel?
- 6 Ways to Get an Airbnb Discount
- Summary
How Does Airbnb Work?
Airbnb is a home-sharing platform where hosts share their property with guests for an established fee. The website connects guests looking for accommodations to stay with a host.
Sometimes that means a guest bedroom in the host’s house or a house for yourself. I’d recommend only staying in entire apartments/ homes by yourself because it’s a little strange to share a stranger’s house.
Budget Tip: Consider doing shared spaces for less expensive accommodation.
I wrote an entire guide on booking the best Airbnb every time. The main takeaways are researching and reaching out to the host to avoid an ‘Airbnb Horror Story‘. It’s not as scary as it sounds (most times) but if you never want to be in that position, check out that very detailed article. It’s exceptionally beginner-friendly.
Airbnb began as friends renting air mattresses to others. Air Mattress Bed and Breakfast = Airbnb. To read more about the founding story, check out this interview on NPR.
Why Choose an Airbnb over a Hotel or Hostel?
We love staying in Airbnb’s for most of our travels. It’s our preferred way to stay (with hostels being a close second).
Benefits of Airbnb
We can all agree that Airbnb isn’t always the cheapest option when you consider hostels. And there are some really good hostels out there especially those on Hostelworld.Â
Airbnb is the best because of the value you receive for the money. For $10 more than a hostel, you can get a private kitchen, dining room, and a private bathroom. Since we travel mostly as a couple, we see the price difference is non-existent.
Airbnb is perfect for slow travelers. We typically spend a month or two in a city. I don’t know about you but that is too long to stay in a hotel or hostel.Â
Although we travel often, we love apartments and houses that can feel like a home away from home.
Cons of Airbnb
The biggest drawback of Airbnb is the extra research required. Most of the time, you can google a hotel in the area you’re interested in and pick out of maybe a dozen.
When selecting Airbnb’s, you have to do your due diligence simply because there are hundreds or thousands of listing all within the same city.
Also, they are considerably harder to find – especially apartments. I always cross my fingers and say a quiet prayer that finding the actual apartment is easy.
You have to remember that Airbnbs are residential. So you are going into residential areas searching. Imagine how hard that is in your own city + add in being jet-lagged or speaking another language. Not easy.
6 Ways to Get an Airbnb Discount
If you are traveling on a budget, you’ll love the 6 different ways to save on Airbnb. Even if you enjoy luxury, who doesn’t love saving money?!
I do.
Use a Referral Link
If you’ve never signed up for Airbnb, you can get a referral from a friend for discounts.
Hey Friends, you can also use our referral link for $35 off your first booking. When you follow the link, you must create a new account. After you create your account, you can book any property the world discounted.
No destination is off-limits. There are some limitations to the price of your first stay. But, if you are staying more than a day anywhere in the world, you’ll most likely not have to worry about it.
Easy! Before booking, I strongly recommend reading more on how to pick the right Airbnb.
Find New Listings with Discounts
If you already have an Airbnb account but still want discounts, you still have options. You can focus your search on new listings that have discounts.
Hosts know that when they create a new listing, they need reviews so that others will stay. Often you can see discounts for new listings because the hosts really want your positive review for future guests.
Also, hosts know that most people don’t want to book if there are no reviews. So, they have to offer some type of incentive. It’s usually a nice discount of at least 20%.
A word of caution – Because there are no reviews from previous guests, you don’t know how your stay will be. Be sure to only book new listings with Super Hosts. Super Hosts will have other properties that have a good track record. Below is a screenshot of the requirements to be a Super Host from Airbnb. You can guess that all of their listings are decent. Make sure you message them first.
Long Stay Discount
Another way to get a discount for return users is with long-term stays. Anything over a week’s stay is eligible for a long stay discount.
With the pandemic, prices are generally low but long-term stays for a month are exceptionally low. Below is a screenshot from a private villa in Bali for a month.
If you can take the time, it’s worth staying in an Airbnb for a longer time. Especially for 70%! That’s a hard deal to pass up.
Ask the Host for a Discount
To get a discount, sometimes it’s as easy as asking for a discount from the host. You are able to message the host through the app.
Be sure to introduce yourself and give an interesting fact about yourself. Always be courteous if they don’t give you a discount. In my experience, this tip works best if you are booking last minute.
The hosts know that the room may go unfilled if no one books. If you are booking within a day or two, they are more likely to give you a discount.
Here is a script I’ve used to get 20% discount:
“Hello xXx, My name is Melanie and I’m traveling with my husband. We’ve seen your apartment and it looks amazing perfect for our needs. We are looking to work and to explore your city. We can’t wait”
…..wait for them to respond with a general intro and an invitation to book.
“Thank you for the invitation to book. I know that my stay is fast-approaching. Would you be open to a discount for my booking? Or, we can wait until (the day you want to check-in), if it is not booked for my dates, would you be open to a 50% discount?”
Sometimes this works. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, I don’t think it hurts to ask.
Meet the Host Before Booking
The next method for getting a discount is a little sketchy. I don’t recommend you do this especially if you are a beginner traveler or new to Airbnb. But I think you can know the option exists.
You’ve been warned.
When you first arrive, you can book a hostel for the first few days. Then, you can message a few Airbnb hosts and ask to see the apartment in-person since you are in town.
I don’t believe this part is against Airbnb guidelines. The next part is definitely against the rules.
Assuming you like the apartment, you can ask for a discount and pay outside of Airbnb to save both parties money.
If they are running a scam or kick you out half-way thru your stay, you can’t get justice from Airbnb. There is really nothing you can do.
It is an option for getting a discount with Airbnb – not the best option.
Get and Share A Referral Code
Lastly, you can get a referral code from Airbnb and share it with your network and friends. Whenever someone uses your referral code, you receive $20 toward your next stay.
In the first tip, I gave you my referral code. You would do the exact same thing for your blog, friends, or family.
The discounts are even higher when you refer a host. If you refer someone who lists their property on Airbnb, you’ll receive a $100 discount toward your next stay.
The downside is that it only works for new Airbnb users.
Summary
Staying in Airbnb is my favorite type of accommodation whenever I travel. We’ve stayed in over 50 Airbnbs across 20 countries and I’m not stopping anytime soon.
With staying in all of the Airbnbs, it’s always appreciated when you can get a small discount. This article provides 6 ways to get a discount on Airbnb.
We want to hear from you. Have you tried any of the tips above? Share your experiences below in the comments.
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Very helpful thank you.