Is it cheaper to book an Airbnb?

Airbnbs are usually cheaper than hotels for longer stays and large groups, but they don't offer the same services. Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020. She previously wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.



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If you're looking for an Airbnb discount, you can get one by:
  1. Booking an extended stay.
  2. Adding some days to your booking.
  3. Booking new-host listings.
  4. Taking advantage of early bird pricing.
  5. Purchasing discounted Airbnb gift cards.
  6. Using a rewards card to pay for your Airbnb.
  7. Booking an Airbnb through an airline portal.


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Airbnb rentals are generally cheaper when booked four weeks in advance. For this analysis, we only included properties with availability across all time frames. This means the same properties were lowering their prices about a month out compared to last-minute bookings or those made well in advance.

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An Airbnb property will give investors access to the vacation rental market, by earning rental income and reaping the benefits of property appreciation over time. Investment property options such as this can be a great addition for any real estate portfolio.

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The prices of a booking now increases each time you log into the site. This is to take advantage of buying habits. Typically people need to check flight and accommodation combinations multiple times before being able to commit to both.

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You could lose money. Many hosts charge additional fees for extra guests. It may seem innocent for a family of five to say they're a family of three, or a group of friends to say they're four instead of eight, this costs you hundreds of dollars per person, which over time will add up to serious financial loss.

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The Cons of Booking AirBnB:
  • Con: Exorbitant fees.
  • Con: Service is not consistent.
  • Con: What you see may not be what you get.


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The main downside of using Airbnb for short-term rentals is that the platform charges its hosts a commission for each booking. This can eat into your profits, depending on the length and scale of your rental offerings.

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Depending on the type of Airbnb apartment and the hotel, Airbnb can be cheaper than hotels but can also be more expensive. In general, Airbnb is cheaper than hotels because Airbnb does not have to pay for the overhead costs of a hotel or the general management of such a large operation.

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Cleaning fees are automatically added when a guest makes a booking. However, it's not uncommon for guests to reach out to a host prior to booking, asking for special discounts or to request the removal of the cleaning fees.

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As you get closer to the current date, gradually begin to reduce your prices every few days as the current date approaches. Save significant price reductions for last-minute holes in your calendar that will almost certainly remain unfilled because of other bookings that sandwich it.

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How to get discounts on Airbnb
  1. Reserve a longer stay.
  2. Extend your trip by a few nights.
  3. Book recently added properties.
  4. Take advantage of an early bird discount.
  5. Purchase discounted Airbnb gift cards.
  6. Use a rewards card to pay for Airbnb.
  7. Book through an airline portal.
  8. Message the host.


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A 2021 study of more than 125,000 Airbnb complaints on Twitter found that 72% of the issues were related to poor customer service and 22% were related to scams.

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Short-term rentals disrupt the quality of life in local residential neighborhoods. They essentially destroy what you are looking to find on a vacation “local culture”. And that is why cities are so concerned about the Airbnb. Most owners are absentee landlords, leaving you to fend for yourself.

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Safety measures to protect hosts Safety issues can happen at any form of lodging, and Airbnb is generally considered safe. Just be aware that problems can arise, so be aware of scams, unethical practices and physical issues with properties.

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What do quiet hours mean on Airbnb? Airbnb quiet hours are hours specified by hosts as times during which guests cannot be notably loud or rowdy.

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Airbnb prohibits security cameras or recording devices that are in or that observe private spaces like bedrooms, bathrooms, or sleeping areas.

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They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single trip request. So, how does pricing work for all of this? The total price of your Airbnb reservation is based on the nightly price set by the Host, plus fees or costs determined by either the Host or Airbnb.

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