What is the difference between instant booking and request to book?

The main difference between Instant Book and Request to Book lies in the booking process. With Instant Book, guests can book your listing immediately without waiting for your approval. With Request to Book, guests must send a booking request, which you can accept or decline within 24 hours.



On platforms like Airbnb or VRBO in 2026, the difference between "Instant Book" and "Request to Book" centers on the level of host control and the speed of the transaction. Instant Book allows you to confirm your stay immediately without needing a manual approval from the host. As long as you meet the host’s pre-set requirements (such as a verified ID or a certain number of positive reviews), your credit card is charged and the reservation is locked in instantly. This is the preferred method for travelers who need a quick confirmation. Request to Book, conversely, requires you to send a message to the host with your intended dates and details about your trip. The host then has 24 hours to review your profile and message before deciding to "Accept" or "Decline" the reservation. This is often used by hosts who want to ensure their guests are a good fit for their home or who have complex scheduling needs. For the traveler, "Instant Book" provides more certainty, while "Request to Book" allows for a more personal introduction but carries the risk that the host might reject the request, forcing you to start your search over.

People Also Ask

If you booked instantly, you're good to go. If you sent a request, your Host will typically respond within 24 hours. In the meantime, we may ask you to verify your identity—as this helps us to ensure the safety of our community.

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Boosted revenues: Booking instantly is more convenient for guests, so hosts often get more reservations than those who do not use Instant Book. Improved Search Ranking: Airbnb will provide a badge to highlight your listing and will also place you higher in search results.

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To modify your settings and en/disable instant booking, follow the below steps:
  1. Log in your Partner account (https://admin.booking.com/hotel/hoteladmin/extranet_ng/manage/home.html…) and go to: ...
  2. Select Edit
  3. Select between: All guests can book instantly ...
  4. Select Save


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Direct booking can be more profitable for hotels because it eliminates the commission fees that are typically charged by OTAs. These fees can range from 15-30% of the room rate, which can significantly impact the hotel's bottom line. By encouraging guests to book directly, hotels can increase revenue and profitability.

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What happens next? If you booked instantly, you're good to go. If you sent a request, your Host will typically respond within 24 hours.

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In everywhere but India, if the Host accepts your request, you'll be charged for the reservation. If they decline or don't respond within 24 hours, there's no charge and you'll be free to book a different stay instead. For guests paying in Indian rupees, you'll be charged for the reservation when you request to book.

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Don't book through a travel site Once you find the lowest available price at the hotel you want to visit, call the hotel's reservation desk. Many hotels will meet or beat the best internet rate when you book with them. They'd much rather skip the commission to the travel site and book your stay directly.

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If you decide not to go on vacation after all but then change your mind later on and book again with Booking.com within six months of the original cancellation date. They'll give back any money paid toward the first reservation but only if both reservations were booked through them directly via their website or app!

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Flexible Policy
If the guest cancels a reservation less than 24 hours before check-in, they will still need to pay for the first night's stay, plus the Airbnb service fee. If the guest decides to cancel his/her stay after arriving, he/she is eligible for a full refund for any remaining nights of the reservation.

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Canceling within 24 hours of check-in, or after a trip has started, is a special situation, however—you'll need to contact us for help with that. In either case, message your guest to let them know what's going on. Canceling a reservation mid-trip is a big deal.

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