Everyone is renting places right now and taking road trips, and both are shaping up to become the top trend of 2021. With so many exchanges happening both here and in other countries - more than the last year, in fact - it makes sense that travelers would be looking for all the hacks they can to save money. Luckily, vacation rentals are a great way to do that, to begin with, and Airbnb is a great place to start.
The world is a different place now than it once was which means the same travel hacks we were using prior to 2020 don't necessarily apply in the year following. With so many options for both local (or cross-country) travel, Airbnb has been consistently paving the way to affordable, dreamy vacations. Before booking one of these great trips, though, there are some hacks that you should know before hitting that 'book' button because we've got a few tricks up our sleeves, too.
Get That Full $55 Off
Most people think that it's only possible to get $40 off when booking with Airbnb for the first time, but there is a way to get an extra $15 off, as well. Booking an experience along with your rental guarantees that $15-off discount, which can be applied to any future trip. This gives renters a total of $55 off which, in reality, could almost cover one night in a super affordable place. It can also be applied to more experiences which is still a relatively new facet of Airbnb but one that's shaping up to be well worth it for the local experience.
Super Hosts Are A Great Way To Avoid Losing Money
There are a number of differences between regular hosts and Super Hosts on Airbnb. Obviously, a Super Host is going to have exceptional ratings since they've earned that status over a number of bookings. Another major difference, though, is the fact that a Super Host can't randomly cancel a booking on you. This means that the trip won't be refunded (and you won't lose out on non-refundable fees) if a host happens to cancel a trip for whatever reason.
Plan With A Friend And Use Those Referrals
Airbnb is full of travel discounts for people who encourage others to use its services. By referring a friend, you can get an additional $20 off if they book through Airbnb. So, it's definitely worth it to have a friend take a vacation at a similar time or right before yours.
Coordinating can help you both out, especially if they're first-time users of Airbnb because they'll get their own discount. This is also a great way to break a trip up into multiple destinations - just assign each friend a place to book for a group trip!
You Could Try Being Discount-Savy
Since Airbnb is pretty personal and operates through the host and their personal listing, renters can easily message homeowners before they even book. If you're feeling bold, you could send them a message beforehand and ask if they'd be open to a discount for your quick booking. Sometimes, they agree if it's a slow or off-season because booking decrease drastically. However, you should also be prepared to be turned down and potentially lose out on a listing due to this.
Infer About Snacks And Drinks That Could Be Included
This is another great, small way to save money. If you happen to be booking an entire house or a place with a kitchen, chances are there might be some snacks. Some hosts go the extra mile and make sure that the pantry is fully stocked or close to it prior to a renter's arrival. If this is the case, you're looking at saving some bucks by not splurging on food.
Always Google The Property Before You Book It
The reason is that sometimes, a property will be double-listed. This means that if it was originally, the listing had its own site or appeared on another one first, then Airbnb might be a secondary booking system for more exposure. If this is the case, you could save money just by going through the original site since you'll be bypassing all of Airbnb's fees. It's a quick action that takes less than 30 seconds, and it could save you some pretty hefty bucks considering what Airbnb's fees look like on certain rentals. Plus, this is a good way to avoid being stuck in a double-booked loop; if Airbnb is the secondary booking site, then you're better off just going through the first.