How to get air bnbs for cheaper? 

Are you planning a vacation or getaway and wondering how to get air bnbs for cheaper? If you’re a frequent traveler or just want to enjoy a budget-friendly stay, knowing a few simple strategies can save you a lot of money. Airbnb offers unique and varied accommodations worldwide, but sometimes the prices can be a bit steep.

In this post, I’ll walk you through various ways to get Airbnbs at a lower cost, including some handy tricks you might not know about.

1. Contact the Host for a Discount

This is one of the most effective strategies when figuring out how to get a cheaper price on Airbnb. Before booking a place, contact the host through Airbnb’s messaging system and ask for a discount. While this may sound intimidating, it’s elementary and often successful.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Find a listing you like and click on “Contact Host.”
• Write a polite message and ask if they’d be willing to offer a discount for your stay.
• Mention specific details, such as “I see the price is $700 for the week. Would you consider offering it for $600 if I book today?”

Keep the tone friendly and respectful. Most hosts would rather secure a booking at a lower price than risk their place going unbooked. Remember, can you bargain on Airbnb? Yes, and many hosts are open to negotiating, especially if your arrival date is soon.

Pro Tip:

If you’re traveling last minute, this trick works even better since hosts are often eager to fill empty dates. Try it out and see if you can snag a great deal.

2. Book Longer Stays

Did you know that Airbnb hosts often offer discounts for weekly or monthly bookings? If you’re staying for a week or more, you’re in luck. The longer your stay, the better the discount.

For instance, many hosts will automatically apply a 10% discount for weekly stays and sometimes up to 40% for monthly bookings. When you’re looking for how to get cheaper stays on Airbnb, extending your trip by a few days might make a huge difference in the price.

Example: Imagine you’re planning to stay for 24 days, and the cost is $1,200. By extending your stay to 28 days, you might qualify for a 30% discount, dropping the price to $900. So even though you’re staying longer, you’ll end up saving a lot!

Pro Tip:

Play around with the booking dates in Airbnb’s calendar. Sometimes adding just one more night can trigger a weekly discount, effectively making that extra night free.

3. Use Discounted Airbnb Gift Cards

A lesser-known trick for saving on Airbnb is purchasing Airbnb discount gift cards. Sites like Sam’s Club or Raise often sell gift cards at a discount, helping you save a few bucks before you even book.

For example, a $200 Airbnb gift card might be available for $190 or less. While the savings might not seem huge at first glance, every dollar counts, especially when combined with other strategies.

Where to Find Discounted Airbnb Gift Cards:

• Airbnb gift card Sam’s Club: Sam’s Club often offers Airbnb gift cards at a reduced price.
• Airbnb gift card Staples: Staples occasionally sells discounted gift cards, so keep an eye out.

Pro Tip:

Stacking discounts is key! If you find a good deal on a gift card and combine it with a weekly discount or an offer from the host, the savings can add up.

4. Leverage Special Offers from Hosts

Ever received a special price offer after messaging a host? These are called Airbnb special offers, and they’re a great way to save. If you’ve inquired about availability or pricing, sometimes the host may send you a special offer for a lower rate than what’s publicly listed.

This can be especially helpful if you’re flexible with your dates or willing to negotiate politely. Hosts may be more inclined to offer a discount if your stay is last minute or if they’re trying to fill a gap in their calendar.

Pro Tip:

If the host is offering a special deal, make sure you lock it in quickly. These offers often expire after a set time.

5. Airbnb Student Discount

If you’re a student, you might wonder if there’s such a thing as an Airbnb student discount. While Airbnb doesn’t have an official student discount program, there are a few ways students can save. Booking for longer stays during study-abroad programs, messaging the host, or even using gift cards (more on this later) can help reduce the cost of your stay. Students can also benefit by using rewards credit cards or travel points to offset some of the costs.

6. Take Advantage of Airbnb Discount Gift Cards

One lesser-known way to save on Airbnb is by purchasing discounted Airbnb gift cards. You can find Airbnb gift cards for sale at places like Sam’s Club, Staples, and other retailers, sometimes for less than their face value. For instance, you might find a $200 Airbnb gift card selling for $190 or even less. While it’s not a huge discount, it can help shave a little off the total cost of your booking.

7. Use Multiple Airbnb Gift Cards

You might be wondering, can I use multiple Airbnb gift cards? Yes, you can! If you’ve purchased several gift cards, you can stack them to pay for a single booking. Just add them to your Airbnb account under the “Payment Methods” section, and apply them when checking out. This can result in considerable savings, especially if you’ve been collecting gift cards for a while.

8. Book Recently Added Properties

If you’re open to a bit of risk, consider booking a recently added property with no reviews. Airbnb often gives hosts a chance to offer special discounts on new listings to encourage bookings. This means you could find an amazing property at a lower price just because it’s new to the platform.

Of course, the risk is that you don’t have any reviews to go on. To reduce that risk, check if the host has other listings with positive reviews. This can give you an idea of the host’s reputation.

9. Book in Advance for Early Bird Discounts

Many Airbnb hosts offer an early bird discount if you book far in advance. If you know your travel dates well ahead of time, this can be a great way to secure a lower rate. However, make sure to review the cancellation policy in case your plans change later.

10. Extend Your Stay for Additional Discounts

Sometimes, extending your stay by just one or two nights can unlock a weekly or monthly discount. Even if you don’t need the extra days, adding them to your booking could make the overall cost cheaper. For example, booking six nights might cost as much as booking seven nights with the weekly discount applied.

11. Book Through an Airline Portal

If you’re part of an airline loyalty program, you can book your Airbnb stay through an airline portal to earn frequent flyer miles. Programs like Delta SkyMiles and British Airways Executive Club offer this option. While it won’t directly reduce your Airbnb cost, earning miles can lead to free flights, which could make your trip more affordable overall.

Read More: How Can I Upgrade Airline Seats With Expedia? 

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