Have you ever felt happy after getting a discount?
The whole credit goes to the oxytocin spike associated with getting something at affordable prices. It lowers your stress when buying something and makes you feel happy.
And do you know the secret to getting discounts? Negotiation.
Negotiation is a common tactic everyone uses—negotiation when buying a house, when buying a car, and most importantly, when booking an Airbnb property.
Negotiating when booking an Airbnb stay? Can you really do that? If so, what should you give it a try and how? Read this guide until the end to learn!
Table of Contents
Can You Negotiate On Rent On Airbnb?
Technically, the answer is YES.
Since you can talk to the hosts on Airbnb when booking a property, you can indeed negotiate during your conversation without any issue.
Although Airbnb lacks a built-in “Make an Offer” feature, it does have a “Contact Host” button on every property booking page that you can use to negotiate rent directly.
Hold on! Having the button to talk to a host doesn’t always mean negotiating.
The key to getting a discount is to bargain when there is a chance to get it.
Whether you should ask for a price reduction depends on the host, listing, certain situations, and some other factors.
What Is the Best Time To Negotiate Airbnb Prices?
You should only negotiate Airbnb prices when there is a situation to get it, such as:
- When the Listing Is New and Has Few Reviews
- When You’re Booking a Long-Term Stay
- When It Is Off-Peak Season
- When Filling Gaps Between Bookings
- When Booking Multiple Rooms or Units
- When Booking Poorly-Reviewed Listings
1. When the Listing Is New and Has Few Reviews
This is one of the most underrated times to negotiate.
Airbnb relies heavily on reviews and ratings to bring up a listing in search results.
Hosts with new listings are usually desperate for guests, especially in their first few. So, a brand-new host is under pressure to start building up positive reviews quickly.
They are not focused on making a profit right away. Instead, their main goal is to get people to book their property, leave a review, and help them build a strong profile.
That is why many new hosts are flexible with pricing.
Even Airbnb knows this and recommends that new hosts offer a 20% discount automatically on their first three bookings.
But even if a host hasn’t enabled that discount, you can reach out with a message and politely ask if they would consider giving a similar offer.
2. When You’re Booking a Long-Term Stay
Another great time to negotiate is when you’re booking for a long time.
The ideal time is more than a week, or especially more than a month.
Hosts are willing to offer a discount to long-term guests as it saves them a lot of effort. They have fewer check-ins, fewer messages, and fewer cleanings.
For example, if a host usually rents out for 2-3 nights at a time, they typically have to clean the place 10 times a month. But if you stay the whole month, they only need to clean once.
That saves time and effort. It also provides a steady income with no gaps between bookings.
Many hosts already offer automatic discounts for weekly or monthly stays.
You’ll see this on the listing: “10% off for 7+ nights” or “20% off for 30+ nights”.
But here’s the trick: don’t just stop at the automatic discount.
Reach out anyway. Say something like, “I saw your monthly discount is 20%, but I’m planning to stay the entire month—would you be willing to offer a bit more?”
A small extra discount can save you a lot, and hosts are often open to it.
3. When It Is Off-Peak Season
This one is a biggie. Airbnb hosts rely heavily on tourism seasons.
In summer, during holidays, or during local festivals or events, hosts are flooded with bookings. But in the off-season—say, winter months in a beach town—things slow down a lot.
During slow months, hosts worry more about empty nights. They know that if no one books, they make zero income for those dates.
That is when they are more likely to accept lower offers.
Even if they make a little less, it is better than making nothing.
So if you’re traveling in an off-peak month, it is the perfect time to negotiate.
This works especially well in areas where tourism is seasonal, like beach towns, ski resorts, or big cities with summer traffic.
You can say something like: “I know it is a quieter season and I’d love to book your place for a few nights. Would you be open to a lower price?”
Many will say yes.
4. When Filling Gaps Between Bookings
Airbnb’s algorithm better ranks listings with a higher occupancy rate.
In other words, the ones that get booked frequently and don’t have long gaps between reservations.
If a host sees a one-day or two-day gap between two other bookings, they’ll often offer a discount to fill that small gap.
Why? Because short gaps are hard to fill.
Think about it: a guest stays from the 1st to the 5th, and another books from the 7th to the 10th, leaving the 5th and 6th open.
Most travelers don’t look for two-night stays on random mid-week dates.
So the host either leaves those days empty or gives a good discount to someone like you.
To use it, check the calendar while browsing listings. Look for listings with odd gaps (one to three nights). Message the host and say, “I noticed you have the 5th–6th open. I’d be happy to fill that gap if you could offer a bit of a discount.”
This is a win-win. You get a lower price, and the host fills a tough-to-sell night.
5. When Booking Multiple Rooms or Units
If you’re traveling with a group (friends, family, or coworkers), you have the power to bargain.
Many Airbnb hosts own more than one listing, especially in apartment buildings or vacation complexes. If you need multiple rooms or entire units, ask if they can offer a group discount.
Simply find hosts with more than one listing. Message them and say you’re planning to book two or more of their places. Ask if they could offer a better price for the group.
This works especially well when you’re booking several nights.
Hosts love getting bulk reservations—it’s less effort and more guaranteed income.
6. When Booking Poorly-Reviewed Listings
Now, this one’s a little tricky. You’ll need to use some judgment here.
If you see a listing with 3 or 4 stars, don’t skip it right away. Read the reviews carefully.
Sometimes the reviews are about things that don’t matter to you—like the host being slow to respond, or a bad experience with a past property manager. The place itself might be fine.
When a listing has bad or mixed reviews, the host knows it will be harder to get new bookings. That puts you in a better position to ask for a deal.
You could say: “I saw some of the reviews and I’m okay with the things mentioned. I’d be interested in booking if you could offer a lower price.”
Be polite and respectful, and explain why you’re still interested. Some hosts will gladly give you a discount just to get the booking.
Pro Tip! Use Last-Minute Bookings to Your Advantage
This is another effective negotiation strategy, especially in non-peak seasons.
If you wait until 1–2 days before your travel date, many listings will still be unbooked.
Hosts start to panic about those empty nights. At that point, they’re more likely to accept any reasonable offer.
Follow this solid plan to implement this discount strategy:
- A week before your trip, create a list of 20–30 listings you like.
- Check which ones are still available daily.
- Two days before your travel date, start messaging the ones that are still vacant.
- Say you’re ready to book immediately, but only if they can offer a lower price.
Include your details: number of guests, travel dates, and a little about yourself.
Many hosts would rather give you 10–20% off than earn nothing at all, especially if they don’t already have a booking.
But here’s a warning: don’t use this tactic during peak season. In busy times, demand is high, and last-minute bookings are often more expensive, not cheaper.
So use this strategy during off-season or shoulder-season periods.
How To Ask For A Discount On Airbnb?
Find a listing you like and ensure it fits your dates and needs.
Scroll down a little and look for the “Contact Host” button. It is a small, little-visible button below the property description. Click on it.
It is time to write a message. Try to be polite and friendly. You have to sound like you are asking for a discount, not demanding it.
A good structure to follow in your message is this:
- Say hello and use the host’s name if it’s listed.
- Mention your travel dates.
- Say something nice about the property.
- Ask for a discount in a respectful way.
- Share something about yourself so the host feels more comfortable.
- Use a word or phrase in their local language to show respect.
Instead of just saying “Can you give me a discount?”, give a specific offer.
Example: “I noticed the price for 5 nights is $600. If you could offer it for around $500, I’d book it right now.” |
You can even highlight that you’re a good guest and make them trust you.
Tell the host about yourself. Show that you’re clean, respectful, and easy to deal with. Make them feel more confident by giving you a discount.
Mention things like:
- “We’re quiet and responsible.”
- “We work from home and don’t party.”
- “We’ll take good care of your place.”
If your trip is coming up soon—say, within a few days or weeks—include that in your message. Mention your exact timing if it helps:
For example: “We’ll arrive in just a few days, and your place is still available. I’d love to book if you could offer a better rate.” |
Here is a full example of what your message could look like:
“Hi Maria, I hope you’re doing well. I came across your apartment and it looks perfect for our trip to Lisbon from July 10–15. The space looks cozy and the reviews are great! I noticed the total price is about $650. If you could offer it for around $550, I’d be happy to book it right away. We’re a quiet couple, we both work remotely, and we always keep the place clean and follow the rules. We don’t smoke, party, or cause any trouble. Let me know what you think. Either way, thanks for considering us! Best, James” |
If the host agrees, they will send you a “Special Offer” through Airbnb. This is a custom booking link with the new price. Once you get it, just click and book like normal!
If the host says no or doesn’t reply, that’s okay too. You can message another host.
Conclusion
Negotiating on Airbnb is totally possible and often worth trying.
The only thing is to be careful about timing. Ask for a discount only where there are chances of getting it. A few situations when there are chances of getting discounted prices are:
- When the listing is new
- When staying long-term
- During off-peak seasons
- To fill calendar gaps
- For group or multiple bookings
- When booking listings with poor reviews
- And for last-minute stays in slow periods
The key is timing, politeness, and showing the host you’re serious about booking.
If you message them with a friendly tone, share your travel plans, and make a fair offer, many will consider it. Even a small discount adds up, so don’t be shy to ask.
Remember, the worst they can say is no.
With the right timing and approach, you might just get a better deal.