Can You Negotiate Airbnb Prices? [When & How]

The very short answer is yes, you can negotiate Airbnb prices.

Airbnb doesn’t have a built-in “Make an Offer” feature but a “Contact Host” option that guests can use to contact hosts. They can ask for discounted booking prices and may get lower prices.

However, whether you’ll get a negotiated price depends on the host, the listing, and how you ask for the discount. If you communicate smartly in the right way, you can get better offers. 

So, how can you negotiate prices for Airbnb listings? What are the situations when you can ask for it? Do hosts offer discounted rental prices on their own?

Read this detailed ‘Airbnb negotiation’ guide to save bucks on your future bookings!

When Should You Try Negotiating Hosts?

Technically, guests can negotiate with an Airbnb host whenever booking a stay. But there are a few situations that increase the chances of availing a discount (or a better discount). 

Prop Tip! All you have to do is to find such situations or listings on Airbnb. You can also tweak your travel schedule to create the ‘best-situation’ scenario (like the ones discussed below).

That said, here are the best times to try negotiating with an Airbnb host:

Listing is New with Few Reviews

Guests hesitate to book properties that are just listed and have fewer reviews. Right? 

Hosts also know this fact. Their primary goal is to attract as many bookings and reviews as possible rather than earnings to build a reputation on the platform. 

Such hosts can lower their prices to attract guests. 

When searching for potential properties, try to find such hosts and listings. 

Make sure you add multiple such listings to your wishlist. Send them all a polite message that shows your interest in the property and ask them for a promotional discount. 

Airbnb also allows new hosts to apply an automatic 20% discount on their first three bookings. And in case the host hasn’t enabled this, you can politely ask if they would consider offering a similar discount manually.

If You’re Booking a Long-Term Stay

Are you gonna stay for more than a week or a month straight? 

You can find tens of hosts that offer discounts for longer stays. 

Why? It reduces their workload.

They don’t have to clean and prepare the space as often. They also don’t need to spend time communicating with multiple short-term guests. 

Longer stays also come with these benefits:

• Fewer check-ins/check-outs
• Guaranteed income for a longer period
• No risk of gaps between bookings

Therefore, don’t just rely on the automatic discount listed on the property.

If you’re staying for an extended period (e.g., two weeks, a month, or more), message the host and ask if they can provide an even better deal. 

During Off-Peak Seasons

Tourist destinations experience high and low seasons. 

And Airbnb prices fluctuate depending on the season.

During peak times (summer, holidays, events), prices are high, and hosts are less likely to negotiate due to higher demand. On the other hand, off-peak seasons come with lower demand. Many properties sit vacant for weeks, so the prices are low. 

If you’re booking in a time of low demand, you should negotiate on pricing. 

Hosts prefer to have their properties occupied rather than sitting empty. They are more likely to lower their rental prices if a guest insists. 

When Filling a Gap Between Bookings

A lower occupancy rate is the enemy of Airbnb hosts.

Airbnb’s algorithms show those listings higher with excellent occupancy rates. This means that listings with low occupancy rates are pushed further down in search results. 

The result of this is less visibility, fewer number of guests, bookings, and earnings.

To tackle such a situation, hosts try their best to fill the small gap between two existing bookings. They accept a lower rate rather than a vacant day to fill such short gaps. 

When searching for a place to stay on Airbnb, Vrbo, Expedia, Booking.com, or any other OTA platform, try to find properties with vacant booking spots. 

Find multiple properties and message hosts. Mention that you noticed the open dates between two reservations, and ask if they would consider a special rate to fill the gap.

This strategy works—make sure you try it out. 

If You’re Booking Multiple Properties or Rooms

Are you travelling with family or a group of friends?

If so, you’ll need multiple rooms or properties to stay in. You have more bargaining power. This can be a great opportunity to get discounts if you book multiple listings from one host. 

Many Airbnb hosts own multiple rental units and can offer a discount for bulk bookings.

Instead of booking each room separately, message the host and ask if they can offer a lower rate for booking multiple units at once.

Make sure you mention the number of people in your group.

Other Ways Guests Use to Save on Airbnb Bookings

Along with some situations when Airbnb guests can book stays at discounted prices, here are some additional ways to save money on bookings:

Get Last-Minute Bookings

Last-minute bookings—another way to acquire affordable Airbnb booking. 

Prepare a list of available properties (at least 30-40) in the desired area one week before booking. And keep assessing unbooked properties from the list every day. 

Bring out your PC two days before you intend to go, open your profile, and go through the listings that are still available. 

Write a detailed message and show interest in booking the vacant listing at a lesser price. 

Many hosts prefer to rent out their property at a lower price rather than leave it empty. Mention all the necessary details like reservation date, budget, number of guests, and nights. 

When you send a message, many will accept your proposal. 

This method works best in non-peak seasons when demand is low. 

However, if you’re traveling during a busy time in a busy location, last-minute bookings can be more expensive instead of cheaper.

Deal Off the Platform

Before I dive deeper, let me mention that this method can be risky. 

Airbnb charges a 3% commission fee to guests but a whopping 14% to 16% to hosts. 

Therefore, many guests and hosts prefer to deal outside of Airbnb to avoid extra fees and save a lot on booking for both guests and hosts, making a booking affordable. 

Hence, when you deal directly with a host, whether on Airbnb or its competitors, you can negotiate a lower price.

However, I don’t recommend this method (although many guests practise it). It is against Airbnb’s policies, and if caught, you could be banned from the platform. 

Book On the Platform, Then Negotiate In Person

If you want to try the off-platform booking method, there is an alternate yet legal way to do so. 

You can book and stay at a host’s property first. If you like the experience, you can book further in advance while being in-person with the host.

For example, you can book for 1 to 2 days, test the host’s service, and book for the next 3 to 4 weeks (if you want to) to face lower prices. 

This works best in locations with long-term rental options.

The only downside of this alternative strategy is that the bookings may have already been taken before you reveal your real motive with the host.

So, make sure you consider this when opting for the aforementioned method. 

Conclusion

Guests can negotiate the Airbnb rental price, but it depends on the host and the situation. 

New listings with no or few reviews, long-term stays, off-peak seasons, and filling booking gaps are great situations to get a discount.

If you’re booking multiple rooms, you might get a deal.

Last-minute bookings can work, but they’re risky in peak seasons. Some people try negotiating off-platform, but it’s against Airbnb’s rules.

A safer way is to book a short stay first, then negotiate in person for a longer stay.

Being polite, flexible, and smart when you ask can help you secure discounts.