These days I literally live out of Airbnbs. I love them! I love having little home bases all over the world. And after living like this for over 5 years now, I’ve been able to discover a few ways of how to get a discount on Airbnb bookings. So here are my 5 top tips on how to get a discount on Airbnb.
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How To Get A Discount on Airbnb Stays
1. Be The First Booking On A New Airbnb Listing
Okay, so this first tip is one that I’ve found out recently by my own Airbnb bookings. It has quickly become one of my most effective ways to get a discount on Airbnb and it doesn’t involve any awkward negotiating with the host haha.
When a host creates a new listing on Airbnb, they often offer the first few bookings a special 20% offer. This is great for us renters, and it helps the host get their first few bookings, which means they get some reviews under their belt.
So when I put in my search criteria, all I do is scroll through and look into the ‘New’ listings. Airbnb will put a ‘New’ tag on the listing so you know they’ve just been added.
So I filter through and find the ones that are new and offer the ’20% first booking’ offers.
Of course these can be a little more risker because there’s no reviews on the listing. Since that’s the case, I’ll look into who the host is and see if they have any reviews from other properties. Or I’ll contact the host and ask for a little more info if need be.
Recently we stayed in the Gold Coast, Australia for 5 weeks. We spent two weeks in Coolangatta and three weeks in the Miami suburb. When searching for Airbnbs, I targeted new listings with the 20% offer and also because we had long stays, we were given additional long stay discounts (more on this in the next tip). So we got 30-40% off on both these bookings as you can see in the screenshots below. Both the Airbnbs were amazing, the hosts were awesome, and the locations were incredible. They definitely got rave reviews from me. Win win!
10% weekly discount + 20% off ‘special offer’ = 30% off! 
20% weekly discount + 20% off ‘special offer’ = 40% off!
Hundreds of Airbnbs are added daily for locations all over the world. So finding new listings isn’t an issue.
2. Long Stay Airbnb Discounts
Slow travel has it’s benefits and long stay discounts is definitely one of them!
Hosts will often offer a discounted rate for stays of longer than a week and/or a month.
Heck, I recently came across a 70% discount for a month long stay! The condo was right on the beach in Florida!
So if you’re planning on staying somewhere for 6 nights, add in another night to make it 7 and you’ll find it’s often cheaper than 6 nights! Regardless if you stay that extra night or not. Same goes for 28 nights compared to 27 nights.
Most of our Airbnb stays are two weeks to one month long and I’ll usually only settle for 10% discounts or more. But 30%-40% are common to come across for month long stays.
This works even better if you’re booking outside of peak seasons. Shoulder seasons are the best for how to get a discount on Airbnb.
This is just an example 
This is just an example
3. Ask The Airbnb Host For A Discount
When applying the first two tips, you rarely need to ask a host for a discount. Though sometimes, we only need an Airbnb for 3 nights and we don’t qualify for a long stay discount, and the new listings just aren’t quite tickling my fancy…
If this is the case, I contact the host and ask if they would be open to offering a discount. I always ask in a very kind and unassuming way. They are in no way obligated to give one, but many hosts are actually happy to negotiate and send through a special offer. Sometimes it’s as little as 5%… Other times it’s 20%! Just never be rude and expect to be given one.
Asking for a discount works best when it’s closer to the booking dates. If you ask too far in advance, its still likely someone else could book the Airbnb for full price, so the host won’t be willing to offer you the discount. Whereas if it’s a last minute booking, it’s likely no one else will book so they may as well allow a discounted stay.
Just remember to be nice and treat their home lovingly!
*If you have something to offer the host in return, then even better! Eg. a blog post, an Instagram post, high quality pictures of their place that they can use in their listing etc.
4. Use An Airbnb Referral Code
If you haven’t yet signed up to Airbnb, you can sign up using someone’s referral code and get free credit towards your first booking!
And let’s be honest…. Am I even a travel blogger if I don’t offer my Airbnb referral code?
If ya sign up to Airbnb using my referral link here << you will get $50NZD+ (sometime’s its more depending on the day lol) off your first stay as well as $19NZD to use towards an Airbnb Experience. This is at no extra cost to you.
Also, once you’re signed up, you will get your own referral link! So when you share that link with other people, you can earn Airbnb credit to go towards your future bookings. Just a little extra tip there for ya.
5. Shop Around The Area For Airbnbs
If you plan to stay somewhere for a week or more (ideally more than one week), and time permits, go to the destination a few days earlier. Just stay in a cheap hostel or hotel for a couple of nights and during this time, reach out to potential Airbnb listings you are interested to stay in for the rest of your stay. Ask to come and check out the property before locking it in. A lot of hosts are open to meeting with you and showing you around.
And it’s during this meeting with the host that some price negotiations can happen. We’ve done this multiple times and got some great discounted rates. Of course we were staying anywhere from 2 weeks and up to 2 months, which gives more leverage for negotiations. But if you are kind to the host, and can reassure them you are a clean, respectful tenant, then they may be open to offering a discount.
Again, this tip will work best in the shoulder season and low season. High season can prove difficult to find last minute Airbnbs and to negotiate a discounted Airbnb stay.
*Remember to still make the booking through Airbnb (just have the host send through a special offer that you agreed on). If you don’t book through Airbnb, then you nor the host will be protected through Airbnb’s insurance and protection policy.
To summarise, here’s how to get a discount on Airbnb stays:
- Be the first booking: On new listings you can score 20% off.
- Book for a week or longer: A lot of hosts offer long stay discounts of 5%-70%.
- Ask for a discount: Many hosts are actually open to offering a discount if you ask nicely.
- Use a referral code: If you’re new to Airbnb, you can get credit towards your first booking. You can also share your own referral code to earn credit on your account. Here’s my referral code for at least $50NZD off your first stay.
- Meet with the host beforehand: If you’re already in the area, contact the host and check out the place beforehand. Negotiations can be made during the meeting.
So these are my favourite tips on how to get a discount on Airbnb stays. They have definitely saved us thousands of dollars on our Airbnb accommodation throughout the years, and I’m sure it will work the same for you!
Enjoy your travels!
Hannah 🌼
P.S: Check all my travel tips & tricks here <<
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3 Comments
Hey Hanna! – Huge golden nugget to visit the Airbnb and the host before actually booking. Never ever thought of doing that – great idea! Definitely helps with expectation setting that isn’t covered in the listing or in guest reviews – e.g., WiFi speed. I wrote a similar article, would love your feedback on my approach. Here’s the article: https://newrichnomads.com/negotiate-airbnb-price/ 🙂
As a superhost, I can vouch it is correct this is a common practice and it frequently works.
I have no problem with getting a reasonable discount request for a last minute booking if you see my property is free soon.
However there are a few common sense rules to follow when you are doing this, which should make sense to anybody:
(1) The main worry of your host is not, will they get an extra 10 bucks a night. The main worry is: Will this guest be a problem guest? I’m not just talking about respecting the house rules and not damaging the property., for which thankfully most guests are fine! I’m talking about demanding, high-maintenance guests, or guests who are planning to use the property in ways the host did not intend. So introducing yourself is very important! Having your Airbnb profile filled in and complete! Say something appreciative to the host about the property and why you like it! Let the host know the reason of your stay. Of course getting a boost from an influencer is a nice perk, but what I want to know is, will this person be calling me at 11pm for something that is clearly explained in my house manual how to fix?
(2) do not ask for a discount 6 months ahead for 3 weeks of high season. Obviously the host is probably going to rent those 3 weeks between now and then, why should he block his calender half the year for a discount rate?
(3) do not ask for a discount, and then keep asking for additional special extra services. Late check out,early check in, extra linens, leave the airco on full power all day when you are out, complain that you found one hair under the sofa and demand to have the cleaners back (all of this I have experienced and it really makes me angry). If you ask for a discount please try to make the rest of your stay easy on your host.
(3) host’s main concerns are that
(a) you will follow house rules, not damage the property or annoy the neighbors and
(b) you will leave an honest and good review.
If you are a discount seeker try to be extra considerate, easygoing during your stay, read and follow house rules, do not ask for extra services.
(4) Contrary to what most guests think, not all hosts find it advantageous to have guests who stay over 3 weeks. If the property is popular and rents all year at a premium price,, why would they discount? The main argument I hear is that “there is no cleaning to be done” during the long term stay. This has not been my experience after a long term renter leaves I ususally have triple the cleaning and more wear and damage than after 4 short term stays. So don’t insist if the host does not offer long term discount, there are reasons for it.
=>Do these things and your host will be thrilled that he gave you a discount and even invite you back again.
Great points there, Sue 🙂