If you have not used Airbnb before, my only question is why? I know that being at the hotel has its charm, but Airbnb is much more welcoming!

Most Airbnb has a kitchen. And the hotel? No !! The hotel has a coffee maker if you are lucky.
In this article, I will give you 6 tips on Airbnb to know imperatively!

For this, I sought advice from Tom de Finding Tom, an experienced traveler with Airbnb. With some of these tips, you will be able to have discounts of 25% to 65%. Let’s go!

1. Weekly / monthly discounts

I do not keep the best for last. I give you one of the best tips first! Know that depending on the length of your stay, you can have discounts between 5% and 40%.

The longer you stay, the more you save. Take the test on Airbnb. Compare for example a rental between 3 weeks and 4 or 5 days, and 1 month, and you will see that you pay less for the 2nd option.

2. Check the box “Search when I move the map”

This is an extremely useful box! If you allow Airbnb to search as you move the mouse over the map, you’ll get much bigger results.

3. Use the “Instant Booking” button

If you want to book without having to get in touch with the hosts, just click on the “Instant Booking” button at the top of the website.

“Instant booking” simply means that when you click on the buy button, you immediately book the property.

4. Choose to stay with “Superhosts”

A Superhosts is:

• at least 10 stays at home during the past year.
• a response rate of at least 90% by responding quickly to travelers.
• 5 stars for at least 80% of their comments.
• And most importantly, they honor confirmed bookings and rarely cancel.

If Airbnb considers them as Superhosts, you can be sure that you will be safe.

5. Negotiate the price

Here’s how to do it:

A. Create a detailed profile on Airbnb

Whenever you contact a host for a potential reservation, they will go directly to your profile.

An excellent profile includes:

• At least one profile picture. 3 photos, that’s what I consider ideal. Make sure your images are crisp and clear.
• Verified ID (here’s how you can configure it)
• A description of who you are and why you joined the Airbnb community. This is the best place for you to express your personality, interests and hobbies.

b. Make a selection from a list

To have better bargaining power, you will need several choices. Start by filtering the places where you want to stay.

In theory, there is no limit to the list of places you can select. In my experience, a margin of 50% over your budget is a good limit for requests made 30 days or more in advance.

So, if you want to put $1000  in your accommodation, your limit is $ 1500.

But, if you wish to apply for a reservation that would begin within 3 days, you will have a lot more weight in the negotiations. In this case, you can easily aim for places twice as expensive.

Of course, you must use the same reasoning in the opposite direction.

C. Contact the hosts and make your offer

Here are 6 reasons why guests plan to make a reduction:

• They start using Airbnb and want positive reviews.
• They prefer to have a guaranteed reservation rather than an indefinite reservation.
• They are out of season and they are unsure of their potential earnings.
• You’re not targeting a prime location where demand is still high and hosts are getting new deals every day.
• You offer to do a thorough and honest review after your stay. Criticism is essential for guests.
• You are flexible on dates. Guests may be willing to make discounts for off-peak periods.

Now, let’s look at how you write your message:

• Refer to them by their first names.
• Tell them who you are, where you come from, what you do, what brings you to the city and who you are traveling with. A personal and honest touch is a plus.
• Tell them what you like about hosting and why you chose it.
• Be completely honest and clear on how much you can spend.
• Make an offer by defining the length of your stay. In this way, you show them that you are serious. Do not give them too much time to think. This forces them to give an answer quickly.
• In general, if your offer is fair and if they are unsure of their potential earnings, they will respond positively.
• Finish by thanking them.

D. Examine the answers and make a counter-offer

Usually, you will receive one of four reactions:

1. They accept your offer directly. They will send you a link from which you can complete your reservation.
2. They want a little extra effort.
3. They will make you a new offer that will still exceed your budget. In doing so, they will inform you that this is the best offer they are willing to make.
4. They totally reject your offer.

Here’s what to do for each case:

1. You have what you want. Now you have a solid alternative at your fingertips. This increases your leverage when negotiating with other hosts.
2. Express your gratitude for the offer they have made to you. Let them know that their offer still exceeds your budget, but that you would be willing to cut the pear in half. Tell them that you will receive payment immediately if they accept your counter-offer.
3. If they know exactly how much the reduction is, it’s because they’ve thought about it. That means you should give up.
4. If they refuse, thank them.

You just have to book!