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The topic of Airbnb can be divisive in the award travel community. Some travelers swear by it, while others swear never to use it. Some argue that it harms housing markets. Meanwhile, some homeowners view it as a valuable means to earn extra income from their properties. Regardless of how you feel about Airbnb, everyone can agree it has revolutionized how the world travels.
While the basics of booking an Airbnb are similar to booking a hotel, several unique features can make all the difference between having a good or a bad experience. Since I want you to have a good experience, I've created a guide centered on these unique features to demonstrate how to maximize their value.
Page Contents
- How To Find and Book a Great Airbnb
- Communicate With Your Airbnb Host
- How To Maximize Your Airbnb Purchase
- Protect Your Airbnb Guest Rating
- Pro Tips
- You can (and should) bargain for your Airbnb’s price
- Use Google Maps to pinpoint a property’s address
- Always book with SuperHosts (with a few exceptions)
- Use Neighborhood Scout to scope out an Airbnb’s neighborhood before booking
- Read between the lines on common Airbnb descriptor words
- Beware of multiple Airbnb properties using the same listing photos
- Always pay for your Airbnb with a credit card offering travel insurance
- Airbnb Cancellation and Refund Policies
- Final Thoughts
How To Find and Book a Great Airbnb
Airbnb-specific search criteria
The most important factor in finding the best Airbnb for you is the ability to use search filters effectively. Airbnb has far too many properties available to display on a single search query. This means that to see results for places you may actually want to stay, you’ll have to narrow it down by selecting the criteria for your booking.
The basics include those you'd expect with any hotel reservation — like general location, number of beds, and maximum occupants. But in addition to the standard criteria, Airbnb offers several other unique search filters. You will find these under the “More filters” pop-up menu on the home screen; examples include:
- Access to a full kitchen — Access to a fridge and a full kitchen can be one of the key differences between an Airbnb and a standard hotel. This cuts down on travel costs and can be critical when traveling with a family.
- Washer/dryer in unit — Most hotels charge dearly for laundry services, which is another potential benefit of booking an Airbnb instead.
- Assigned parking spot(s) — Unlike hotels, Airbnbs may or may not have access to a designated parking spot. If you’ll need this, it makes sense to filter for it.
- A/C or heater — While centralized heating and air conditioning are relatively universal for hotels and Airbnbs in the U.S., this isn't always the case internationally.
- Instant Booking vs. Host Approval — Instant Bookings give you the confidence that if you complete your booking request, your booking is confirmed instantly in your account. If not offered, your request to stay at a property will need approval by the host. This is an important consideration if you’re booking last minute and don’t have time to wait for approval from the host. Additionally, I have had a few requests denied, which can be frustrating and disappointing.
- SuperHosts — SuperHosts are some of Airbnb's most elite hosts. They’ve had a long track record of stellar reviews and stays. They also have upheld fairly stringent requirements to earn and maintain the title. This is all to say that if you book a property managed by a SuperHost, you are much more likely to have a good experience.
- Guest Favorite — These properties have been rated highly by at least five guests and must meet specific rating criteria for each rating category, such as cleanliness, location, communication, etc. This also makes it more likely that you will enjoy the property.
Always read the reviews
It might seem obvious, but disregarding reviews is the primary reason many people have negative experiences with Airbnb. Never — let me repeat, never — book an Airbnb without thoroughly reviewing all the feedback. Previous guests are usually honest about the strengths and shortcomings of a property. Make sure you're fully satisfied with the reviews before making any reservations.
Additionally, note any host responses to those reviews. Is the host open to criticism and making an effort to fix the issue? Or is the host hostile or passive-aggressive? The answer can give you great insights into whether you want to be a guest there… or not.
Communicate With Your Airbnb Host
One of my favorite things about Airbnb is that it encourages communication between hosts and guests. Before booking a space, you can easily reach out to a host to discuss a property's availability, amenities, pricing concerns, and any questions you might have.
Not only can this be helpful in the booking process, but it can also help make your Airbnb stay more personalized than a hotel stay. It can also open the door to some notable opportunities, particularly in regards to negotiating a cheaper price. (See the ‘Pro Tips’ section for more details.)
There are several situations when having the ability to communicate with a host can be beneficial:
- Requesting property specifics that are left out of a listing page or unclear
- Communicating concerns or questions during a stay
- Requesting or receiving check-in/check-out information
- Seeking assistance with any problems post-checkout
A good host should always try to respond to messages quickly and concisely. If any experience with a prospective host indicates otherwise, you may want to consider a different property.
How To Maximize Your Airbnb Purchase
An analysis of how to book on Airbnb should not overlook points earning possibilities during the booking. While Airbnb doesn't offer a loyalty program, you can still earn lots of points on stays. Here are some of the best methods to maximize your spend:
- Travel Spending — The most straightforward way to earn points for an Airbnb stay is by using one of the best cards for travel rewards. Some of our favorite options include the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card(Rates & Fees) (3X points on travel), the American Express® Green Card (3X points on travel), and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees) (2X points on travel).
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) — One of the best methods to maximize Airbnb spending is by purchasing Airbnb e-gift cards at Staples using your Ink Cash card (or the discontinued Ink Plus® Business Credit Card and Ink Bold Business Charge Card). The Ink Cash earns 5X Ultimate Rewards points (or 5% cash back) per dollar on the first $25k spent annually at office supply stores. Airbnb e-gift cards are delivered via email within 24 business hours after purchase and can be added to your Airbnb profile under the “gift card” section immediately.
- United Mileage Plus X App — The United MPX app sells Airbnb E-gift cards. It currently awards 2 United Miles per $1 spent on the purchase, in addition to any credit card earnings.
- British Airways / Delta / Qantas Airbnb Partnreships — Each of these airlines offers an Airbnb booking portal that awards bonus miles if you book your stay through them. The booking portals can be found here: British Airways (2X Avios), Delta (1X SkyMiles), Qantas (1X Points). British Airways’ portal currently pays out the best at 2 Avios per dollar spent on your booking.
- Discounted Gift Cards — Several vendors sell Airbnb gift cards for up to 10–15% off, including Amazon, PayPal digital gifts, and GiftCardMall. You can also purchase second-hand Airbnb gift cards through Raise, which regularly offers savings of between 2% and 5%.
Stack methods for maximum return
Like any other online purchase, the best strategy often involves stacking several methods per transaction. For instance, let’s say I want to book a $1,500 Airbnb. I could first use my Ink Cash card to purchase $1,500 in Airbnb E-Gift Cards from Staples.com. Once I’ve received and loaded them onto my Airbnb profile, I could then utilize the British Airways Airbnb portal to book the property I'd already found.
This strategy results in earning 7,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points + 3,000 British Airways Avios with just this one booking. With a baseline value of Ultimate Rewards points and Avios at 1.94¢ and 2.56¢ apiece (based on what AwardWallet users redeem them for), respectively, that would represent a whopping 14% return on my purchase.
- Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
- 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
Using gift cards on Airbnb
When using gift cards for Airbnb bookings, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- You can’t make your booking until you’ve loaded all of your Airbnb gift cards to your Airbnb profile — Airbnb doesn’t allow you to change your payment method once a booking has been made. If you intend to pay the full price of the reservation with gift cards, you'll need to have them loaded into your account before booking the property.
- You can’t use gift cards to pay for bookings of 28 days or longer — Any reservation of 28 days or more has to be paid with a credit card.
- Use a card with travel insurance to cover at least a portion of the bill — I usually buy enough gift cards to cover all but $5 or so of the total price. I’ll then cover the remainder with my Chase Sapphire Reserve® to take advantage of the provided travel protection benefits.
- Look for specific terms for the area you are visiting. For instance, countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) do not allow Airbnb gift cards to be applied towards booking experiences.
Protect Your Airbnb Guest Rating
An important–yet often overlooked–aspect of the Airbnb platform is the ability for hosts and guests to review each other after every stay. As a Guest, this adds a new element compared to a hotel stay. Now, you have a more present obligation to be a responsible and courteous guest since poor reviews may result in rejections for future booking requests.
The best way to preserve your guest rating is by viewing every stay from the Host’s perspective. What would you want if you were hosting a guest in your own property? Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
- Ask your host about the check-in and check-out procedures if they don’t automatically share them. Showing your host that you care about their protocol is an easy way to get on their good side.
- Take care of the property. This one should be common sense, but you’d be surprised at how many horror stories Airbnb hosts can share about guests breaking furniture, leaving stains, and even stealing items from the home.
- Communicate any issues with your stay promptly, honestly, and clearly. Problems can happen with any kind of stay. You give the host the best chance to quickly and efficiently deal with it if you share these issues immediately.
- Review the host's rules thoroughly. Different neighborhoods may have varying regulations, and the host should have clearly outlined the property rules. It's essential to carefully read and adhere to these guidelines. Failure to do so can affect your rating and even result in fines from the city for the property owner.
Pro Tips
You can (and should) bargain for your Airbnb’s price
You can communicate with a host before making a reservation, which means that — depending on your comfort level — you can also bargain for a better price. This is especially effective for stays booked at the very last minute. If you’re going to book properties available for a same-day or next-day arrival, they're likely to sit empty if you don't book them. No host wants their properties to be vacant as it isn't earning money. Consider making a fair offer, and you could secure a fantastic deal.
This approach is equally effective for longer stays of a week or more, as many hosts offer discounts for extended reservations. Communication is key. When recently making reservations for a month-long stay, we found several hosts were willing to lower the price when adding or shifting dates slightly.
Use Google Maps to pinpoint a property’s address
You'll notice a quirk as you learn how to book Airbnb properties. For many listings, you won’t know the exact address of a property until after you’ve booked it. Depending on what kind of trip you’ll be on, this may or may not matter.
Either way, there’s a trick to finding an Airbnb property's address, assuming that the listing page has a picture of the outside of the property. Use Google Maps’ “street view” mode to peruse the neighborhood of the listing. This process is a little time-consuming, but it can save you when you need to confirm that a property is within walking distance of a specific point of interest. I personally like to know that my temporary home is within walking distance of a grocery store.
Always book with SuperHosts (with a few exceptions)
SuperHost (and Airbnb Plus / Airbnb Luxe) properties are typically your safest bets for a great experience. You should stick with these properties for most of your stays.
With that said, there are a lot of great hosts that simply haven’t managed to earn the “SuperHost” title yet. If you are not averse to a little adventure, some hosts will offer fantastic discounts on their properties for the first few people to book them. Since they need to raise their review counts to list higher on Airbnb’s search results, they’ll often offer 15-20% off. (This is also true for SuperHosts with a new addition to the collection of properties they manage.) We snagged a great offer from a SuperHost with a new, unrated property for next summer.
Use Neighborhood Scout to scope out an Airbnb’s neighborhood before booking
As Airbnbs are typically private properties, they tend to be located in more residential areas than hotels. If you’re having doubts about the neighborhood in which an Airbnb is located, you can search that neighborhood at Neighborhood Scout. It'll give you all kinds of useful information about the area.
Read between the lines on common Airbnb descriptor words
As you learn how to book on Airbnb, you'll notice that listings tend to use a vocabulary of code words to describe their spaces. It’s pretty hilarious once you start to see the pattern. Some of these code words include:
- cozy or quaint = small
- up and coming = rough-er neighborhood
- comfortable = worn-in
- trendy = (who knows?!)
Anyway, be on the lookout for these ambiguous descriptors and try to read between the lines.
Beware of multiple Airbnb properties using the same listing photos
Corporate Airbnb properties have become more common recently, and you’ll often find that the company (host) managing these spaces uses the same photos with generic furniture for several listings. I try to avoid these listings. I don’t feel comfortable booking somewhere where the images aren’t of the exact space I'm staying in.
Always pay for your Airbnb with a credit card offering travel insurance
With credit cards providing travel insurance, even paying a fraction of the bill on the card can activate the coverage. For this reason, I always use my Chase Sapphire Reserve® to pay for part of every Airbnb.
Airbnb Cancellation and Refund Policies
Airbnb hosts can set cancellation policies, which can vary from very friendly to really strict. Since these can vary, it's worth understanding how to find the cancellation policy. Airbnb has a guide to finding this information, pointing out how to find it before booking, after booking but before check-in, in extenuating circumstances, or if you're the host and need to cancel.
If you cancel before check-in, you should receive a refund on any applicable cleaning fees, plus eligible refund amounts depending on the host's policy. Airbnb also charges a service fee (rates vary) that you will pay when confirming a reservation. This fee is refundable if you cancel before check-in. However, data points show that Airbnb will only refund this fee 3 times in a rolling 12-month period. Also, it's not always automatic, so you typically need to ask for this fee to be refunded.
Final Thoughts
Traveling can be intimidating enough on its own. One of the perks of booking a hotel is that it can provide consistency. Where Airbnb shines, however, is how it can offer other valuable traits for your trip, like unique experiences and interactions with locals. Both options have a place, depending on the circumstances of your travel.
There is an unmistakable learning curve to learning how to book Airbnb. However, if you’re willing to put some effort into the process, the payout can be a unique, personalized, and unforgettable travel experience. Whether you’re looking to save money or have a memorable experience, Airbnb might be exactly what your vacation needs.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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