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Everyone has a strong opinion about Airbnb. Some travelers swear by it, while others swear never to use it. Some argue that it harms housing markets, while 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 that it has revolutionized how the world travels.
While the basics of booking an Airbnb are similar to booking a hotel, Airbnb offers several additional features to help you customize your stay. To ensure you have a great experience, here's how to book an Airbnb like a pro.
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How To Find and Book a Great Airbnb
Airbnb-specific search criteria
Airbnb has many faults, but one of its best features is the ability to customize your search in many ways. There are roughly 40 times as many Airbnb rentals as hotels worldwide. So, if your city has 100 hotels, there might be 4,000 Airbnb listings available. That means that you need far more complex search features than you'd utilize when searching for a hotel to find a property that meets your needs.
When you're ready to search for an Airbnb stay, you'll select an area, your dates, and the number of guests. Then you'll be able to add filters the same way you can when booking a hotel, including the number of beds or bedrooms, the number of bathrooms, and the maximum price you're willing to pay. You'll also be able to choose whether you want to rent an entire apartment or a private room in a shared apartment.
In addition to the standard criteria, Airbnb offers several unique search filters. You can filter by accessibility features, host language, property type (apartment, house, hotel, or guesthouse), and booking options (instant book, self check-in, or pet-friendly).
Note that if a property doesn't offer instant bookings, the host will have 24 hours to approve or reject your request. If you're booking at the last minute and don't have time to wait for approval, instant booking lets you confirm your reservation immediately.
Without a doubt, Airbnb's best filters are for individual amenities, including:
- Access to a full kitchen. A kitchen can be one of the key differences between an Airbnb and a standard hotel. Being able to cook reduces travel costs and can be critical when traveling with a family.
- Washer/dryer. Most hotels charge dearly for laundry services, which is another way an Airbnb can help you save costs. However, you can't filter by whether the washer and dryer are in-unit or in-building, so be sure to verify with your host so you know what to expect.
- Free parking. Unlike hotels, Airbnbs may or may not offer a designated parking spot. If you’re driving or renting a car, 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.
You can filter for 17+ additional amenities, ranging from a hot tub to a carbon monoxide alarm. Some cities also offer location filters — if you rent an apartment in San Francisco, you can filter by waterfront. If you rent in Florianopolis, Brazil, you can filter by beachfront.
However, in my experience, the more filters you use, the more limited your results will be. And just because an Airbnb doesn't list something as an amenity doesn't mean it isn't offered. For instance, almost every Airbnb nowadays offers Wi-Fi, but not every Airbnb lists it as an amenity. If it's not listed, it's always good to double-check with the host before booking, but you might not want to filter for it.
The converse is also true — just because something is listed as an amenity doesn't mean it'll be what you expect. For instance, hosts are very loose with how they define a “dedicated workspace.” While this is supposed to be for a desk, if there is a flat surface inside an Airbnb, the host might list the apartment as having a dedicated workspace. If you are working remotely, that might mean you're working on a kitchen countertop or a dining room table.
Luxe: Airbnb also offers higher-end stays, called Luxe, which are five-star vacation rentals. Not every city will offer Luxe properties, so if you select this filter and don't see any results, don't be alarmed.
Guest Favorites: If you want a trustworthy stay, you can also filter by Guest Favorite. Although a relatively ambiguous category of stays, each property with a Guest Favorite tag has been rated highly by at least five guests and meets specific criteria, including standards for cleanliness, location, and communication.
Superhosts: You used to be able to filter by Superhosts, who are among Airbnb's most elite hosts with a long track record of stellar reviews. This filter was removed a few years ago, but you'll still see a tag in the results if your stay would be hosted by a Superhost.
Always read the reviews
It might seem obvious, but disregarding reviews is the primary reason many people have negative experiences with Airbnb. Never book an Airbnb without thoroughly reviewing all the feedback. Previous guests are usually honest about a property's strengths and shortcomings. 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 willing to make 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.
If the apartment is new to the platform, you can check the host's profile to see whether they have reviews from other listings. It's probably safe to rent a new apartment without reviews if the host has hundreds of positive reviews from other Airbnb listings.
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.
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 are 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.
You can find the “Message host” button at the very bottom of a listing, below the reviews and map.
Protect your Airbnb guest rating
An important — yet often overlooked — aspect of the Airbnb platform is hosts' ability to review guests after every stay. As a guest, this adds a new element compared to a hotel stay. Now, you have a greater obligation to be a responsible and courteous guest, since poor reviews may result in rejections of future booking requests.
Host and guests have 14 days after check-out to review each other. Neither review is published until this window has passed or both reviews have been submitted. You don't have to worry about receiving a negative review as a guest in retaliation for writing a negative review of your host.
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 address these issues quickly and efficiently by sharing them 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.
You can find your reviews and all of your past trips in your profile. I recommend filling out your profile with your interests, job, a short bio, and other information if you are just getting started on the platform. You are renting someone's home, so it's helpful for them to get to know you before you arrive.
Understand Airbnb's cancellation policies
Airbnb allows hosts to choose their refund policy from several options. Hosts can set cancellation policies that range from very flexible to very strict. Before booking an Airbnb, it's crucial to understand the refund policy. If there is any chance you will need to cancel or change your reservation, only book an Airbnb that offers free cancellation. All guests receive a 24-hour risk-free cancellation as long as the reservation was confirmed at least 7 days before check-in.
However, cancellation policies will depend on the number of nights, with different policies for long-term stays than for short-term stays.
Here are some of the common cancellation policies for short-term stays (less than 28 nights):
- Flexible: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before check-in.
- Moderate: Free cancellation up to five days before check-in.
- Limited: Free cancellation up to 14 days before check-in, 50% refund if canceled seven to 14 days before check-in.
- Firm: Free cancellation up to 30 days before check-in, 50% refund if canceled seven to 30 days before check-in.
- Non-refundable: Only some hosts provide this option, but if they do, you can get a discount on your stay (normally 10%).
For monthly stays (28 nights or more), you'll see the following refund options:
- Firm: Free cancellation up to 30 days before check-in.
- Strict: Free cancellation for 48 hours after booking, provided the cancellation is at least 28 days before check-in.
After these windows, the first 30 days of monthly reservations are nonrefundable.
As long as you cancel your reservation during the host's free cancellation period, you'll also be refunded all applicable cleaning fees, taxes, and Airbnb service fees. If you haven't already booked your stay, you'll find the cancellation policy at the very bottom of a listing.
How To Maximize Your Airbnb Purchase
Any analysis of how to book on Airbnb shouldn't overlook the points-earning opportunities available during the booking process. 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 the return on your spending:
- Earn the most points per $1 on your Airbnb. The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), American Express® Green Card, and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card all earn 3X transferrable points on general travel purchases like Airbnb.
- Use Airbnb Gift Cards. If you don't have any of the cards above, you can use a card that earns bonus points at office supply stores to buy Airbnb gift cards to use for your next booking. For instance, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) earns 5X Ultimate Rewards points (or 5% cash back) per dollar on the first $25k spent annually on these purchases.
- United Mileage Plus X App. The United MPX app sells Airbnb E-gift cards. It currently awards just 1 United mile per $1 spent on the purchase, but if you use a United credit card, you'll get a 25% bonus.
- British Airways, Delta, or Qantas Airbnb Partnerships. 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), and Qantas (1X Points). British Airways’ portal currently pays out the best at 2 Avios per dollar spent on your booking.
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Go further when you book with Chase Travel℠. Enjoy competitive rates, seamless booking and premium benefits.
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Receive complimentary access to DashPass by DoorDash.
- Member FDIC
- 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
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 can then utilize the British Airways Airbnb portal to book the property I'd already found.
This strategy earns 7,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points and 3,000 British Airways Avios with just one booking. With a baseline value of Ultimate Rewards points and Avios at 2.02¢ and 2.55¢ apiece, respectively (based on what AwardWallet users redeem them for), that would represent a whopping 15% return on my purchase.
Or, if you want to book a cheap Airbnb for a few days, you could select Best Buy as one of your merchants for the $200 annual splurge credit offered by the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. Buy a $200 gift card, get a $200 credit, and use the gift card for a getaway.
- Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- 12X – Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com.
- 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com.
- 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time.
- 1.5X – Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
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.
- Booking long-term stays is tricky. If you are making a reservation for a stay of 28 days or longer, you can use a gift card for the first payment, but you'll need a credit card for monthly payments thereafter.
- Use a card with travel insurance to cover at least part of the bill. I usually buy enough gift cards to cover all but $5 or so of the total. I’ll then cover the remainder with my Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees) to take advantage of the provided travel protection benefits.
If you are based in Europe, you can only use gift cards to book homes, not experiences. However, if you bought a gift card in the U.S. and are a U.S. resident, you can use it to book any home, experience, or service.
To add a gift card to your account, click the three lines in the upper-right corner of the home page. Next, click “Account Settings,” then scroll to “Payments,” and finally to “Gift Card.” Or, click here.
Pro Tips for Booking an Airbnb
You can (and should) bargain for your Airbnb’s price
You can communicate with a host before making a reservation, so, depending on your comfort level, you can also negotiate a better price. This can be equally effective for long-term stays booked in advance or for last-minute stays. If you plan to rent an Airbnb for three months, a host doesn't need to worry about cleaning between guests, turnover, or vacancies. They have a reliable income for the entire time you're there.
Similarly, if you’re going to book properties available for a same-day or next-day arrival, the apartment is likely to sit empty if you don't book it. No host wants their property to be vacant, as it isn't earning money. Consider making a fair offer, and you could secure a fantastic deal. I've found that the vast majority of hosts are willing to offer you a discount; you just need to ask.
Always book with Superhosts (with a few exceptions)
Superhost (and 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, many great hosts simply haven’t earned the “Superhost” title yet. Some new hosts, or experienced hosts with new listings, will offer discounts of 15% or more on their properties to the first few people to book. This helps them raise their review counts, so they rank higher in search results.
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.
Get familiar with Airbnb Support
Unfortunately, there's always a chance that something will go wrong during your stay. You should familiarize yourself with the process to take if something goes wrong during your stay. In short, you'll want to document absolutely everything, keep all communication with your host on the platform, and notify your host and Airbnb within 72 hours of discovery. Dealing with Airbnb Support isn't for the faint of heart, so hopefully these tips prevent anything from going wrong when you rent an Airbnb.
Related: Airbnb Problems? How To Get Help and Request a Refund
Final Thoughts
Traveling can be intimidating enough on its own. One of the perks of booking a hotel is the consistency it provides. Airbnb shines, however, in offering other valuable features for your trip, such as 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 booking on Airbnb. If you’re willing to put in some effort, 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), Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
