10 Hacks to Score a Cheap Airbnb Rental Last Minute or a Year From Now!
Read my personal tips for scoring a cheap Airbnb and other Airbnb rental tips!
Check out my simple ways to score a cheap Airbnb rental when traveling. Plus, we share some of our personal Airbnb savings hacks! After reading this post, you may find yourself opting for Airbnb rentals over hotels when traveling.
Here are many of the benefits you may experience when booking an Airbnb:
- Cost-effective: Often cheaper than booking multiple hotel rooms, especially for larger groups or families.
- More space: Offers the comfort of a full home where everyone can spread out, making it more relaxing than cramped hotel rooms.
- Home-like atmosphere: Provides a comfortable living environment, perfect for spending quality time together.
- Outdoor access: Many Airbnbs offer outdoor spaces, allowing you to enjoy fresh air and nature, unlike being confined to a hotel room.
- Flexibility: Greater freedom to move around and personalize your stay compared to traditional hotels.
- Pet-friendly options: Some Airbnbs allow you to bring your pets which help you save on boarding or pet-sitting costs.
- Unique properties: You can find charming and cozy places, like cabins with mountain views, often at a better price than local hotels or motels.
- Convenient amenities: Features like comfy couches, multiple bathrooms, well-stocked kitchens, and games make travel more comfortable, especially for families with kids.
- Money-saving on meals: Having a kitchen lets you cook your own meals, reducing the cost of dining out for every meal.
Here are ways you may be able to book a cheap Airbnb rental for your new trip:
1. Look for newer Airbnb rental listings.
Booking new listings on Airbnb can lead to significant savings because hosts often set lower prices to attract their first guests and build positive reviews. These competitive rates can provide a more affordable option compared to established properties. Additionally, new listings may offer special promotions or discounts to encourage bookings, allowing travelers to enjoy a quality stay at a reduced cost while supporting new hosts.
Collin loves Airbnb and has had great luck booking new listings to save money! Here’s her advice:
“When searching for a budget Airbnb in Boise to visit family, I noticed a listing with a much lower price than similar rentals. Upon checking, I found it had zero reviews, likely because the homeowner was trying to attract renters. Since I’m familiar with Boise, I felt comfortable booking it. If you’re not familiar with your destination, consider asking a local friend or checking the city’s subreddit for insights. While it can be intimidating to book a no-review property, I see it as a chance to help the homeowner launch their rental in exchange for a great deal! Just look for the blue ‘NEW’ tag on listings to find these homes.” – Collin, Hip CEO & Founder
2. Adjust the length of your stay.
Many listings offer an extra discount when you stay longer. Depending on the time of year, Airbnb users have seen percentages of up to 30% off if they book for 7 days or longer. If you can swing it, try to extend your 5 or 6-night stay to a full week to take advantage of any possible discounts. On the flip side, it never hurts to ask a seller before booking if they offer a discount if you don’t see it advertised.
We’ve also seen discounts when renting out an Airbnb for even longer. While most people aren’t looking for a rental as long as this Hip reader, here’s what she had to say:
“We used a great Airbnb last year for 6 weeks because we were in the middle of a major move. It was cheaper to take a longer reservation than try to break it up into smaller reservations. We also used Airbnb another time for 2 weeks when we went to Arizona for a wedding. We noticed that it was the same thing — the longer you stayed, the cheaper it was.
Plus, the house was huge so we shared it with other family members and split the cost. Both Airbnbs were way cheaper than staying in a hotel and I love that you have a kitchen and other amenities of a home.”
3. Don’t be afraid to barter.
You may be able to barter the price of an Airbnb when booking, especially if you’re flexible with your travel dates or if the property has low occupancy. Many hosts are open to negotiation, particularly if they want to fill their calendar or if you’re booking last minute. By reaching out to the host with a reasonable offer, you can potentially secure a lower rate, making your stay more affordable while also helping the host maximize their booking opportunities.
“I was searching for Airbnbs around the beach we were planning to vacation at and found the perfect house! I had messaged the homeowner about possibly getting a discount since we were planning to stay longer than a week. Luckily, she was thrilled to agree and sent us a special offer! It only took me sending one message to save on two nights of vacation! Woohoo!” – Sara, Hip Sidekick
4. Pay attention to the calendar on the listing you want to book to potentially secure lower nightly rates.
You may be able to book an Airbnb for an additional night or two at a discount because hosts often save on cleaning fees when they don’t have to turn over the property for a new guest immediately.
This strategy however is likely most effective if you already have a booking for the property and you’re able to be flexible at the last minute.
For example, if you discover that a host has a day gap before or after your scheduled stay, you may be able to get a significantly discounted rate if you message them offering to extend your stay. This benefits both parties: you save money, and the host fills the gap in their calendar without incurring extra cleaning costs.
“I was thrilled to extend my Airbnb booking for TWO extra nights after the host reached out to me about a one-day gap on their calendar before my stay began. I posted a photo above of the actual message I received. After some discussion with the host, I also noticed there was a day gap after my stay and remembered they typically didn’t allow Sunday checkouts due to having no cleaners. This allowed me to negotiate a second extra night making my original trip a two-night stay into a 5 day – 4 night stay! Yes, the discounted price might seem high at $495/night, but this happened to be a luxury property we were sharing with 20 other people during my wedding weekend so it felt like the Airbnb jackpot!” – Sara, Hip sidekick
5. Be loyal to your host and have good communication.
Be an excellent guest and try to build a relationship with the Airbnb hosts when chatting via message. Hosts are known to offer incentives, discounts, and more flexibility when they know you’re a guest who is likely to return or stay at one of their other properties in the future. It also helps to be transparent about who will be staying at the property especially if you’re sharing it with friends and family. Good communication is a win-win for both you and the hosts.
“I highly recommend developing a relationship with the host. A group of my friends and I stay at the same place during a popular weekend in the ski town south of me. Since we’ve stayed in contact with the Airbnb host and have left positive reviews, they always give our group priority for booking, which is great because it’s always such a busy weekend and locations fill up quickly!
The hosts have even opened up other areas of the house to use additional rooms at no extra cost. Plus, they keep our rate the same each year even if other properties around it have raised their prices.” – Emily, Hip sidekick
6. Book the Airbnb rental last minute to save big.
Airbnb hosts tend to drop the nightly cost when it comes down to the last minute to help their listings stand out from the other competition that’s still available. This is also a good time to practice your negotiation skills if you notice the listing you’ve had your eye on still hasn’t come down in price. Sure, the host could ignore or deny your offer, but many are willing to barter, especially if it means that their space will be occupied rather than sit empty. Being flexible about booking last minute may also allow you to stay at super unique or luxurious stays you may not have been able to afford at the regular nightly rate.
On the flip side, looking far in advance can also have its advantages to try and score a cheap Airbnb. If you know an event near an Airbnb location will cause booking prices to jump, make your reservation early to lock in the low price.
7. Book directly with the host outside of Airbnb if it’s a hotel or larger company.
Large hotels are starting to do more and more advertising on Airbnb. This normally gets them lots of extra traction that they normally wouldn’t see when just using their site or other sites like hotel search engine sites.
But what you might not know is that even though you found them on Airbnb, it doesn’t mean that you have to book with them. In fact, oftentimes they might even be cheaper when booking directly through the hotel since they won’t have to pay Airbnb their fee for giving them a spot on their site.
For example, I was recently browsing for an Airbnb in Philadelphia for a week-long trip and it would have been $1,043. Come to find out, Sonder is an up-and-coming chic hotel so I did some digging…
When taking an extra minute to look them up on Google, I found that for the same room and the same exact dates, the cost was only $938 total! On Airbnb, they’re charging $137/night while on Sonder’s site, they’re charging $122/night. That’s a savings of $105 – that’s almost an entire night, FREE! 🙌 In conclusion, always book a hotel directly on their website. Yippee for a cheap Airbnb rental hack!
And to make matters even sweeter, this particular hotel offers a 15% member discount (free to join!), so there are even more potential savings when booking directly through them.
“I have a short-term rental on Airbnb and VRBO, but also have my own direct booking site. It’s 20% less without all of the platform fees!” – Ashley, Hip reader
8. Cross-check other rental websites before you book.
Many home renters and property management companies will use a variety of vacation renting sites for the same listing. It’s a good idea to check multiple sites not only for cost savings but for the selection of homes available, too!
Sometimes, the final cost can be cheaper depending on the fees or special offers they may be running. Vrbo and Homestay are reliable vacation rental websites that offer a variety of listings similar to Airbnb.
Booking.com is another option you may not have considered. Here, I have found many boutique hotels and international stays at a discount that were also listed on Airbnb for more. Oftentimes, you can find “Limited Time Deals” and save with a Booking membership (free to join).
9. Travel during off-peak times to avoid inflated costs.
Traveling during off-peak times is a great way to book cheaper Airbnb rentals because demand is lower, which often results in hosts reducing their rates. As a bonus, popular destinations tend to be less crowded during these periods, giving you more accommodation options at a better price.
Additionally, off-season travel can offer a more relaxed experience without the usual tourist hustle, allowing you to enjoy your trip while saving money on lodging. Traveling during opposite seasons can drastically affect your experience, so it’s important to learn when the peak travel times are for your destination because even just a week after those dates could save you a significant amount of money without compromising on your overall experience.
“I recently saved a TON of money planning my honeymoon in Greece because we traveled just outside of the peak months. Literally traveling just a week after their ‘summer season’ saved us thousands of dollars during our two-week trip and this rippled into saving on our flights and even the food was more affordable. The best part is that it still felt like peak season because the weather was still absolutely gorgeous and we didn’t deal with an overwhelming amount of crowds. I will forever be researching every new area I travel to now to save on off-peak dates.” – Sara, Hip sidekick
10. Search Airbnb for properties with fewer luxuries and amenities.
Avoiding extra amenities and luxuries when booking an Airbnb can significantly reduce your costs. Properties with high-end features like pools, hot tubs, or luxury furnishings tend to have higher rates. By opting for a simpler rental without these extras, you can still enjoy a comfortable stay while saving money. Focusing on essentials allows you to find budget-friendly accommodations that meet your needs without paying for features you may not even use, especially if you plan to spend most of your time exploring the destination.
In closing: We love booking with Airbnb!
Airbnb rental costs can vary drastically depending on where you’re going, how long you’re staying, and how much space you need, among other factors. However, as you’ve learned, there are several great ways to save on booking a cheap Airbnb rental.
By using our strategies, they’ll help you get a better deal and also give you the flexibility and comfort of staying in a home-like setting, often with more space and amenities than a traditional hotel. Ultimately, we hope our tips can make your Airbnb experience unforgettable!
Thank you for the wonderful post! We like doing Airbnb also, as of late we have been enjoying the state parks, they also rent cabins for very reasonable rates. We’re in Ga and most Cabins run about 125.00 a night for two bedrooms. You just need to bring your food everything else is provided.
I love AirBnB! We are in one right now with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean! 🐾❤️
I’ve been using vacation rentals for decades, at first with just our kids, then added the granny, now we’ve grown to daughter in laws and grandkids of our own. It is by far the cheapest way for families to travel. Not only is there room for everyone to have their own space, many rentals come with added amenities and cooking meals is much cheaper than eating out. There are a couple of things I’ve learned over the years that I would like to share. First, not all properties are managed by the owners. If a company is listed instead of the owners name, booking directly through that company saves paying double fees. Second, new properties without any reviews are cheaper, but, if it’s a new build, make sure it’s actually completely finished and ready for renters. I rented a property on the beach 6 months before the trip date and received notification 2 days prior to check in that the property wasn’t ready. The listing showed a completed home fully furnished. That was a holiday week and it was difficult to replace it with a equal property. Now I check google earth to make sure the general area on the map doesn’t have any construction.
That is all excellent advice! Thanks so much for sharing!
Oh that is a great tip! Thanks for sharing!
To save more money, next time you stay find out if the host has a book direct website. You’ll save the Airbnb booking fee that way. Many people who host their homes on Airbnb also have their own website.
YES! That is great advice. I will be checking that.
I agree Dora!! I have a short term rental on AirBNB and VRBO, but also have my own direct booking site. It’s 20% less without all of the platform fees!
Thanks for sharing that! Yes great idea to look for a super host. It’s neat to see the unique ones you can stay at. I agree with the pillow. I am that person who takes my pillow everywhere LOL It beats having a stiff neck!
We’ve stayed in so many AirBnB’s over the years; most have been great; love having the extra room when the whole family is along too. One thing I really love is having a washer and dryer for longer trips as hotels don’t usually have these. (Not a laundromat fan.) My DH and I just got back from a 9 day trip to CA to visit some National Parks and the Pacific Coast Highway. We stayed in six different places; only one was a hotel. We booked a couple of nights in the middle of the trip at an AirBnB with a washer/dryer so we were able to pack less. I brought some detergent pods as some places don’t provide supplies; was great to have clean clothes! Two of the places we stayed were on raisin farms and we were able to talk with one owner about the process (and sample freshly dried raisins). Another owner wasn’t home but called and told us where we could pick some fresh pomegranates and grapes on his farm. So fun to be able to find neat places like that!
Wow how unique and fun! I love that Tracey! Sounds like a great time. 🤗💕 Thanks for sharing!
Great info! I love airbnbs over hotels.
Great! Thanks Crystal!
Here is a Hip Tip, we are military, and I always message the owners and ask if they give a discount nine times out of 10 they do.
It never hurts to ask!!
Wow that’s a great tip Wendy! Thanks for sharing!
Oh wow that seems like a nice perk! Thanks for sharing!
I own a cabin rental in the national forest and have been doing it for over 7 years. Actually from experience on the business side, it has much better listings from VRBO. We also have our listings on tripadvisor and homeawayfromhome. The companies do tack on expensive taxes on all of them. When we have people that have stayed with us before, we give them our number to go through us directly next time to save them money. We can save them at least $100. We have a lot of people return with us that love being in the beautiful national forest. Look at their reviews when looking for a property, it will give you an idea on how the property is being taken care of.
Amen to that! I have mentioned that I know some people like firm beds but for some (like me) they are miserable. At least have a topper to use if needed. I have put all the pillows under the sheet to get a little softness. Once we found lots of blankets and I don’t know what all under the mattress cover to try and fill in the divot in the middle of the bed. It was miserable!
Airbnb has been a money-saving and enjoyable way for my family to travel, especially with kids. Renting cozy cabins and condos through Airbnb allowed us to have more space, amenities, and the ability to bring our pets, ultimately leading to memorable vacations. Tips like booking last minute, building relationships with hosts, and cross-checking with other rental sites have helped us find affordable and comfortable accommodations. Overall, Airbnb has been a fantastic option for our travels, and I highly recommend it.
Hi this is a great site that you have, thanks for sharing it with the internet
You’re welcome, Dannie! Glad you’re find Hip to be a helpful resource for you! 🥰
When we are a repeat customer in an airbnb we’ve reached out to the owner via email to book. They often have their own booking sites without all of the extra fees & many will offer a repeat customer code for a percentage off. We’ve saved huge that way!
Oh cool! Thanks for sharing how you’ve been able to snag the savings! 💕🙌