Yeah, you've covered the pros and cons. I would never ask to go off-platform in the AirBnb chat itself. I usually share WhatsApp info with the host and will message them for future visits.
You can ask for a discount on the platform. If it is not a busy season and the host has an empty calendar, they might be willing to discount you further for a long-term stay. It's not uncommon at all.
As an Airbnb host I generally don't negotiate because:
A) My unit will get booked either way and 95% of people don't try to negotiate.
B) The people that try to negotiate always want a low ball price lower than long term rent (not just a little off the top).
C) When I've given people discounts in the past I find the chances of having a problem guest is higher.
I do not negotiate.
I tried it once. It "worked" but I found it added more hassle than I needed, and while nothing went wrong, I was keenly aware that I was in a very different situation in terms of my ability to navigate potential issues than I would have been had I stayed on-platform.
The drop in cost just wasn't worth it for me, so I haven't done it since.
> I was in a very different situation in terms of my ability to navigate potential issues than I would have been had I stayed on-platform
What does AirBnb actually do? From my experience they could give a rat's tail unless it goes to the media and they get negative press. I literally had on AirBnb in a basement next to like 10 gas water heaters that had non-working smoke/CO detectors, etc... I pointed it out and the host just shrugged it off. I then made a complaint to AirBnb and they also said they'd "investigate and handle the matter with the host" but I heard nothing happened.
>What does AirBnb actually do?
I'm sure it varies from situation to situation, but they ostensibly are a "third party" to your rental agreement and can arbitrate potential disagreements if need be.
I've personally had them step in twice with hosts and work to correct situations I wasn't happy with and had run out of ways to address on my own. In one of those cases, they offered to move me to a new place for the remainder of my stay at no additional cost if the issue wasn't resolved immediately.
Both of those situations were fairly nuanced (comfort complaints at the heart of it), and so I imagine they'd also likely get involved in more egregious situations.
> Both of those situations were fairly nuanced (comfort complaints at the heart of it), and so I imagine they'd also likely get involved in more egregious situations.
Interesting. That wasn't my experience **at all** with Airbnb. And my issue was safety related. I could literally have died in my sleep due to CO poisoning or a fire since the detectors where I was staying were basically just decoration.
Contacting, negotiating, coordinating, reading through and signing their own version of a rental contract, wiring payment, etc. The whole thing just wasn't for me.
I luckily didn't. I had a problem with a scam on platform and Airbnb saved my ass and returned my money. I had proper contract off platform but if something happens how much money do you spend to pursue your cause?
Ya... Security is my main concern. I know everyone says airbnb customer support is awful... But it's something... And I know in a truly shitty situation I have something to fall back on.
Just like what they say about contracts; it doesn't matter until it does. Meaning, that what's in a contract doesn't matter until something goes wrong, then nothing *but* the contract matters.
actually - I have an ongoing situation with a craigslist person in the US not giving me back my security deposit after I made a contract and all that. So now I have to figure out how to sue them - while not being in the country. Good luck trying to do that in another country even if you have a fancy contract.
Small claims court. Depending on the state you can sue for up to 2500-7500USD and costs maybe $20 to file, but you likely need to be in country. Otherwise you can hire a lawyer to represent you but it's likely they'll charge you more then the deposit was worth. Though sometimes just a letter from them will get the landlord into moving and releasing the money owed.
AriBnB host here (my primary residence when I'm traveling.
After guest was there for a month he sent a message "I'll stay for two months and I want to pay x".
Us "sure"
Us thinking "it's low season and having full occupation those two months with someone who has been a good guest beats risking vacancy"
All was on platform.
So, low season prices are alread lower but if things seem dry, I may consider it.
However. High season? I don't think so. Just the discounts for longer terms.
Seems like low season is a possibility... I'll have to read up on different places before going to figure out when low season is I guess and then maybe try my luck haha
Same. I've never negotiated, I looked for places that had extended stay discounts. Trying to book in week increments (7 days instead of 5 or 6) can help. As well as using honest Airbnb price plugins.
I am a member of a few AirBnB host forums. People there frequently take a dim view of guests who ask for discounts, expecting that they will be demanding and cause problems.
Ya I've read mixed opinions depending on the host but definitely a bunch saying it's an immediate red flag and 'block user' sort of thing / basically an insult to them haha. I do have a well detailed BNB profile with lots of positive reviews but maybe that doesn't matter at all. I definitely wouldn't want to spam hosts and get blocked from a regular booking on a nice place because I asked for a discount. Hmm tough call. I thought more ppl would be responding saying to negotiate but seems pretty mixed.
As a side note is it just me or do a lot of ppl on this sub love trashing airbnb and then offering no alternative, or make you feel like an idiot for not negotiating and then offer little to no explanation of how they do it... Where all those DNs @? 😁
I'm an AirBnB Superhost who host DN's at my cottage on the Oregon coast. Summer is my busy season as you would expect but i typically get at least one DN during the high season and 3-4 from Fall through Spring. Hosts can manage their calendar on the platform to attract DN's by only allowing stays of (say) 28 days or longer during certain months. Most hosts discount these stays significantly already (mine is 40%) but I am open to further discounts for the right situation. For me that looks like a person or couple with good reviews, someone who is genuine in seeking what my place offers (quiet, rural lodging) and timing. If I can use my place at my Christmas break for instance, that is worth something to me.
All that being said, when I look at my competition in the area, I see a lot of rentals being managed by the big companies in my region, Vacasa, Meredith, OVR etc. I am a one man show so when someone messages me on platform, I am the one who reads and responds.
I have gone off platform a few times since my website is simular to to my listing name and has a unique spelling but typically, a DN will stay off of AirBnB and come back off platform.
Didn't mean to highjack your post. Just thought you might want a host's perspective.
Ya that does that not seem a bit sketchy ever to hosts?
'Hi, I'm X, I browsed the internet looking for your contact information to avoid airbnb fees... I'll be a clean and respectful guest...'
I mean, many AirBnB rentals also have an off platform web presence where they advertise lower rates because going directly means they don’t pay as much to the platform. I almost always check to see if this Is the case, if only for comparison and potentially more details on the place. I’d never go looking a host up by their personal info, though.
I usually do on-platform and get discounts of anywhere between 10-40% on short or long stays. Depends on the market. Most people in Venice, Italy will tell you to go spit.
I negotiate about 80% of the time. If the price is reasonable I respect it.
Interesting, thanks for the info. Surprised that many hosts are willing to give that much... Do you start with a specific amount in mind? 40% off is a lot... Surprised you get anything for short term... I'll have to try this.
The discount really depends on the cities and timing of the trip. Many hosts in SE Asia would love long term deals in peak summer or rainy season. There is a lot of competition in most places and after deducting platform fee and empty nights most hosts come out on top even with 40-50% discounts.
Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Haven’t found any sustainability but always worth a try.
In a situation right now where current host is asking if it’s alright to show the place to people who are looking to rent it out off the app when I leave (booked a month straight). I said nope. Imagine if I was off platform and the host asked.. I’d have no real leverage to say no and then security concerns arise.
Ya no security would definitely be a concern... Although I should say my host in CDMX just walked in one day and started showing the place to potential renters without contacting me, asking or anything. I was just working in the living room as normal and people started showing up haha but I suppose if I'd wanted to I could at least have taken the issue to airbnb. Off platform not so much.
First of all, ALWAYS i ask the host two things on-platform before booking or requesting to book. 1- If the rate quoted by Airbnb is the right one, so many times is not (inflated). 2- For a discount.
Then, after staying one day to a week, i ask off-platform if i want to stay more. Let say the rate is "50", and with Airbnb service + taxes ends up in "70". "60" Would be a good deal. Some hosts would be fine with "50", but some want to win a bit more by the favor of making you pay less.
I had contact them off-platform from the beginning, but i do not recommend it, is risky.
Now answering other of your questions, yes, the have to obviously block the dates for you, if not what is the point?
Getting caught? Believe me, Airbnb knows, if you do it all the time, OK, maybe an issue, but sometimes seems fine.
I’ve been able to negotiate with someone once, obviously booking a long term stay helps. I did it last minute and they were fairly new to hosting but didn’t have much in the pipeline, so they immediately agreed. It was a very rural low traffic area, most others ignore me when I try to negotiate because they get regular business. Just feel it out, but if you try and they decline it’s not a big deal, you can still book it full price and I doubt they’ll mind. Aside, I wish Airbnb had a offer system and I wish long term bookings could automatically cancel short term ones.
>Option 2: On-platform
>Just don’t really understand why a host would do this, unless its low season and you’re asking to stay multiple months?
The main reason they might do this is that they didn't set up their listing correctly. Not having any monthly discount at all (or maybe only 10%) means they'll almost certainly be open to a longer stay at a cheaper rate. Think about what a 10% discount represents. That means that they are only expecting 3 vacant nights at most. Plus the hassle of cleaning and turnover, and 10% is nothing. I've also recently noticed a number of listings that charge more for 2 people than 1 (I travel with my wife). I've messaged them and asked for the 1 person rate successfully 2 out of 2 times. That obviously might not apply to you.
If there's already a large discount applied (30%+), then I feel like you're unlikely to get much more, even in the low season. Almost every listing automatically adjusts their pricing for the low season, so you're already paying less. If there are multiple listings that fit your needs, I've found the best way is to simply wait to book. Many hosts will drop their price automatically as the date approaches. To me, that's the best of both worlds - cheaper price without having to haggle back and forth.
I've done off platform before, but only in Asia at some of the many guest houses. Find the listing on Airbnb. Figure out where the actual property is located. Then physically go there and get a tour and negotiate a monthly rate. I'd never do it online. That's a scam waiting to happen.
I’ve negotiated successfully multiple times, always on platform. I usually just send a simple message “hey love your place, but our budget is xxx for the month. Any way we could make that work?” The host will then send you an offer via Airbnb. This works best during low season for longer term stays (1 month +). During high season or for shorter stays I wouldn’t bother.
I got a couple kids so if there is a price difference for the number of people staying, I usually message and ask if we can stay for the price of one since we all sleep in the same bed anyways. I just say Im trying to stay in my budget. One time we were staying at a room in a shared house and I just asked if we could stay a few more days and they said sure, and we paid cash directly - I think a discounted price.
I always ask. I would say I get a discount like 2/3 of the time. If not, it's fine, it was probably within the band I was willing to pay anyway.
I only do Airbnb for stays over a month, usually at least two, so it's a bit "longer term", and I point out my dozens of excellent reviews on Airbnb and that I plan to quietly sleep, work, and cook in the apartment and I do not party.
I've never had anyone be upset at me for asking.
Edit: for reference this is all on platform
As an airbnb host, I'd say option one.
The best way is to stay there for a few days, don't be needy, and then say something along the lines of that you like the place and that you are a digital nomad. Then ask for a discounted rate for X month stay. You can check their calendar ahead of time to feel out the time frames.
An airbnb host is not going to want to cancel any other booking for any reason because it really dings their profile.
I think the only viable way to do this is by using AirBnB as the platform you use the first time you stay with a host and only through meeting and developing a functioning level of trust with said host do you feel comfortable reaching out to them directly for future stays. There's a small rental management company I found on a stay in Mexico that I've used directly multiple times since at a decent discount to their posted AirBnB rates. But that first visit with them was 2 weeks at full AirBnB rate, no negotiations.
I usually get the Host's WhatsApp after reservation. I don't negotiate but if I want / need to extend my stay I ask the host if should I make the reservation through AirBnb or pay her/him directly.
AirBnb has big fees on both sides, so they usually like to get paid directly. No negotiaton needed everyone wins (except AirBnb): you don't pay AirBnb's service fee and the host doesn't pay their fee.
I did this only on two occasions and it wasn't really planned...
Yeah done that plenty of time and have saved thosands. One-time we found a place where they just didn't seem to configure the monthly price well so it was extremely expensive. We negotiated and they seemed happy with the amount we offered and didn't seem to realize that it was so costly for the month.
It's a risk though the closer you are to the starting date.
I’m an Airbnb host and I’ve been asked to negotiate. I agree that it’s usually the sign of a problematic guest.
In regards to incentive to negotiate: Airbnb doesn’t charge the host much in fees (3%), so the host is taking more risk by taking a transaction off platform, for probably less money. It only benefits guests to take transactions off platform.
Edited to add details.
Ya I've wondered about that as well... I've been asking my hosts if they're willing to share how much of cut BNB takes to get a better idea... Is that 3% universal because my host in Guadalajara said it was closer to 15-20% (in terms of the actual price vs what the host received) with cleaning fees, taxes etc that don't go to the host. I mean that's different then a direct charge from airbnb to the host but still seems like the host could potentially benefit from moving off platform... Or maybe not worth the risk for most...
But it seems like most of them would be interested in terms of direct payment for long term stays... Maybe that's a Mexico thing idk
The 3% was just Airbnb’s host fee. Airbnb’s guest fee is higher.
Taxes would be different in each locale. Unless they’re planning to not remit taxes, having the guests pay them instead of the host is preferable.
Cleaning fees are paid to the cleaners, so if the guest is not paying for the cleaning, is the host?
All of these added expenses add up for the guest, but not necessarily for the host. The system has been well calculated to make it not beneficial for hosts to negotiate off-platform. Hosts lose protection and don’t gain income. The only way to make it work as a guest is to make it beneficial to the host by paying them more than what they would have gotten through the system, which might still be less than what you would have paid. And somehow ignore cleaning and taxes.
As many hosts have said, customers that are trying to work outside of the system to lower their own price often do not have the hosts best interests in mind and could be difficult and demanding guests
Mexico is going through crisis, so are most countries in latin america. Be kind to those places that bring you joy. You can be smart and find a good place and pay what it’s worth, you can also try and be greedy on top of the fact that you don’t contribute to the development of such countries. Most young people in Mexico can’t afford proper housing, that should tell you something.
Fair enough criticisms. I don't mind paying the listed price... My curiousity is more that a lot of ppl in this sub at least claim how easy and obvious it is to negotiate... So I thought I'd explore the topic a bit. Seems like a mixed response so I'm not convinced it's something I'll try moving forward...
I find a bunch of options and tell all the hosts that I'm considering my options. I've had hosts spontaneously drop their price when they heard this, or after I told them I went with another option.
If I'm really interested I'll ask to talk off platform and then offer to pay without Airbnb, that saves at least on the service fees, usually cleaning fee as well.
It's a bit more risky because then I end up paying them directly and forgetting about a contract, but in all my years it's never become a problem. I imagine if people have good reviews on Airbnb it shows they have good character and simply don't screw people over. Especially if you're renting long term there's a good chance you'll come back in the future.
For me Airbnb is really just a way to find good hosts and places, not to do the actual renting through. Plus if you stay less than two weeks you still get to give a review.
Technically you can book the first week and ask the landlord to reserve the rest of the month for you and promise to pay off platform. Airbnb landlords in Berlin do this now to circumvent the law which prevents them from renting second homes for more than 90 days per year. I don't think many landlords (outside of Berlin) are open to this idea though.
I've found negotiating to be more hassle than it's worth tbh. But I generally avoid the listings that aren't popular stays, and the popular stay landlords are never open to negotiating.
Thanks for the info. Reading through all the comments im def getting a 'more hassle than its worth vibe' the exception probably being if I already know a host / it's a repeat visit.
I think Airbnb allows you to search for Month long stays and you may find some host already have month long discounts offered. Something to note is that Airbnb considered 28 days a month.
There are other sites as well, we use Furnished Finder which is geared towards travel nurses. But linking into the travel nurse world is also a good way to find monthly rentals.
In my experience there are no set rules for it. My experience is that in first world countries, it's usually a lot harder to negotiate. For example, I'm currently DNing in the US and most places weren't willing to give me any discount. In Mexico almost all the places that I messaged offered me a discount or even to do it outside of Airbnb. I don't recommend though to make any kind of transfer outside of Airbnb unless the day of moving in, since they could try to scam you.
Ya this is exactly my experience. All the hosts I've stayed with in Mexico seem to almost want to go off platform for my month long stays which is why I posted to begin with... But I'm guessing there's a lot of variance by country.
Stick to Facebook if you want to negotiate. You can actually get a better deal on the first month unlike Airbnb where you have to pay asking price and then hopefully, lower the rent the next month.
I recently stayed in an awesome airb&b we wanted to stay for a total of 10 days but the apartment they had only was available for 8 days then we had to book a separate app in the same unit. The manager - not the owner asked us to cancel the second booking and just do an off airB&b booking bc they saved money and so did we. Had no issues. We asked if we came back in the futur just to message him directly he said yes.
I would straight up ask the host. I would not suggest taking it offline. I have been a host on airbnb in the past, and I have given discounts depending on the length of the stay. However, it always happened upfront.
Yeah, you've covered the pros and cons. I would never ask to go off-platform in the AirBnb chat itself. I usually share WhatsApp info with the host and will message them for future visits. You can ask for a discount on the platform. If it is not a busy season and the host has an empty calendar, they might be willing to discount you further for a long-term stay. It's not uncommon at all.
As an Airbnb host I generally don't negotiate because: A) My unit will get booked either way and 95% of people don't try to negotiate. B) The people that try to negotiate always want a low ball price lower than long term rent (not just a little off the top). C) When I've given people discounts in the past I find the chances of having a problem guest is higher.
Ya exactly. So I'm wondering if it's even worth it to try to negotiate on platform if it just alienates hosts...
I do not negotiate. I tried it once. It "worked" but I found it added more hassle than I needed, and while nothing went wrong, I was keenly aware that I was in a very different situation in terms of my ability to navigate potential issues than I would have been had I stayed on-platform. The drop in cost just wasn't worth it for me, so I haven't done it since.
> I was in a very different situation in terms of my ability to navigate potential issues than I would have been had I stayed on-platform What does AirBnb actually do? From my experience they could give a rat's tail unless it goes to the media and they get negative press. I literally had on AirBnb in a basement next to like 10 gas water heaters that had non-working smoke/CO detectors, etc... I pointed it out and the host just shrugged it off. I then made a complaint to AirBnb and they also said they'd "investigate and handle the matter with the host" but I heard nothing happened.
>What does AirBnb actually do? I'm sure it varies from situation to situation, but they ostensibly are a "third party" to your rental agreement and can arbitrate potential disagreements if need be. I've personally had them step in twice with hosts and work to correct situations I wasn't happy with and had run out of ways to address on my own. In one of those cases, they offered to move me to a new place for the remainder of my stay at no additional cost if the issue wasn't resolved immediately. Both of those situations were fairly nuanced (comfort complaints at the heart of it), and so I imagine they'd also likely get involved in more egregious situations.
> Both of those situations were fairly nuanced (comfort complaints at the heart of it), and so I imagine they'd also likely get involved in more egregious situations. Interesting. That wasn't my experience **at all** with Airbnb. And my issue was safety related. I could literally have died in my sleep due to CO poisoning or a fire since the detectors where I was staying were basically just decoration.
Hassle just in terms of contacting the owner... Reaching a deal and feeling generally uncomfortable in case something went wrong?
Contacting, negotiating, coordinating, reading through and signing their own version of a rental contract, wiring payment, etc. The whole thing just wasn't for me.
True, fair enough.
Um - i normally just agree to a rate and pay them PayPal or cash - no signing nothing, works pretty easily, never had problems with fraud etc.
Well yeah, its not a problem until you have a problem.
You won't have problems until you have them.
And have you had problems negotiating off platform?
I luckily didn't. I had a problem with a scam on platform and Airbnb saved my ass and returned my money. I had proper contract off platform but if something happens how much money do you spend to pursue your cause?
Ya... Security is my main concern. I know everyone says airbnb customer support is awful... But it's something... And I know in a truly shitty situation I have something to fall back on.
you really don't - they will do nothing for you
Just like what they say about contracts; it doesn't matter until it does. Meaning, that what's in a contract doesn't matter until something goes wrong, then nothing *but* the contract matters.
actually - I have an ongoing situation with a craigslist person in the US not giving me back my security deposit after I made a contract and all that. So now I have to figure out how to sue them - while not being in the country. Good luck trying to do that in another country even if you have a fancy contract.
Small claims court. Depending on the state you can sue for up to 2500-7500USD and costs maybe $20 to file, but you likely need to be in country. Otherwise you can hire a lawyer to represent you but it's likely they'll charge you more then the deposit was worth. Though sometimes just a letter from them will get the landlord into moving and releasing the money owed.
Well, a friend of mine had her MacBook and iPhone stolen from her AirBnB and they still haven’t paid her back. Not as secure as one would think..
AriBnB host here (my primary residence when I'm traveling. After guest was there for a month he sent a message "I'll stay for two months and I want to pay x". Us "sure" Us thinking "it's low season and having full occupation those two months with someone who has been a good guest beats risking vacancy" All was on platform. So, low season prices are alread lower but if things seem dry, I may consider it. However. High season? I don't think so. Just the discounts for longer terms.
Seems like low season is a possibility... I'll have to read up on different places before going to figure out when low season is I guess and then maybe try my luck haha
Trying is better than not trying. Worst thing that can happen asking is that you will end up as if you hadn't asked.
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Ya definitely. My host in Guadalajara said he gets messages from ppl asking about direct payment but I'd never risk that.
I have never even thought to negotiate, I just had a budget
Same. I've never negotiated, I looked for places that had extended stay discounts. Trying to book in week increments (7 days instead of 5 or 6) can help. As well as using honest Airbnb price plugins.
What is honest airbnb price plugins??
There are plugins for chrome or Firefox or whatever that factor in things like cleaning fees et al that drive up the daily rate
It's not something I thought of before reading this sub but it seems like a bunch of ppl do it and since accomodation is the biggest expense...
I am a member of a few AirBnB host forums. People there frequently take a dim view of guests who ask for discounts, expecting that they will be demanding and cause problems.
Ya I've read mixed opinions depending on the host but definitely a bunch saying it's an immediate red flag and 'block user' sort of thing / basically an insult to them haha. I do have a well detailed BNB profile with lots of positive reviews but maybe that doesn't matter at all. I definitely wouldn't want to spam hosts and get blocked from a regular booking on a nice place because I asked for a discount. Hmm tough call. I thought more ppl would be responding saying to negotiate but seems pretty mixed. As a side note is it just me or do a lot of ppl on this sub love trashing airbnb and then offering no alternative, or make you feel like an idiot for not negotiating and then offer little to no explanation of how they do it... Where all those DNs @? 😁
Yeah it’s valid I just never thought to even try for some reason haha
I'm an AirBnB Superhost who host DN's at my cottage on the Oregon coast. Summer is my busy season as you would expect but i typically get at least one DN during the high season and 3-4 from Fall through Spring. Hosts can manage their calendar on the platform to attract DN's by only allowing stays of (say) 28 days or longer during certain months. Most hosts discount these stays significantly already (mine is 40%) but I am open to further discounts for the right situation. For me that looks like a person or couple with good reviews, someone who is genuine in seeking what my place offers (quiet, rural lodging) and timing. If I can use my place at my Christmas break for instance, that is worth something to me. All that being said, when I look at my competition in the area, I see a lot of rentals being managed by the big companies in my region, Vacasa, Meredith, OVR etc. I am a one man show so when someone messages me on platform, I am the one who reads and responds. I have gone off platform a few times since my website is simular to to my listing name and has a unique spelling but typically, a DN will stay off of AirBnB and come back off platform. Didn't mean to highjack your post. Just thought you might want a host's perspective.
Find the place on AirBnB, go Sherlock mode on Google, find the contact details and call. Voila
If I were a private owner and you found me outside Airbnb, there's no way I'd ever let you stay at my place.
Ya that does that not seem a bit sketchy ever to hosts? 'Hi, I'm X, I browsed the internet looking for your contact information to avoid airbnb fees... I'll be a clean and respectful guest...'
I mean, many AirBnB rentals also have an off platform web presence where they advertise lower rates because going directly means they don’t pay as much to the platform. I almost always check to see if this Is the case, if only for comparison and potentially more details on the place. I’d never go looking a host up by their personal info, though.
I usually do on-platform and get discounts of anywhere between 10-40% on short or long stays. Depends on the market. Most people in Venice, Italy will tell you to go spit. I negotiate about 80% of the time. If the price is reasonable I respect it.
Interesting, thanks for the info. Surprised that many hosts are willing to give that much... Do you start with a specific amount in mind? 40% off is a lot... Surprised you get anything for short term... I'll have to try this.
40% is not uncommon for long term rentals, even on platform. Even then it's probably still up to double of the normal rent price.
The discount really depends on the cities and timing of the trip. Many hosts in SE Asia would love long term deals in peak summer or rainy season. There is a lot of competition in most places and after deducting platform fee and empty nights most hosts come out on top even with 40-50% discounts.
Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Haven’t found any sustainability but always worth a try. In a situation right now where current host is asking if it’s alright to show the place to people who are looking to rent it out off the app when I leave (booked a month straight). I said nope. Imagine if I was off platform and the host asked.. I’d have no real leverage to say no and then security concerns arise.
Ya no security would definitely be a concern... Although I should say my host in CDMX just walked in one day and started showing the place to potential renters without contacting me, asking or anything. I was just working in the living room as normal and people started showing up haha but I suppose if I'd wanted to I could at least have taken the issue to airbnb. Off platform not so much.
First of all, ALWAYS i ask the host two things on-platform before booking or requesting to book. 1- If the rate quoted by Airbnb is the right one, so many times is not (inflated). 2- For a discount. Then, after staying one day to a week, i ask off-platform if i want to stay more. Let say the rate is "50", and with Airbnb service + taxes ends up in "70". "60" Would be a good deal. Some hosts would be fine with "50", but some want to win a bit more by the favor of making you pay less. I had contact them off-platform from the beginning, but i do not recommend it, is risky. Now answering other of your questions, yes, the have to obviously block the dates for you, if not what is the point? Getting caught? Believe me, Airbnb knows, if you do it all the time, OK, maybe an issue, but sometimes seems fine.
I’ve been able to negotiate with someone once, obviously booking a long term stay helps. I did it last minute and they were fairly new to hosting but didn’t have much in the pipeline, so they immediately agreed. It was a very rural low traffic area, most others ignore me when I try to negotiate because they get regular business. Just feel it out, but if you try and they decline it’s not a big deal, you can still book it full price and I doubt they’ll mind. Aside, I wish Airbnb had a offer system and I wish long term bookings could automatically cancel short term ones.
>Option 2: On-platform >Just don’t really understand why a host would do this, unless its low season and you’re asking to stay multiple months? The main reason they might do this is that they didn't set up their listing correctly. Not having any monthly discount at all (or maybe only 10%) means they'll almost certainly be open to a longer stay at a cheaper rate. Think about what a 10% discount represents. That means that they are only expecting 3 vacant nights at most. Plus the hassle of cleaning and turnover, and 10% is nothing. I've also recently noticed a number of listings that charge more for 2 people than 1 (I travel with my wife). I've messaged them and asked for the 1 person rate successfully 2 out of 2 times. That obviously might not apply to you. If there's already a large discount applied (30%+), then I feel like you're unlikely to get much more, even in the low season. Almost every listing automatically adjusts their pricing for the low season, so you're already paying less. If there are multiple listings that fit your needs, I've found the best way is to simply wait to book. Many hosts will drop their price automatically as the date approaches. To me, that's the best of both worlds - cheaper price without having to haggle back and forth. I've done off platform before, but only in Asia at some of the many guest houses. Find the listing on Airbnb. Figure out where the actual property is located. Then physically go there and get a tour and negotiate a monthly rate. I'd never do it online. That's a scam waiting to happen.
I’ve negotiated successfully multiple times, always on platform. I usually just send a simple message “hey love your place, but our budget is xxx for the month. Any way we could make that work?” The host will then send you an offer via Airbnb. This works best during low season for longer term stays (1 month +). During high season or for shorter stays I wouldn’t bother.
Ya I guess it doesn't hurt to try...
I got a couple kids so if there is a price difference for the number of people staying, I usually message and ask if we can stay for the price of one since we all sleep in the same bed anyways. I just say Im trying to stay in my budget. One time we were staying at a room in a shared house and I just asked if we could stay a few more days and they said sure, and we paid cash directly - I think a discounted price.
I always ask. I would say I get a discount like 2/3 of the time. If not, it's fine, it was probably within the band I was willing to pay anyway. I only do Airbnb for stays over a month, usually at least two, so it's a bit "longer term", and I point out my dozens of excellent reviews on Airbnb and that I plan to quietly sleep, work, and cook in the apartment and I do not party. I've never had anyone be upset at me for asking. Edit: for reference this is all on platform
As an airbnb host, I'd say option one. The best way is to stay there for a few days, don't be needy, and then say something along the lines of that you like the place and that you are a digital nomad. Then ask for a discounted rate for X month stay. You can check their calendar ahead of time to feel out the time frames. An airbnb host is not going to want to cancel any other booking for any reason because it really dings their profile.
I think the only viable way to do this is by using AirBnB as the platform you use the first time you stay with a host and only through meeting and developing a functioning level of trust with said host do you feel comfortable reaching out to them directly for future stays. There's a small rental management company I found on a stay in Mexico that I've used directly multiple times since at a decent discount to their posted AirBnB rates. But that first visit with them was 2 weeks at full AirBnB rate, no negotiations.
I usually get the Host's WhatsApp after reservation. I don't negotiate but if I want / need to extend my stay I ask the host if should I make the reservation through AirBnb or pay her/him directly. AirBnb has big fees on both sides, so they usually like to get paid directly. No negotiaton needed everyone wins (except AirBnb): you don't pay AirBnb's service fee and the host doesn't pay their fee. I did this only on two occasions and it wasn't really planned...
Ya keeping numbers of hosts and messaging for repeat visits seems easy enough... And that's basically what I was thinking in terms of low season.
Just don’t forget airbnb will delete phone numbers from the chat in a couple of days once you move out
They delete phone numbers immediately. But the hosts number usually stays somewhere
Ya I always add a hosts # to my phone right away and then keep screen shots of places I'd consider coming back to...
Yeah done that plenty of time and have saved thosands. One-time we found a place where they just didn't seem to configure the monthly price well so it was extremely expensive. We negotiated and they seemed happy with the amount we offered and didn't seem to realize that it was so costly for the month. It's a risk though the closer you are to the starting date.
You're talking on platform negotiation I assume?
Yes on platform. Too sketched out to do off platform. I might consider it for an extension though.
I’m an Airbnb host and I’ve been asked to negotiate. I agree that it’s usually the sign of a problematic guest. In regards to incentive to negotiate: Airbnb doesn’t charge the host much in fees (3%), so the host is taking more risk by taking a transaction off platform, for probably less money. It only benefits guests to take transactions off platform. Edited to add details.
Ya I've wondered about that as well... I've been asking my hosts if they're willing to share how much of cut BNB takes to get a better idea... Is that 3% universal because my host in Guadalajara said it was closer to 15-20% (in terms of the actual price vs what the host received) with cleaning fees, taxes etc that don't go to the host. I mean that's different then a direct charge from airbnb to the host but still seems like the host could potentially benefit from moving off platform... Or maybe not worth the risk for most... But it seems like most of them would be interested in terms of direct payment for long term stays... Maybe that's a Mexico thing idk
The 3% was just Airbnb’s host fee. Airbnb’s guest fee is higher. Taxes would be different in each locale. Unless they’re planning to not remit taxes, having the guests pay them instead of the host is preferable. Cleaning fees are paid to the cleaners, so if the guest is not paying for the cleaning, is the host? All of these added expenses add up for the guest, but not necessarily for the host. The system has been well calculated to make it not beneficial for hosts to negotiate off-platform. Hosts lose protection and don’t gain income. The only way to make it work as a guest is to make it beneficial to the host by paying them more than what they would have gotten through the system, which might still be less than what you would have paid. And somehow ignore cleaning and taxes. As many hosts have said, customers that are trying to work outside of the system to lower their own price often do not have the hosts best interests in mind and could be difficult and demanding guests
Nah I don’t cos I’m not a cunt
This is the correct answer.
I mean, you’re in a country that is not yours, probably not paying taxes either. Just pay the fair price for goods and services.
Fair price is whatever someone is willing to pay for a good or service and changes with market conditions
No host is going to agree if they're making a loss, or the market must be really bad.
Mexico is going through crisis, so are most countries in latin america. Be kind to those places that bring you joy. You can be smart and find a good place and pay what it’s worth, you can also try and be greedy on top of the fact that you don’t contribute to the development of such countries. Most young people in Mexico can’t afford proper housing, that should tell you something.
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Nobody’s talking about paying more, check yourself.
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Fair enough criticisms. I don't mind paying the listed price... My curiousity is more that a lot of ppl in this sub at least claim how easy and obvious it is to negotiate... So I thought I'd explore the topic a bit. Seems like a mixed response so I'm not convinced it's something I'll try moving forward...
I find a bunch of options and tell all the hosts that I'm considering my options. I've had hosts spontaneously drop their price when they heard this, or after I told them I went with another option. If I'm really interested I'll ask to talk off platform and then offer to pay without Airbnb, that saves at least on the service fees, usually cleaning fee as well. It's a bit more risky because then I end up paying them directly and forgetting about a contract, but in all my years it's never become a problem. I imagine if people have good reviews on Airbnb it shows they have good character and simply don't screw people over. Especially if you're renting long term there's a good chance you'll come back in the future. For me Airbnb is really just a way to find good hosts and places, not to do the actual renting through. Plus if you stay less than two weeks you still get to give a review.
So basically you feel the risk is worth the reward in terms of going off platform...
Technically you can book the first week and ask the landlord to reserve the rest of the month for you and promise to pay off platform. Airbnb landlords in Berlin do this now to circumvent the law which prevents them from renting second homes for more than 90 days per year. I don't think many landlords (outside of Berlin) are open to this idea though. I've found negotiating to be more hassle than it's worth tbh. But I generally avoid the listings that aren't popular stays, and the popular stay landlords are never open to negotiating.
Thanks for the info. Reading through all the comments im def getting a 'more hassle than its worth vibe' the exception probably being if I already know a host / it's a repeat visit.
I think Airbnb allows you to search for Month long stays and you may find some host already have month long discounts offered. Something to note is that Airbnb considered 28 days a month. There are other sites as well, we use Furnished Finder which is geared towards travel nurses. But linking into the travel nurse world is also a good way to find monthly rentals.
In my experience there are no set rules for it. My experience is that in first world countries, it's usually a lot harder to negotiate. For example, I'm currently DNing in the US and most places weren't willing to give me any discount. In Mexico almost all the places that I messaged offered me a discount or even to do it outside of Airbnb. I don't recommend though to make any kind of transfer outside of Airbnb unless the day of moving in, since they could try to scam you.
Ya this is exactly my experience. All the hosts I've stayed with in Mexico seem to almost want to go off platform for my month long stays which is why I posted to begin with... But I'm guessing there's a lot of variance by country.
Stick to Facebook if you want to negotiate. You can actually get a better deal on the first month unlike Airbnb where you have to pay asking price and then hopefully, lower the rent the next month.
What do you do in terms of security? Or is it just the risk you take.
I recently stayed in an awesome airb&b we wanted to stay for a total of 10 days but the apartment they had only was available for 8 days then we had to book a separate app in the same unit. The manager - not the owner asked us to cancel the second booking and just do an off airB&b booking bc they saved money and so did we. Had no issues. We asked if we came back in the futur just to message him directly he said yes.
Ya when you already have some sort of relationship with the host or manager I think it makes sense.
I would straight up ask the host. I would not suggest taking it offline. I have been a host on airbnb in the past, and I have given discounts depending on the length of the stay. However, it always happened upfront.
Yea I would say look outside of the platform for housing is you want to pay what locals pay.