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by Rachel Cohen Rachel has turned points into long international vacations in business class for her family of six. She shares practical, approachable strategies for families who want to travel better for less.

Hi, Reader. I once talked an Airbnb host down from $2,500 to $2,100 for a week-long stay in Germany — with a single polite message. I told them I liked their place but was “comparing it to a few other options,” and asked if they’d consider the lower rate. They agreed immediately and sent a custom offer. That booking taught me something most travelers never test: Airbnb prices aren’t set in stone. With the right timing and tone, you can often get a better deal just by asking.

In my experience, discounts of 10-15% are possible depending on the situation — sometimes a bit more. You won’t cut a $1,000-per-night townhouse to $500, but you might save a few hundred dollars on a longer stay without much effort, or upsetting the host.

Why (and when) negotiating works

At the end of the day, hosts want bookings. Every empty night is lost income, and most would rather fill their calendar at a slightly lower rate than earn nothing. When you reach out with a clear, respectful offer, it can be an easy win-win: They get a guest, and you save money.

Negotiation is more likely to work when:

• Your trip is soon. Hosts may agree to drop their price to avoid an empty night on a date that is soon (and thus more likely to stay empty)
• There’s competition. If many similar listings are available, hosts feel pressure to price competitively. If they are the last option in town, that is not the time to negotiate
• The property is higher-end. Luxury listings often have more margin to work with, have less demand, and losing a night or two is a bigger hit
• You’re staying longer. A week or month is more convenient for the host and comes with a higher average stay price, making a discount easier to justify
• It’s low season. Off-peak travel gives you leverage because demand is weaker and you have the upper hand

In short, the closer your dates and the quieter the market, the better your odds.

How to ask

Start by building a little rapport. If you have a specific price in mind, state it.

Example message:

If they counter slightly higher, accept quickly so the discount doesn’t vanish.

They may also say no, and then, oh well. You can book at the regular price, or choose a different place.

How you'll receive the custom pricing

If a host wants to give you a deal, they’ll send a Special Offer: Airbnb’s term for a custom price. You’ll get a notification that says “[Host Name] sent a Special Offer for [Listing Title] from [Date] to [Date].”

It appears directly in your message thread with the host, comes to you via notification/email, and you must accept within 24 hours before it expires.

What to avoid when negotiating

• Asking for massive discounts
• Requesting too far in advance
• Messaging rudely or saying “What’s your lowest price?”
• Taking the conversation off-platform (you’ll lose Airbnb’s protections and it’s against their terms)
• Negotiating after booking (your leverage is gone)

Other things you can negotiate

• Early check-in or late checkout if there’s no same-day turnover
• Added guest fees
• Cancellation flexibility (for example, asking a host to make a booking refundable until a certain date). When I was expecting a baby, I once asked a host to extend the refundable period so I could ensure the baby was born healthy and ready to travel. They agreed, and it made the booking far less stressful