Do you travel a lot and hate paying full price for temporary accommodation? Airbnb is offering a $40 bonus on your first booking, sign up through the sign up buttons below, of $75 or more, and then you can refer your friends and family for more free credits through their referral program. Airbnb is a person-to-person vacation rental and guest hosting network that rents out everything from private rooms to entire houses.
You can join Airbnb today and list your place to rent out for people in their community marketplace. You can rent out any type of accommodations whether you have a spare bedroom, empty apartment, or an entire house. Sign up today and get your $40 bonus through their referral program!
Get started by using the “Sign Up” button below, sign up for an account and book a stay where your next destination is!
About Airbnb
Airbnb is a lodging site that functions as part of the sharing economy; essentially, people rent out their rooms, apartments, and houses to people looking for a place to stay. While there are lots of sites that focus on site and apartment rentals, Airbnb is the biggest one of all. They claim more than 600,000 listings in 192 countries.
Using Airbnb allows you to stay in a wide range of lodging, from simple futons on the ground to really nice apartments in funky neighborhoods to luxury villas steps from the beach. There are even castles, treehouses, and Airstream trailers. And because nearly all of what you pay goes to the owner directly, you’re keeping your money close to the ground.
How It Works
After you submit a reservation request, your host has 24 hours to accept it. Keep in mind that hosts are not required to accept you — it’s entirely at their discretion. (Also keep in mind that some hosts don’t keep their calendar up to date and may not have the availability the site claims.)
If 24 hours elapse, the reservation is rejected and you pay nothing.
Note: Don’t wait until the last minute with Airbnb. If you’re in need of a booking that same day, hotels or hostels are a better bet.
Keep in mind that Airbnb charges a 6-12% fee on top of the room cost. (Airbnb also charges hosts 3% on their end as well.)
After your host accepts, your credit card will be charged. If there’s a security deposit or cleaning fee — and the profile will say whether there is — you will be charged these fees as well. A security deposit will be refunded at the discretion of the host; a cleaning fee cannot be refunded.
From there, you and your host can arrange a time to meet at the property.
Tip: To have as smooth an arrival as possible, put your host’s number in your phone and give them specific details about your arrival. It’s not a bad idea to give them a flight number, just in case you get delayed.
Finding A Place
Airbnb has properties available in pretty much all major cities around the world. The search function is easy enough to use, and works basically the same as the popular hotel sites.
You can search by map or by list, and can filter by price, housing type and amenities. One thing I don’t like is you can’t filter by area/suburb, or at least I couldn’t figure out how to.
Sending Your Request
It’s a smart idea to contact your prospective host before booking and ask any questions that you have. Be sure to read through the profile in advance and see if your questions are answered in there. But if they’re not, don’t be shy — this is the time to voice any and all of your concerns.
Here are some questions that may help your experience:
- How is the wifi quality? Does it work consistently?
- How late does public transportation run?
- Will I have my own set of keys?
Note: Don’t ask “Is it safe?” That question will put your host on the defensive. Instead, ask, “Do you recommend taking a taxi home at night, or would it be safe for me to walk?”
Being Courteous
Be considerate, especially if you’re sharing the rental with your host or other guests, and don’t overstep your boundaries. You’re paying to use their space, and that doesn’t include eating their food, drinking their booze, or using their toiletries. Don’t leave messes for your host to clean up. Don’t have guests over (unless your host says it’s okay). If you’re traveling with your partner, keep your late-night shenanigans on a low.
Ask before you use anything not mentioned in the profile. Yes, your host has a treadmill and a fancy blender, but are you allowed to use them? Just ask. This is another reason why it’s good to have your host’s number in your phone already.
Some hosts like to spend time with their guests; some prefer to keep their distance. Be friendly to your host and let him or her take the lead. Respect your host’s space, both physically and emotionally, and don’t think that you need to be in conversation whenever you’re in the same room.
Above all, communicate. If something’s wrong, don’t let it fester — talk to your host right away.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
If something goes wrong with your Airbnb stay, you have support. While Airbnb recommends that you work things out personally if it’s a small matter or involve the police if you’re in danger or laws are broken, they also have a 24-hour help line for both hosts and guests.
Payments and fees
The total price of a reservation on Airbnb is based on a few factors. Note that the price is charged in full once a host accepts your reservation request (or if you use Instant Book).
Costs determined by the host:
- Nightly price: Nightly rate decided by the host
- Cleaning fee: One-time fee charged by some hosts to cover the cost of cleaning their space
- Extra guest fees: One-time fee charged by some hosts to cover other costs related to using their space
Costs determined by Airbnb:
- Airbnb service fee: Guest service fee charged for all reservations to help Airbnb run smoothly and offer 24/7 customer support
Other costs that may be included:
- Currency exchange fee
- Value Added Tax (VAT): Tax charged to guests who live in the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, South Africa, and Japan (charged as JCT).
- Local taxes—Any taxes charged based on the location of the host’s listing
Note: Security deposits are only charged if the host needs to make a claim
Airbnb Promotion Info
- Sign Up!
- Promotion: Get a $40 Bonus Towards Your First Trip of $75 or More
- Availability: Nationwide
- Terms: Must book a Qualifying Reservation which must have a total value (excluding guest fees or taxes) indicated in the referral invitation. It must be booked and paid for via the Airbnb platform, and the referred friend must complete the stay before the Airbnb User can receive Travel Credits.
Get $40 to Travel with Airbnb:
- Sign up for Airbnb.
- Explore unique places to stay during your business trip or vacation.
- Contact your host to learn about their place.
- Book a stay with your host in a great location and use the $40 credit off of your stay of $75 or more.
About Airbnb:
Airbnb is an online service that allows to people to set up their homes as places to stay for travelers in the area. Customers pay the hosts, but the hosts must pay a certain commission to Airbnb due to it acting as a broker. Hosts are protected from vandalism from guests by the company providing a 1 million secondary insurance plan for all of its hosts. Guests can look up lodging through filters such as date, price, and location. Although Airbnb receives commission from hosts, hosts are the ones who determine the price for customers, and have the control over their own lodging.
Bottom Line
Unforgettable trips start with Airbnb. Find adventures nearby or in faraway places and access unique homes, experiences, and places around the world. Book your stay at a place nearest to your adventure. If you sign up today, you’ll receive $40 off your first stay of $75 or more.
Airbnb definitely has my tick of approval and I plan on using it much more in future. It’s not exactly ideal for super budget travelers, as dorms and even private hotel rooms are likely to be cheaper, but for those who want a bit more privacy and flexibility it’s definitely a better option than hotels!
Feel free to comment below and share your experiences with Airbnb! We’d love to hear what you’d have to say! Don’t forget to check out more ways to Save Money, earn some Free Money, and save even more money with Discounted Gift Cards!
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