Booking places to stay
Booking places to stay
The basics
- How-to
Booking a trip: What to do if you’re new
Learn about Airbnb’s booking process, how to confirm your reservation, special offers direct from a Host, and more. - How-to
Booking for friends and family
Airbnb reservations for personal travel need to be booked by the person who's going to stay at the listing. - How-to
Asking to visit before booking
We encourage all guests to complete their bookings through our website before meeting in person to ensure their safety and privacy. - How-to
Booking split stays
Split stays is a feature that allows you to split longer stays between two different listings. - How-to
Flexible ways to search
Guests can discover more flexible ways to travel using Categories—browsing millions of homes they never knew existed. - How-to
Being a considerate guest
From sharing your story in your bio section to leaving honest reviews, connecting with other members of our community is key to traveling wi… - Guide
AirCover for guests
Every booking comes with AirCover for guests. If there’s a serious issue with your Airbnb that your Host can't resolve, we’ll help you find … - Legal terms
AirCover for guests and travel or reservation insurance
AirCover for guests is different from travel or reservation insurance. AirCover for guests is provided for free with every booking, while tr… - How-to
If your reservation couldn't be completed
Identity verification, reservation screening, payment issues, and availability are some reasons why you might not be able to complete a rese…
Requirements
- How-to
Booking requirements
After the basics (name, email, and phone number) we need a little more info in order for you to book your stay. - Community policy
Age requirements
You must be at least 18 to book a reservation or host your place on Airbnb. - Rules
Traveling with children
Yes, children can travel on Airbnb, but some Hosts have specified that their space may not be safe or suitable for children or infants. - Community policy
Accessibility Policy
Our community is built on the principles of inclusion, belonging, and respect, which includes welcoming and supporting people with disabilit… - Rules
Booking in Cuba
Airbnb has been granted special authorization by the US Department of Treasury that allows us to offer authorized travel services to non-US … - How-to
Booking in Japan
Get helpful info on what you need to know before booking a stay in Japan, including info you’ll give your Host.
Host interactions and pre-approvals
- How-to
Contacting Hosts
If you want to find out more about a listing, Host, or experience before booking, you can message the host on Airbnb. - How-to
How an invite to book works
A pre-approval is a way for a host to let you know that their listing is available when asked about a potential reservation. You have 24 hou… - How-to
What does it mean if a host pre-approves me?
If a host pre-approves you, you can automatically book your reservation for the dates you’ve inquired about without waiting for another resp… - How-to
Invites and special offers
You can contact a host about their place before requesting to book it. The host then has the option to pre-approve you or give you a special… - How-to
When to message your Host
You can book a reservation without contacting the Host beforehand, but it’s a good idea to message the Host if you have questions. - How-to
Contacting a Host without booking a reservation
Before you book you can ask a Host specific questions about a listing, availability, and more. - How-to
If a Host asks you to sign a contract
Some Hosts require a rental agreement to secure a reservation but they must disclose this requirement and its terms prior to booking.
Reservation requests
- How-to
How to book Instant Book and regular listings
Once you’re ready to book, you can send a request to the Host, or message them with any questions. - How-to
Cancel or withdraw a trip request
As long as your pending trip request hasn’t been accepted, you can cancel the reservation through the message thread with your Host. - How-to
Find your reservation status as a guest
You can check the status of your reservation by visiting your Inbox or by going to Trips and finding your reservation. - How-to
Understanding your reservation status
Find details on the various statuses your reservation may go through. - How-to
Host response time
Hosts have 24 hours to officially accept or decline a reservation request. You'll be updated by email with the status.