Not all Airbnb bookings are for vacation.
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In fact, I recently booked a three-week stay in the Pyrenees thanks to a bathroom renovation. Because I live in the city center of Barcelona, home to notoriously small apartments that lack guest bedrooms, I didn’t have the option to stay with a friend during the construction. Instead, I’m seeing it as an opportunity to get out into nature.
And while I’m excited for the chance to explore Southern France while holing up in an adorable chalet, it was a challenge to narrow down my booking options—and then find the right property.
If you’re planning a long-stay vacation or simply want to know how to find great long-term Airbnb rentals for your upcoming renovation projects, here’s my advice. These are the amenities and features I looked for during my search, along with my approach to contacting hosts to learn more about potential rentals.
8 pieces of advice on booking long-term Airbnb rentals
Use the map view to compare cost and location
If you aren’t sure where you’re going to stay, I recommend using Airbnb’s map view to get a bird’s-eye view of pricing by region. You might notice that properties in one zone are significantly cheaper.
It could be because they’re an hour away from a popular ski resort, for example, or don’t have a large shopping center nearby. In other words, a significant portion of a rental’s price is based on its location. If location doesn’t really matter to you, you can find steals by avoiding hotspot zones.
Set your dates—and use the ‘month’ feature so you know it’s available
Once you’ve figured out which regions you want to focus on, set your dates. This is important for two reasons. First, because you don’t want to bother falling in love with properties that aren’t available for your dates. The busier the season that you need a long-term rental, the harder it will be to find a property that’s available the whole time. I’ll get to my second point, below.
Look for discounts for long-term stays—and ask hosts directly
Here’s the thing: Airbnb hosts can offer you discounts whenever they feel like it. And many are motivated to give you a little discount for booking a longer stay because it’s easier on the hosts. If it’s during low season, they might even offer more of a discount just to get the rental booked up.
You can (and should) reach out to respectfully ask for a discount for stays over three weeks. Here’s how I do it: Introduce yourself, explain why you’re looking for a long-term rental, and then ask if there’s any chance of getting a discount for a longer stay. Be prepared for a no—but don’t feel weird about asking. (Some renters ask for discounts for two-week stays.)
Figure out your must-haves, then filter properties for them
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of available properties, I recommend filtering those properties for your must-haves. For me, that’s pet-friendly rentals (I’m bringing my perr-hijo, which is Spanish for my dog-son), and rentals with Wi-Fi that’s fast enough for video calls, since I’ll be working.
Figure out what’s important for you—whether that’s a bathtub, hosts that live nearby, pet-friendliness, or another feature. Look for information on it in the Airbnb profile. If you don’t see it mentioned, follow up with the host directly.
Even if you do see it mentioned, you might want to follow up. For me, that was asking for more information about Wi-Fi speeds. If you’re heading to a remote location and Wi-Fi is a priority, especially outside the US, I recommend double-checking on speeds and reliability.
If you’re bringing a dog, look for green space
Pro tip: If you’re bringing a dog, look closely at property pictures. Is there enough greenery nearby? Can you see it from the windows? I also recommend looking at a map of the area for parks and green spaces.
Reach out to your hosts to set the stage
Once again: Don’t be afraid to reach out to the hosts with some questions. After I asked about the Wi-Fi and double-checked that my perr-hijo was allowed, I asked about hiking trails and nearby grocery stores. I have more recommendations than I know what to do with!
Make your language cheat sheet, if necessary
Since I’m visiting France, I plan on making a little language cheat-sheet that will help me chat it up with my host and locals. This part isn’t necessary, but I recommend doing it. Airbnbs often put us closer to locals, especially in rural areas and small towns. Attempts to speak the local language really do go a long way.
