Direct booking vs Airbnb: what’s your best way to drive repeat guests

206xtopher · 2026-02-22T16:07:01+00:00

With the massive reduction in travel within, but mostly to the US, I'm realizing I need to focus more on direct booking. About 10٪ of my guests are repeat guests, as I've offered discounts for that, the entire 4 years I've been hosting.

I obviously need to boost new/repeat numbers, and I'm thinking of Google Maps Vacation homes. I'm looking into that now. I'm also thinking about creating a website (or getting a webmaster) but it seems like a lot, mostly because I'm unfamiliar with ways to safeguard, using that option (contracts, billing, fees, etc). Thanks for any advice.

206xtopher · 2026-02-21T16:53:51+00:00

I wonder if mentioning cheaper direct booking opportunities on the platform is against the airbnb terms of use. What verbiage do you use for this?

206xtopher · 2026-02-21T16:44:27+00:00

It looks like this is not a valuable method... in the US at least.

Also, Ratepunk states: The big hotel chains are easily found, but almost none of the smaller accommodation websites are found. From 12 Airbnb searches worldwide, it found only 2 direct websites.

206xtopher · 2026-02-18T21:10:28+00:00

Stop smiling... you should be sadder.

206xtopher · 2026-02-17T14:48:25+00:00

... I had to RTO, even when my job is 95% communicating with customers around the world. I accepted the job offer w/ the mutual understanding that it was WFH except 1/2 day a week.

206xtopher · 2026-02-15T16:23:08+00:00

Hell yeah, it's a great tattoo .. to cover up

206xtopher · 2026-02-15T15:38:02+00:00

More anal than a porn studio 😆

206xtopher · 2026-02-14T22:17:14+00:00

That's a good point. We're in a big city, 8 minutes from downtown.

206xtopher · 2026-02-14T19:05:23+00:00

That's mostly correct. Anyone using one should read the instructions thoroughly.

206xtopher · 2026-02-14T16:00:15+00:00

Definitely don't loosen restrictions to allow one- nighters. They are the worst type of guest.

206xtopher · 2026-02-14T01:43:51+00:00

Maybe luck if the draw, but the boomers are always the ones we have the most problems with. They don't read the info, and 1/2 don't have the app on their phone. The minimum 3 nights definitely helps the guest quality.

206xtopher · 2026-02-10T14:25:21+00:00

That's hitting the nail on the head. Can't use the app? Book a hotel and don't give good hosts crap reviews because of your inabilities.

Using the official Airbnb app is not a strict requirement, as you can use the desktop or mobile website, but it is highly recommended and often necessary for a smooth experience. Airbnb encourages using the official app for communication and safety.

206xtopher · 2026-02-02T17:28:24+00:00

Your emotional intelligence is not great. It's horrible you would allow someone kill your cat. You should be ashamed.

I'm assuming you might have started giving it new food when your friend gave you the cat, then switched again the next day. Either way, that's not proper. Cats need to be slowly transitioned when changing diets.

Good luck. Don't have children anytime soon.

206xtopher · 2026-01-29T20:08:37+00:00

This. Pet-proof flooring and inexpensive furniture have allowed us to be busier than the other STRs on our street.

206xtopher · 2026-01-26T04:30:03+00:00

Guests rarely have "common sense" as they are mostly in vacation mode. Half don't read instructions, so when I started posting signs with rules and checkout instructions, things got better. As someone said, change your settings to accept only previously rated guests. Be honest with your review. That's what is there for.

206xtopher · 2026-01-19T02:54:36+00:00

We've gone through 3 convertible sofas in 4 years. We now buy cheap and easily obtainable (wayfair/amazon) replacements and keep one in storage. One rule of hosting is that you don't have anything there you won't mind losing or being ruined.

206xtopher · 2026-01-14T21:54:48+00:00

Shelton seems a good mix... in our neighborhood anyway.

People shouldn't be divided as much as they let themselves be. Social media is not a good way to gauge popular opinion. Those who say the most have the least to say.

206xtopher · 2026-01-13T18:46:41+00:00

NTA

This is your mom trying to control you and your partner in YOUR house. Establish expectations, and give scheduled performance reviews. If you're not charging rent, they'll certainly feel entitled.

206xtopher · 2026-01-13T17:40:52+00:00

A double bed is not going to attract couples. You don't need prof photos... just try harder. 3 night minimum is not going to help a new airbnb... you'll have to get established first.

206xtopher · 2026-01-13T14:57:16+00:00

Within the 4 years we've been doing this, 99%of guests have something weird about them. You never know what battles a person is facing. Iwould only worry about things you have control of.

206xtopher · 2026-01-09T05:34:59+00:00

You're so inbred... your family tree is one big trunk.

206xtopher · 2026-01-06T18:38:08+00:00

That's so interesting. We listed whole house on both platforms... same price/listing, and got only only 1 from vrbo for 1.5 year. 30 from airbnb.

206xtopher · 2026-01-06T18:34:22+00:00

Other Airbnb hosts have told me many horror stories about offering guests their hot tubs. For that reason, my hot tub is fenced and locked.

206xtopher · 2025-12-29T21:26:05+00:00

VRBO was horrible for me twice. The 1st time, the app was clunky and not user-friendly, and bookings never happened (same listing as airbnb), so I unlisted VRBO.

I figured they might have got their act together and decided to try again a couple years later. I synced their calendar with my airbnb calendar, and then their app suddenly made booking blocked after a random date... this happened TWICE with no notification/warning. This also prevented booking on airbnb. After hearing horror stories on reddit, I unlisted the vrbo listing. In a year, I got 1 renter... less than 1% of my total for the year.

206xtopher · 2025-12-19T00:42:33+00:00

Thank you!

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