Airbnb Coupon Code: Plus Important Airbnb Rental Tips

Are you wondering how you get your first Airbnb coupon code? It’s pretty simple to get the Airbnb discount code. Follow our referral link, and it will get you, on average, $40 off your first applicable Airbnb booking. Although keep in mind, I have no control over the amount. It changes monthly on Airbnb’s end.

Once you’re signed up, we recommend you read the rest of this post about using the Airbnb website and how to have the most enjoyable stay. We’ve used the Airbnb website for five years and have stayed in hundreds of places. Over that time, we’ve learned many tips and tricks to find an excellent short-term rental.

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If You Want a $75 Airbnb Promo Code, Read On

The Airbnb first-time codes vary in the rebate from USD $25 to USD $40. This free credit is for a guest who intends to stay for the first time, hoping people will try out Airbnb’s service and book again in the future.

However, if you sign up to be a host, you’ll get an even greater Airbnb Coupon Code that works. This will provide a first-time host with an equivalent of around USD $75. Sign up as a host here using our referral code to get the discount.

Of course, even $100 in travel credit on Airbnb does not sound like much in many countries. However, we’ve scored some fabulous places for all of $50 a night worldwide. That could be a 50% discount on a three-night stay or more!

2023 Update: Is there a valid airbnb coupon in 2023? The answer is sadly, no. Airbnb has discontinued its Airbnb coupon code at this time. But we encourage you to keep reading for our best tips on how to choose a good Airbnb, make sure you pick good hosts, and most importantly not get scammed. With these tips you'll have a fantastic vacation! 

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tips for maximizing your Airbnb coupon code

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1.) Check Your Settings

The first thing you want to do after you score your Airbnb coupon code that works and begins your search for an Airbnb rental is to make sure your settings are correct. I know this sounds simple, but even though we have messed up the settings on Airbnb’s platform, travel is our life (our job, really).

First, enter the city you are searching for your trip. Next, put in how many people you will be traveling with so you don’t book too many or too few beds. You may notice that the price may increase with more people at your party.

The big thing here is determining if you want an entire place, a private or shared room. We almost always want our apartment. Whole apartments or homes typically cost more than a private room, but we never feel comfortable staying in someone’s home. However, we made a mistake before booking an entire apartment based on a property’s photos and descriptions, only to find out it was a private room in their home. So do your due diligence!

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2.) Set the Dates

This is your chance to set the dates you need. Many hosts will offer discounts for stays longer than a week, and if you stay longer than a month, you may also see a deduction. Airbnb automatically includes this discount on the final price.

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3.) Set Your Price Point

Airbnb allows you to set your price maximum with a line graph. Typically these are the prices of the rentals only. When you get to check out, you will see any additional fees tacked on. Airbnb pushes a 12% fee for using their platform to the guests and 3% to the host. When you check out, you will also see any other charges like city tax and cleaning fees.

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4.) Check the Location

Many times when you start playing with prices and getting pickier with your Airbnb rental, Airbnb’s website will automatically widen your location search. So, pay special attention to the map and location details of the places you are looking at, so your rental is your desired location.

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5.) Turn off Instant Book

Airbnb has implemented a super annoying feature called “Instant book.” Meaning, that when selected, you are only seeing places that you can instantly book, significantly limiting your search results. Airbnb’s interface automatically switches this on for you, so make sure to turn it off unless you are in a hurry and need to book something instantly for the next day.

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6.) Decide if You’re Okay With a Cleaning Fee

Many Airbnb hosts add a cleaning fee to their rental. I’ve seen cleaning fees range anywhere from $5 to $85 per stay. To me, paying a $50 fee for a one to two-night Airbnb rental is not okay, so I will disregard a property when I see this. Longer stays are easier to justify a cleaning fee, depending on the night’s total price.

Cameron and I have received glowing guest reviews over the years as we leave Airbnb clean when we leave. The good reviews give us a bit of negotiating power, and we sometimes ask hosts to knock off the cleaning fee if we promise to leave it the same way we found it. However, as a newbie Airbnb user, this may not be possible.

Whether you are paying a cleaning fee or not, you should still keep your place like you would want your home to be maintained. These are private homes and apartments, so treat them with respect.

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7.) Make Sure There Are Reviews

The number one thing I look for when choosing an Airbnb and where to use my valid Airbnb coupon is to seek out properties with many reviews. Generally, we try to book Airbnb with at least 10 or more reviews, but even that is on the low end.

We have only booked one place before with no reviews, and it was a total gamble that turned out to be fantastic. No reviews can be useful, as a property that lacks reviews may lower the price for the first couple of guests. Everyone has to start somewhere!

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8.) Read the Reviews

Now that you’ve found a place with many reviews, you need to read the reviews. Make sure they are positive and that reviewers mention both the host and the actual property. The longer we stay at a place, the more in-depth I will analyze.

The bad thing I’ve found about Airbnb is that the review system is a little manipulative. With Airbnb, you often have face-to-face interactions with the owner – which is excellent – but it means that people are less likely to leave bad reviews and notes when they should. It’s hard to meet a friendly person and then complain about things.

Also, Airbnb gives the host the option to review guests; it means that guests are less likely to complain when they feel they should. Reviewing a Marriott or Hyatt is more likely to detail complaints, and negative experiences since the receiving end isn’t an individual. Just keep that in mind when you’re looking at reviews. They tend to be a little more positive than they should sometimes be.

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9.) Look for a Superhost

If you are wary of booking an Airbnb, consider switching on the “Superhost” function when searching. Superhosts have to maintain a high response rating, be active users, have glowing reviews, and never cancel on guests. Super hosts generally charge more for their status, but you get what you pay for in the end.

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10.) Read the Description Properly

Read the description of the place you are considering. I always ensure there is the internet as that is important to Cameron and me, but the description can tell you many other things. It can tell you if you are booking a shared room (like a hostel), a private room in someone’s home, or an entire apartment. It will also tell you things like nearby restaurants and points of interest and help you decide if it’s a great place to stay for you.

Also, pay attention to the check-in and check-out times since you’re arriving at a real person’s place. So checking at 2 am after a long flight may not work for Airbnb, and you should opt for a hotel that is open 24 hours.

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11.) Check the Cancellation Policy

If you think there is any chance your trip could fall through, try to book a place with a flexible cancellation policy. Many hosts have a non-refundable cancellation policy, and if you book one of these and have to cancel, Airbnb will not be on your side regarding a refund.

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12.) Message the Host Before You Book

I never, ever instant book a place. That’s because I like to message the host and tell them about us, why we are traveling there, and any details about the trip. This is my test to make sure the host is responsive and personable. It also helps answer any important questions regarding our trip.

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13.) Request a Discount

If you are staying for a week or longer, you may be in the position to contact the host and ask for a discount on the price. They don’t have to say yes, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Good past reviews don’t hurt your chances of getting a discount, either. We often request special rates from hosts – especially on the shoulder or off-seasons. We can only do this because we have 40+ glowing reviews since we always use Airbnb.

If it’s mid-summer and you’re booking a place at the beach, you probably will have more trouble getting a discount.

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14.) Consider the Fees

It’s worth noting that Airbnb charges guests a whopping 12% “Service Fee” on top of the rental price for using their service. This is in addition to the 3% they are charging the host. The fee is unavoidable if you are booking through their platform.

Of course, you can message the host and try to take things into your own hands, but you’ll realize as soon as you try this that Airbnb’s platform blocks out all emails, social handles, and phone numbers to prevent this.

It’s also worth noting that if you take things off of Airbnb to reduce the fees, you lose any right to contact Airbnb if there is a problem – this goes for both the guest and the host.

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15.) Call Airbnb as Soon as There is a Problem

If you realize there is a problem once you check in to your new place, don’t hesitate to tell your host first. If the host doesn’t resolve it quickly, then don’t wait to contact Airbnb. You have 24 hours to notify them of a problem, and they should help you get it sorted.

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16.) Book Longer Stays

Many times a longer stay with Airbnb will give you an automatic discount. Property owners can set custom rates if you book for a week or month. We’ve seen, on average, a 15% discount on stays a week or more, up 40% off the nightly rate on monthly stays.

Our last Airbnb even came out cheaper if we booked it for one week instead of the required five nights. That meant we could check out late on the last day and let the host know we departed afterward.

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17.) Utilize Filters

When using your Airbnb coupon code first booking, you should utilize all the filters you can. As the Airbnb platform grows, so do its features. Their filters and options are always changing, so if you are looking for something unique, you can generally find that on Airbnb.

If you want to stay in a Yurt or a treehouse in the forest, you can search for that! 

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Other ways to use your valid Airbnb Coupon code

Your new Airbnb coupon code doesn’t have to be used for accommodation. Airbnb has done mega expansion and now has things like experiences on there. Airbnb experiences are great to look at when you are seeking new things to do when you travel. 

We just tried our first Airbnb experience in Japan and had a fantastic time. Instead of going to a travel agent or a booking center when we were in Kyoto, we were literally able to search for the experiences in the city and read reviews. From there, we could determine if the experience was good for us (and we were able to use our Airbnb coupon!). 

We tried Japanese Kendo and also tried our hands at making traditional sushi in an old mansion. Both were found on Airbnb, and both were fantastic experiences!

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An Airbnb Experience Coupon

You can also use these first-time Airbnb coupon codes as an Airbnb experience coupon. They work the same way, and the Airbnb coupon credit will be deducted from your account once you book an experience.

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Love and Hate Airbnb

Before using your Airbnb first-time user coupon, it’s important to note some of the implications of using Airbnb. We have a love/hate relationship with Airbnb, even with the Airbnb promo code.

We hate Airbnb because of the damage the sharing economy has inflicted on the housing market. Getting a one-year lease may have been easy and affordable five years ago. It is common to purchase property as an investment to rent on Airbnb or even sign a lease.

With Airbnb, landlords can double or even triple what a monthly tenant would pay. So it’s easy to understand the appeal of renting short term. I mean, if you were a homeowner, would you rather get $800/week for your property or have a long-term tenant for $1200 a month?

It has resulted in rental prices around the world skyrocketing. I recently found a one-month basic apartment rental in Nicaragua for $2000 in a country where the average salary is $400 a month. That doesn’t sound right to me. Airbnb also charges guests 12% to use their platform and 3% to the host. I think this is a great deal for the hosts because sites like Booking.com and Agoda charge 15-20%. As an Airbnb user, 12% can really tack a lot on to the total cost of a rental.

To top it all off, my Airbnb customer service experience has been horrendous. I can’t speak on behalf of a host, but again as a guest, you don’t have much authority regarding problems with your rental experience. What started as two guys renting an air mattress in their living room has become another impersonal company. Along the way, it seems they lost sight of the customer.

That being said, we have been in and out of dozens of Airbnb rentals. Almost all of them were tremendous experiences. Airbnb gives travelers like us an easy and viable hotel alternative. As long-term travelers, we actually prefer to stay in an apartment or house as it affords us all the amenities of a home. That means we can cook, watch TV, wash our clothes, sit at a comfortable desk, and feel at home. It is a more comfortable and personal way to travel.

When traveling with a family or group, we can all fit into a home rather than multiple hotel rooms. It is a massive plus as it allows people to socialize and enjoy their trip together. Yes, it was possible to find rentals before Airbnb, but not with the ease and assurance that their website brought.

Airbnb places you in touch with locals, much more than a hotel has ever provided us. We’ve had drinks, lunches, and long chats with some of our Airbnb hosts. They also provide a local’s insight into their region and almost always share a small part of their home with us.

It’s those reasons that we recommend Airbnb on our site. People like us who value a “home” when they travel and want to integrate with the community continue to draw us back. For now, we can not replace it, so we encourage you to try out the Airbnb first-time coupon so you can decide for yourself what you think.

Airbnb Ethical Issues that Made Us Reconsider Using the Platform

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Don’t Forget Your Valid Airbnb Coupon Code

In case you didn’t sign up for your Airbnb coupon code at the start of the post. We’ve included the discount link to get your $40 off your first Airbnb booking. Create an account with the link provided by us.

The Airbnb coupon code is only good for your first time and gets you $20-$40 off your first booking over $70 or more. Airbnb frequently changes the discount amount for first-time bookings, so you must check to see how much they offer off this month!

I hope you guys have an awesome travel experience whether you decide to go with Airbnb or not.

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