If you know the difference between an airbnb inquiry and an airbnb reservation request, you’ll have awesome stays without a doubt. Clear communication always has serious effects when it comes to online booking platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, etc. In today’s short guide, we’ll see airbnb vs request, and when to utilize these options.
What is airbnb inquiry
As the name suggests, Airbnb inquiry is simply getting more detailed information from the host about a particular property. This information includes asking about the dates, number of guests, cancellation policies, house rules, check-in and check-out, location, attractive spots and the list goes on and on.
One of my friends told me he often gets inquiries about giving a special discount for new couples, that sounds interesting and you can also inquire about that. Maybe you can find a host who can give you a chance.
Most people wonder about pre-approval on airbnb and that’s where inquiries and requests come into play. As a guest, you can ask about pre-approval for a specific date.
When you send an inquiry even without asking for pre-approval, the host always has the option to get you in. He or she can also decline the inquiry as well, so it’s a good practice to send multiple inquiries to multiple hosts to get quick responses.
When to use airbnb inquiry
I hope you got an idea about airbnb inquiries but if not, here is what you need to know when you want to make an inquiry.
You should consider making an Airbnb inquiry when you have questions or need more information about a property before you’re ready to book it. For example, if you’re planning a family vacation and you’re not sure if the property is suitable for children, you can send an inquiry to the host to ask about child-friendly amenities and safety measures.
On the other hand, if you’re traveling with a pet, you can inquire about the property’s pet policy and any associated fees. Inquiries are also very handy when you want to check on availability for specific dates, ask about house rules, or discuss any special requests, like early check-in or late check-out.
By using inquiries, you can make sure the Airbnb listing meets your needs and expectations before moving forward with a formal booking request.
As I said this makes the whole stay smoother and more satisfying experience for both you and the host.
Lastly, if everything goes right, the host can simply pre-approve you and you can book the reservation easily.
Disadvantage of Airbnb inquiry
Okay, you might be saying that’s the cool feature but here is the downside. Airbnb Inquiries don’t secure your dates on the calendar which means, while you’re waiting for answers, someone else might book the property for the same dates.
To avoid this, you should consider making a booking request if you’re certain about your travel plans and don’t want to change the dates.
An example might be if you’re planning a last-minute weekend getaway and your favorite property is in high demand.
In this case, sending a booking request instead of an inquiry could increase your chances of securing the booking before someone else does.
I hope this makes the point even clearer and will help you to understand when to use inquiries and when to go for booking requests.
What is airbnb request
Moving to the second part of this article, Airbnb request is one step ahead of the inquiry. That’s where the user’s intention is to book the property and he or she just wants to get some more information.
When you’re confident about booking a specific property and sending a request signals your intent to stay, which hosts often appreciate.
For example, if you’ve found the perfect beachfront cottage for your summer vacation and you’re sure about your travel dates, you can send a request with your check-in and check-out dates, the number of guests, and any special requests.
That’s very simple and easy, right? When you submit an airbnb request, the host can accept it or decline it.
As a host, you should respond to the request as soon as possible because it can influence your rankings and profile.
This is the tip from one of my fellas who is a super host on airbnb.
Related: Things to know before booking an airbnb
When to use airbnb request
The best experience begins when you know when to use all the options. Airbnb request is also one of them and should be used at the right time.
I suggest going for it when you’re absolutely sure about your travel plans and have found the ideal place to stay matter what it is, A cabin or an apartment.
It’s best used when you’ve already clarified any doubts through inquiries and you’re ready to book a property.
This approach is especially handy when you want to secure a property during peak vacation seasons, or it has a high demand.
As you know once you make a reservation request no one can book it on the same dates. So in short, it’s a very useful feature.
Disadvantage of airbnb request
Okay, now you may be saying what the heck, what could be the disadvantage of it, well, there is one and it can be a problem. Let’s understand it.
Once you have made an airbnb request for a particular date, as the host accepts your request you’ll get charged. Whoop!. Now most of you may be saying that it’s not a big deal but what happens if you have changed your mind?
This means you need to be absolutely sure about your travel plans because changing or canceling your reservation can involve fees and a lot of complications as well. Other than that, you’re okay to make reservation requests.
Related: Airbnb safe or not
Best practices for communicating with the host
Effective communication is key to the best experience at airbnb, whether you book Airbnb for travel or vacations, if you have decent communication with your hosts, it’s always going to be fun.
- Always be polite and straightforward.
- Make sure to ask relevant questions and ask for the amenities that are important to you.
- Make sure to read the listings carefully so you may not ask questions that are already mentioned there.
- If you’ve made a reservation request, then try to answer without a delay to have a good impression.
- If you have particular needs or expectations, share them with your host, and if any issues arise during your stay, let your host know so they can address them.
- Read reviews and ratings to get an idea about the property. I personally stay away from properties with no ratings or such having terrible reviews.
Related: Is it good to book an airbnb with zero ratings and reviews?
Conclusion
Airbnb inquiries and requests are very important to understand. If you just want to ask some questions about the property and you’re not sure when to book, just go for inquiries, and if the case is that you’re pretty close to making a deal and want to see if it’s available or not, Airbnb requests will be the better option.
That’s it. Nothing complicated or technical. I hope it’ll help you to improve your experience at airbnb.
