I love the experience of staying in an Airbnb. It often feels more personal and authentic than a generic hotel room. You get a real sense of the neighborhood and can enjoy amenities like a kitchen. The only downside can be the price. Once you add up the nightly rate, cleaning fees, and service fees, a seemingly affordable stay can become surprisingly expensive. On my most recent trip, I was determined to find a way to cut costs without sacrificing quality. I stumbled upon a simple but powerful strategy that ended up saving me over $500 on a one-week booking. 

The Problem with Short Stays on Airbnb

Before I reveal the hack, it's important to understand why Airbnb prices can be so high, especially for shorter trips. The final price you pay is made up of several components. The host sets the base nightly rate, but then Airbnb adds a service fee, and the host adds a cleaning fee. Sometimes there are also local taxes.

The cleaning fee is a one-time charge per stay. A host has to pay for a cleaner to come in and prepare the space for the next guest, regardless of whether you stayed for two nights or two weeks. To cover this cost, they charge a flat fee. For a short stay of a few nights, this cleaning fee can dramatically increase your average cost per night. A $50 cleaning fee on a two-night stay adds $25 per night to your bill. The same fee on a seven-night stay adds only about $7 per night. This pricing structure often makes short getaways feel disproportionately expensive.

The Game-Changing Hack: Booking for a Full Month

So, what's the secret? The hack is to search for a stay of 28 days or longer, even if you don't need it for that long. Many hosts offer significant monthly discounts to attract long-term guests. They prefer having one guest for a whole month over several different guests checking in and out. It means less administrative work, less frequent cleaning, and guaranteed income.

These monthly discounts are often so substantial that a 28-day booking can be cheaper than a booking for, say, two or three weeks. On my last trip, I needed a place for about 18 days. The initial search quoted me a price of around $2,200. Out of curiosity, I extended the dates on my search to 30 days. The price dropped to under $1,700. I saved over $500 by booking a longer stay than I actually needed.

Why Does This Work?

This strategy leverages the host's preference for long-term tenants.

  • Monthly Discounts: Airbnb has a specific feature that allows hosts to set a custom discount for stays of 28 days or more. These discounts can range from 10% to over 50%. This is the biggest factor in the price drop.
  • Waived or Reduced Fees: For stays longer than a month, some local hotel and occupancy taxes no longer apply in certain regions. This can further reduce the total cost.
  • Host Preference: A long-term guest means less risk and less work for the host. They avoid the hassle of multiple turnovers and have a steady, reliable booking. They are willing to offer a lower overall price for that peace of mind.

How to Use This Strategy Step-by-Step

Finding these deals is easy once you know what to look for. You need to adjust your search process slightly.

Step 1: Be Flexible with Your Dates

This hack works best if you have some flexibility. You need to be able to search for a 28+ day period that covers your intended travel dates. For example, if you need a place from the 5th to the 20th of the month, you would search for a booking from the 1st to the 29th.

Step 2: Use the "Month" Tab on Airbnb

Don't manually enter dates that are 28 days apart. Airbnb has a dedicated search function for this.

  • On the Airbnb homepage, after entering your destination, click on the date selection field.
  • Instead of picking specific check-in and check-out dates, look for a tab at the top that says "Month."
  • Clicking this will switch your search to look for monthly stays. You can then select the month you want to travel in. The platform will automatically show you properties available for a long-term stay with the monthly discounts already applied.

Step 3: Compare the Prices

Now for the fun part. First, do a search for the exact dates you actually need. Take note of the total price. Then, do a new search for a 28-day (or longer) period that includes your original dates. You might be shocked by the difference. Compare the total cost of the shorter stay with the total cost of the monthly booking. In many cases, the monthly option will be significantly cheaper.

Important Things to Consider

This hack is powerful, but it’s not a magic bullet for every situation. There are a few important things you need to keep in mind before you book.

Read the Cancellation Policy Carefully

This is the most critical point. Once you book a long-term stay, you are typically locked into that reservation. Airbnb's long-term cancellation policy requires a 30-day notice to cancel. If you book a monthly stay and then leave after two weeks, you will likely still be on the hook for the full first 30 days of the reservation. You are paying for the entire month whether you use it or not. This hack is about saving money, not getting a refund for unused nights. Be 100% sure of your plans before committing.

Communicate with Your Host (Optional but Recommended)

You are not required to tell the host that you plan to check out early. The booking is yours for the entire month. However, a little communication can be a nice gesture. You could send a polite message after booking.

You might say something like: "Hi [Host's Name], thank you so much for accepting my booking! I needed a place for the first three weeks of the month, and your monthly rate made it an easy choice. I will likely be checking out a bit early, around the 22nd, but I wanted to secure the full month. I'll be sure to leave the place in perfect condition."

This is courteous and manages expectations. Some hosts might even appreciate having the property back a few days early.

This Doesn't Work Everywhere

The success of this strategy depends heavily on the market. It works best in cities with a large supply of Airbnb rentals where hosts are competing for guests. In highly popular tourist destinations with limited inventory, or during peak season, hosts may not offer steep monthly discounts. It’s always worth checking, but don't be discouraged if it doesn't work for every single trip.