Negotiate a Last Minute Price for a Cheap Vacation Rental
Sites like Airbnb and VRBO are fantastic alternatives to a cramped hotel room. But you don’t always have to settle for the price the owner is asking for, especially if you are traveling at the last minute. By learning how to negotiate a rate and knowing what to ask for, you can significantly reduce your vacation costs.
I have actually run my parents’ beach apartment for the past few years at VRBO. Here’s how it works: The owner sets up the entire listing and adds a daily rate for a specific time of year, and then sits and waits for requests.
Inevitably, there are periods of slowdown, and vacation homeowners are not paid a salary if their home is empty. Always use this to your advantage and negotiate a lower rate, especially when booking a stay within 2 weeks of arrival. While I don’t have direct experience with Airbnb, I think it’s safe to assume that the same rules apply.
Here’s a foolproof strategy:
- In your initial email request, politely ask if they would consider getting a last minute travel discount. Start negotiating by asking for a 25% discount off your original daily rate and be ready to meet in the middle.
- If they don’t change the fee (or a very small one), consider asking for a free night. This works really well if you are staying at least 3 nights or more. Just ask if they would consider adding your last night for free.
- Another good tip is to ask if the cleaning fee can be waived. Many vacation rental owners do the cleaning themselves and are often willing to charge this fee in order to rent out the property. This provides potential savings of $ 75 to $ 250 depending on the size of the room.
Over the years of working with dozens of vacation home owners, I can tell you that this works most of the time. Be sure to try it when booking spring travels this year. Be polite, reasonable, and both sides will surely come forward.