We live in Airbnbs almost full time as we travel the world. This year, we noticed that Airbnb rolled out a new Pay part now, part later option for certain reservations. This allows you to pay roughly half at the time of booking, and the rest later (about a couple weeks before check-in). If it’s available, you’ll be presented with this option on the Confirm and pay page.
We recently opted for this split payment method, thinking why not? We often book Airbnbs well in advance. Not having to pay the full amount months before our stay seemed attractive.
Here’s why we’ll never do it again.
This year, we had two hosts cancel on us, one in Suzhou, China and one in Ljubljana, Slovenia, both on pretty short notice.
For the Airbnb in China, we paid in full at the time of booking. When the host cancelled, we received a full refund plus a credit equal to 10% of the original price. In its notification email, Airbnb said this credit was to help us find a replacement reservation.
For our Airbnb in Slovenia however, we had chosen the Pay part now, part later option. When the host cancelled, we got a full refund but noticed there was no additional credit on top of that, so we called to inquire about this. An Airbnb representative told us that bookings using this payment method don’t receive an additional Airbnb credit when a host cancels.
Surprise!
Nowhere had this been publicized. I couldn’t find it in Airbnb’s terms or in the press. That’s why I’m sharing our experience. Of course, we are just a single data point, but cancellations do occur and when they do, an extra 10% certainly helps with finding a new place closer in to your travel date, when there’s less inventory and frequently higher prices.
In short, we think it’s safer to pay in full upfront. If you’ve experienced otherwise, let us know!
Read More
How We Stayed in Amazing Hotels in Norway & Sweden for Just $50 a Night
Travel Hacking Our Way from the Arabian Peninsula to the Arctic Desert in Comfort
Our Favorite Airbnbs in the World
5 comments
Thanks for this post! This was very helpful and one of the top Google results when googling Airbnb’s pay part now part later option. I will pay in full instead.
First world problems. If you’re world travelers. quibbling over a 10% bonus — and it IS a bonus, not mandatory, and you won’t get that on hotel stays– on your deposit, that’s what, $20-30 a night (probably less)? To say you’ll NEVER do it again? Life has trade-offs. It’s wise to understand the policy ahead of time, sure. But the benefit of not committing full payment up front means a lot more flexibility in advance planning for many people.
To be fair, it wasn’t published either that you get a 10% atop your initial booking when you paid in full either was it?
Thanks this is very useful information. I know what to do now, although I have never used Airbnb before.
why support us capitalists: theyre scum bags