@Kostis5
@Helen350 is correct.
There are different ways that a guest can try to book an Airbnb or simply contact the host for information, but they have to put in dates and number of guests anyway, so even if they are just enquiring, it might look to you like it's a booking when it is not. To break it down.
1. Enquiry.
This is when a guest wants to ask you some questions or maybe wants to book but doesn't realise that they can send a booking request. All you have to do is write a response, but do it within 24 hours to maintain your response rate. If you like, you can also pre-approve the enquiry which enables the guest to book.
2. Booking request. This is when the guest wants to make a booking and you can either accept it or decline it. Again, you have 24 hours to do this, or your response rating will go down. If you are happy, then accept and the booking is confirmed. If the guest is not responding to your questions and you are uncomfortable about accepting, you can decline, but your acceptance rate will go down.
3. Instant Book. If you have this enabled, then a guest can make the booking without having to ask you first.
Once a guest has booked, they have 48 hours to cancel penalty free. If they do, the dates on your calendar will open up again. Otherwise, the calendar will be blocked for them on those dates.
If it is only an enquiry, or a booking request which you haven't accepted, there is no booking, the guest cannot stay and you will not get paid.
It is not unusual to receive enquiries from guests who then go silent. They may be 'shopping around' and sending out enquiries to several hosts.
