Do you set a minimum number of nights for bookings?

[Paula]

Hello hosts 😊

There are many strategies to implement when trying to get as many bookings as possible. One of them is setting a minimum number of nights per stay.

Some of you allow one-night bookings, while others suggest a 2-night minimum. Some hosts even prefer much longer stays.

What is your strategy? Feel free to share it in the comments and let us know why you decided on that specific number of nights per booking.

Regards,

[Gopinath4]

Hi @Paula 

As a host I just completed one year and a few months only. I didn't keep minimum number of nights stay. I accept even if it is one night and even at this arrangements, I am not getting too much of guests. If there is a rush in my property, I too may make the minimum number of stays to two or three nights, but it depends on the circumstances.

[Paula]

Thanks for sharing your experience, @Gopinath4 ! Do you usually get booking requests for one-night stays?

[Holly855]

I initially offered one-night stays, as that’s something I personally value when travelling. At the moment, I manage all the laundry and cleaning myself across both houses, so I’ve set a two-night minimum to ensure everything is maintained to a high standard. As I bring in extra support, I may revisit offering one-night stays in the future.

[Paula]

Great strategy, @Holly855, thanks for sharing! Do you also host long-term stays?

[Holly855]

Hello @Paula , yes I do!  

[Shelly381]

Yes I do, two.

[Paula]

Thanks for sharing @Shelly381, How long do your guests usually book your place for?

[Shelly381]

My area is growing by leaps and bounds and there are a lot of different things going on here. Some come because they have family in engineering training at our old base, some for fishing, some for different sports tournaments, family events, etc. Most of mine are two to three nights, sometimes more. I have rented to some contractors here for Google in 30 day increments and that has worked out pretty well, but I actually am not crazy about people being in my houses for any length of time. If I were doing this for a living, I may feel differently, but I have invested a lot of money in my two homes and I don't want any destruction. 

[Steph7481]

Yes! On the weekends, I set 2-day minimum. In slow months, I do longer minimums at lower rates to encourage longer stays. Monthly I go in and check to see if I need bookings and adjust to 1 night to fill the calendar. Its a bit of a mad science 🙂

[Sri410]

Yes, we do set a minimum stay of at least two nights for a mix of practical and financial reasons. It’s not about being restrictive, it helps us manage the effort involved, keep costs under control (especially since cleaning after every checkout adds up when there’s no separate cleaning fee), and provide a smoother, more consistent experience for serious guests.

[Slaters-Woods-LLC0]

Of course, I prefer longer stays but I go with the 2 night mim. The 2 night min completly eliminates locals crashing for a party.

[Paula]

Thanks for sharing your experience,  @Slaters-Woods-LLC0! How long do your guests usually book your place for?

[Stan2415]

no. I do offer discounts for one week and one month, though. 

[Sue2623]

No, I don't set a minimum number of nights as it wouldn't work with my guests, usually from the UK, who are stopping one night to attend local events and just need a bed for the night. Foreign guests usually select 2 to 4 nights but are usually out all day sightseeing, just coming back to sleep.  I'm an onsite, home host so this works well for me.

[Paula]

Great to hear you know your target audience so well, @Sue2623! How long have you been hosting? Also, congratulations on your Superhost status! 😊