change minimum stay for a custom date period only

[Sylvia98]

I have tried, to no avail, to get support from the so-called "Airbnb ambassadors" regarding a problem originating with the Airbnb instant booking system. The background of the problem is as follows: I set up 38 nights open in November and December as a promotional discount for my property, which I only rent long term with a minimum of 31 days. Someone used the instant booking for 7 nights only at the promotion price (I have zero discounts for one-week stays because I do not offer week-only stays). When this happened, I contacted Airbnb multiple times by phone and message, and they kept telling me that an ambassador would get back to me. 24 hours later, the ambassador is still sleeping. 

So I decided to let the guest stay because he was also in a bind with this system error. He is checking in tomorrow.

Then, this morning, I contacted Airbnb by phone to help me set up a minimum stay for the remaining period of 31 nights to 21 nights. The reason for wanting a different minimum stay from my standard requirement is that I am now at a disadvantage to get a long-term guest for that period after the one-week booking allowed by the instant booking. The Airbnb representative who answered the phone couldn't figure it out. She says she needs more time to research how to do that because the system only allows me to change my standard minimum requirement. I don't want to change my standard minimum requirement because I do not want guests looking for 2026 stays to book less than 31 days. I hope this is clear to you, fellow hosts, reading my narrative of the problem. 

I have been a host with Airbnb for at least 10 years now, and the constant changes in the system are not helpful to hosts like me. It used to be easy for hosts to set up custom rates, promotions, changes of minimum stay for seasons, or custom dates--but not anymore. Now, the Airbnb system is looking more and more like a hotel booking system and less like home hosting.

As you can tell, I am very frustrated. If any of you as hosts have any insight for troubleshooting custom minimum stays for a particular date, I'd appreciate your sharing it with me. Thank you.

[Emiel1]

If you have "professional tools" activated, and using the desktop software, you can create a ruleset to set the minimum stay (and much more) and then apply the ruleset to a selected time period.

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2061

Or got to listing calender, select a time period and choose minimum stay (at: custom settings)

[Sylvia98]

Thank you, @Emiel1 . I was playing with enabling the professional tools, but it seems to require the creation of a website or a separate URL for my properties, which I don't have. Am I reading this correctly? But then, I read that if I change the minimum stay, it applies for the rest of the year too. 

[Emiel1]

@Sylvia98 

Airbnb removed the option to set minimum stay for a specific time period.

It can only be done by a rulesets (and there it works okay, as i use it frequently)

"Professional tools" is needed for that and rule-sets are not available on a mobile device

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2061

[Joan2709]

@Sylvia98 

Professional Hosting Tools does not require you to create a website or separate URL. It is simply another feature available to all Hosts on Airbnb, but many Hosts are not aware they are available to them.

Creating a Rule Set using Professional Hosting Tools is the perfect solution to your problem. Create a Rule set to override your default min stay in the calendar and apply to the dates you want. I always suggest testing any Rule Set you create, by attempting to book as a guest (in view mode, or incognito/private window browsing), to determine if the Rule Set is functioning as you intended.

Here is a Guide on how to Use Pro Tools and Rule Sets. Keep in mind that Professional Tools with Rule Sets and Multicalendar are only available on the desktop; not the App.

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Host-guides/GUIDE-Use-Pro-Tools-to-Set-Calendar-Custom-Pricing-a...

You would create a Rule Set with a 21 night min stay requirement. Apply it to the dates involved (don't forget to hit "Save"). Then test if it is working properly:

[Gino16]

Wrong.  There are multiple problems with this approach. 

In a time not so long ago airbnb had a section where you could create minimum length of stay limitations without changing rate. say new years, for a 3 night minimum.   Well low and behold with no notice they removed these limits and the ability to create these limitations. In  substitution, they now offer, that it is done on a discount option.  Problem then is, what if you do not wish to offer a discount and going thru this method eliminates the ability are 30 days or less to offer "custom promotion" discounts. (rates and availability have to be untouched for 30 days prior plus a few other requirements.)

Once again why did they remove a feature that worked, other than to drive business by removing minimum stay length limitations on all hosts unannounced!

Any chance they give us back this option to create custom minimum length of stay?

I have been a Host on airbnb for 10 years.

[Frances3408]

@Gino16 . I avoid using Custom discounts or promotions and just today it took 5 goes to remove the customise minimum days by day tick on a ruleset which had been in place last Christmas. I thought it was me but those three dots seem to be its way of saying I'll think about your request 😉 

So I think it can be done as @Emiel1 says but its very glitchy in my experience, even with Pro Tools and about 20 odd Rulesets 🤣. Maybe @Joan2709 knows a way for @Sylvia98 ?

[Gino16]

For how I use the site, I want there to be available the custom promotion, rather than rule set.  When you do custom promotion offering it sends emails and other promotional highlight on the discount. So, it helps drive business.  

if you do rule set none of this is offered.

[Joan2709]

@Gino16 

This is true. Use Custom Promotion discounts for the marketing benefits. Apply to those dates you wish (Airbnb places some restrictions on when you can use Custom Promotions.

Use Rule Sets for Custom Minimum Stay restrictions. Apply to whatever dates you want.