Getting a booking while on vacation

[Brian1651]

Is there any way to set booking settings such that people who book have to stay a minimum number of days which extends past my own personal vacation?

What I mean is that, say I am going to be on vacation from 3rd April to 11th April, but I don't want my airbnb empty and not earning money. Is there a way to make a minimum stay such that if someone wants to book during that period they can only book on the 3rd April for minimum 8 days. I don't want someone to be able to book from 1st April to 5th April for example or book from 6th April to 12th April.

Basically I want it open for someone who will stay at least from 3rd April till at least 11th April (don't mind if its longer than that end date).

[Robin4]

@Brian1651 

Hello Brian, there is a way to do what you want while you are on vacation. 

Rather than explain I will include a help guide I have compiled to explain this situation. Two years ago I compiled a series of 47 help guides to explain different aspects of the posting and managing a listing.

I hope you find this helpful.

Doing this will not affect any searches outside the dates you have selected. I took the liberty of putting your specific dates in there for effect!

All the best Brian.

Cheers......Rob

[Brian1651]

Thanks so much Rob.

Say for example I set up this rule for the specific dates (3 April - 11 April) and set a minimum 8 nights... does this mean that someone can book any date there for a minimum of 8 nights (e.g. 4 April -12 April or 6 April - 14 April) or no one will be able to book unless they are booking 3 April - 11 April (at least).

I don't want anyone to be able to book/check in while I'm away. Rather just set them up before I leave and come back for their check out. Thanks!!

[Robin4]

@Brian1651 

Yes Brian you can. Once you put the specific dates in you set your minimum stay nights and  they will be applied to your custom rules.

So what will happen Brian the dates will all appear as open on your booking calendar but when someone clicks the 7th April it will show as unavailable. If they select 4th April as the start date when they click the 4th they will automatically see the earliest end date option available to them will be 13th....anything before that will show as unavailable. In other words a booking will not be possible for anything under that duration.

I hope that helps.

Cheers......Rob 

[Brian1651]

that's amazing! thanks so much Rob... it's really quite confusing. Great to have help from someone like you!

[Robin4]

@Brian1651 

Just one point if I may. Once this special rule setting has expired, after you return from your holiday cancel any custom rules dates you may have set. It should automatically cancel but the situation has happened in the past where a custom rule can reactivate under certain circumstances. 

The other thing is, I have not had need to use this function for over 12 months. What I have described was the protocol the last time I used it. With the frequent and massive amount of updates that are continually taking place on the platform, I am hoping this has not been modified and that the information I am giving you is still correct! If it deviates from this can you please let me know so I can adjust accordingly.

Cheers......Rob