I've just started hosting, and I have a question about Instant Book

[Roop0]

Hi friends! 

I've just starting hosting - after being an Airbnb fan girl for 4 years. I've added the dates to the calendar that my room is available, however, I don't want guests to be able to book instantly. I'd love to share a couple of message back and forth with them to get to know them a bit. 

How do I remove instant book, but at the same time clearly indicate what days the room is available. 

Many thanks! 

xx R 

[Victoria57]

Hi @Roop0, the dates you are available will be shown in the calendar the guest sees when they look at your listing. Dates that are not avaialble or already booked are greyed out.

If you are a new host you might not be able to turn off Instant Book as AirBnB is experimenting with having it on by default, and unfortunately new hosts are the guinea-pigs (it's a terrible way to test new "features")! If you can change it it will be on the Host menu, then select Manage Listing and youll see an orange lightning flash next to your listing. It is a toggle on/off switch for Instant Book. Also, make sure that in the Instant Book part of the Booking options page make sure that "No-one" is checked.

[Roop0]

Thanks for your reply. You're right -  I don't have the Instant Book toggle on, unfortunately 😞 

[Sandra126]

As I am sure Airbnb is aware of by now, a great many if not most hosts do not want compulsory Instant Book. If you can't turn it off and decide that you don't want to go through with hosting unless you can, I suggest finishing the listing anyway and just snooze it. Then contact Air and tell them you are happy to make the listing live WHEN they change their minds about compulsory Instant Book. Some hosts finish their listing and just delete it when they realise IB is not optional, I think it is a pity to miss out on available and keen hosts.

If hosts did this instead of deleting their listings maybe Air would see just how many sleeping listings there are, waiting for IB to be turned off...

All the best.

Sandra

[Roop0]

Thanks for your replies, both of you! 

That's a shame. I really don't want IB to be permanently turn on. Will send a message to Airbnb. 

xx 

[Destiny3]

You should be able to make your choice under booking in manage your listings