Booking guests while away from internet..

Jennifer119
Level 2
Austin, TX

Booking guests while away from internet..

So, my husband and I are putting our curling wands up and going butch for a week and a half, while we second honeymoon in the Grand Canyon. I specifically don't want to have to touch anything digital while I'm gone, and just completely unhook. Our space usually gets booking requests about every other day. I've blocked off the dates we will be gone, but how do I deal with requests while we're out of internet range? Do I just turn on instant book? Is there a way to autoreply to those guests booking during that time that we are away from the internet for a few weeks? Will I get penalized for not responding? I've worked my butt off to maintain super host status, and don't want to jeopardize that, just to be able to honeymoon, digital free.

 

Just as an aside, I have never used instant book, and am a little concerned, because I like to have a chance to feel people out before I invite them into my home. In the three years I've been doing this, I've maybe had one or two bad experiences, but only with  rude potential guests, not with anyone that stayed with me. I've read a few horror stories of people that use instant book, so I'm wondering how to get around a potential disaster.

 

Is it possible to delist my spaces while I'm gone,a nd just turn them on when I get back? I have reservations after we get back, that I definitely want to keep, and am not sure what temporarily delisting would do to those.

4 Replies 4
Gerry-And-Rashid0
Level 10
London, United Kingdom

You can Snooze your listing for the period...

 

Think these are still the right instructions - if not just search Snooze.


Click your name in the top-right corner of airbnb.com
Select Your Listings
Click on Manage Listing and Calendar for the listing you want to edit
Select Snoozed in drop-down menu on the bottom-left
Enter the Start date and End date

 

As for Instant Book - there is a reason you don't use it today, ask yourself why and if you would be happy to use it going forward. If so, then switch it on and leave it switched on when you get back too.

Thank you so much for the quick response and snooze suggestion. That's the perfect solution I was looking for!

 

I personally don't like the instant book. I get booked enough as it is, and since my room is in my single family home, and not a separate space, I like to know who is sharing my home with me. Having that dialogue, allows me to decide for myself whom/what I will allow in my home, as my husband and I are working on adopting, and the process is extremely invasive. I will not allow anything in my home that I feel would potentially harm/endanger a child, or in any way, jeopardize my ability to adopt. The room in question is red/leopard print/gold, and very distinctive and lush. I've had people ask to shoot porn in my home. I've politely declined those requests, and have had to change my policy on allowing photoshoots. I'd like to continue having the option to politely decline any guest that I feel would be an issue in our adoption process. Instant book takes that power out of my hands, and opens me up to a whole can of worms I just don't want to deal with. I have had a continually wonderful experience from Airbnb, and would like to keep up that amazing experience. Instant book definitely has a function for people that it would be convenient for, but in our case it would be no bueno.

hi, is there a way to set up an auto reply but not "snooze" the listing while we are gone on a camping trip?

i want people still able to instant book but will not be able to send them check in information while gone...

thanks!

Vonnie1
Level 2
Lyons, OR

I am in the same position as Jennifer. My husband and I will be away for 17 days, part of the time on a cruise and I do NOT want to worry about having to respond to inquiries during that time. I would rather just set up an auto reply that we are unavailable to respond until X date so people can see our listing and inquire but not expect an answer right away. I will not turn on instant book. I know Airbnb really pushes it, but I do not want to use it. If there is no auto reply option, I guess I will have to snooze the listing so we don't run the risk of being downgraded for taking too long to reply.