Booking Airbnb on another site for a cheaper rate with someone I booked with before.

[Vince1227]

Hi. I'm looking to book Airbnb with a host I previously stayed with before. We had good reviews for each other it was positive on both sides. I talked to the host and they said that if I ever want to book with them again, we can do it off Airbnb and they could rent me the space at a discount and they can just book off the days at Airbnb. They also said that if I don't want to do that, I can book on the Airbnb site. Now, if this was a host that I never stayed with or I didn't know, I wouldn't be asking this. I'm only asking this because we had a positive experience with each other and they offered to it to me and I can trust the person. So my question is that since we know each other from before, is it illegal to book their place on another platform without using Airbnb? What can you guys tell me about booking on another platform that's not Airbnb with someone I previously had a positive experience with. I don't use Airbnb that often so I don't know the rules and please no rude answer please. I just need someone to educate me.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Vince1227 Airbnb does not 'own' its guests beyond the stay booked on Airbnb. As such a guest who wishes to return can book a return trip any platform (or even direct with the host). Yes the host and guest lose the protections offered by Airbnb but if they trust each other after a stay then that is fine.

Now the above is based on European law and the terms of service for Europe. I don't know if the USA or other countries have the same Airbnb terms of service.

[Lorna170]

@Vince1227  AirBnB is a booking platform.  You do not have to use a booking platform to book, just as you can contact the resort or hotel, the airline, the rent-a-car agency or any business by calling their number and book directly with them.

If you contact me by messaging me on AirBnB or another booking website, I will NOT book you direct, but will ask you to continue the booking through the website.

BUT, if you have booked before, and you have my business phone number or email address, you CAN contact me directly and ask to book again.   Just don't contact me via AirBnB and ask me to take your repeat booking off the platform.

[Pat271 · Accepted solution]

@Vince1227 @Mike-And-Jane0 

The laws and policies are similar in the US. Just because you previously booked via a particular website does not make you beholden to that website for the rest of your life, or indeed for any subsequent transactions.

This would be like saying that you booked a Hilton through Priceline last year, therefore you must book the Hilton through Priceline forevermore. Same exact thing. In fact, many hosts have their own direct booking website, with the majority of the reservations booked there being repeat business bookings.

[Rochelle127]

I agree with the comments above. I’m in the U.S. and there is nothing that says that guests who found you originally on Airbnb has to book through Airbnb only on following stays. What you should not do is contact that host through Airbnb in any matter because, although not illegal, it is against very strict policies of airbnb for that host to accept your reservation without completing it through Airbnb. Contact your host directly and book with them directly.