Host interactions and pre-approvals

If you want to find out more about a home, service, or experience before booking, you can message the host on Airbnb.

An invitation to book is a way for a host to let you know that their listing is available when asked about a potential reservation. You have 24 hours to accept it.

If a host pre-approves you, you can automatically book your stay for the dates you’ve inquired about without waiting for another response from them.

You can contact a host about their place before requesting to book it. The host then has the option to give you a special offer.

You can book a reservation without contacting the host beforehand, but it’s a good idea to message the host if you have questions.

Before you book you can ask a host specific questions about a listing, availability, and more.

Some hosts require a rental agreement to secure a reservation but they must disclose this requirement and its terms prior to booking.

When requesting to book, a limited version of the guest's profile is shown to the host. The guest's profile photo is not shared until after booking.