Getting bookable
How to set your booking rules and instant book
The short answer
Choose how guests book. Set the shortest and longest stay, the most guests and how far ahead. Then say yes yourself, or let instant book do it.
Step by step
Step 1: Open "Availability, prices and booking rules".
It is on your listing’s edit page.
Step 2: Keep "Take bookings online" ticked.
Untick it to pause new bookings. Bookings you already have are kept.
Step 3: Turn "Instant book" on or off.
On means "Paid bookings are confirmed straight away, without waiting for you." Off means you accept or decline each paid request.
Step 4: Set "Minimum stay (nights)" and "Longest stay (nights)".
Each can be 1 to 731 nights (about two years). The longest stay cannot be shorter than the minimum.
Step 5: Set "Maximum guests (optional)".
Leave it empty for no limit. The price is the same for any number of guests.
Step 6: Pick how far ahead guests can book.
Use "Guests can book up to". Pick 30 days, 2, 3 or 6 months, 1 year, 18 months or 2 years.
Step 7: Pick your "Time to accept a request".
This is how long you have to answer. Pick 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 or 72 hours, or 7 days.
Step 8: Add a "Cleaning fee (₦) (optional)" if you want one.
It is added once to each stay, not each night. Discounts never make it smaller.
Step 9: Press "Review and save calendar", then "Save and publish calendar".
Your rules go live at once. They do not wait for our team.
Do it now
What each rule starts as
If you change nothing, these are your rules.
| The rule | If you change nothing |
|---|---|
| The rule"Take bookings online" | If you change nothingOn |
| The rule"Instant book" | If you change nothingOff |
| The rule"Minimum stay (nights)" | If you change nothing1 night |
| The rule"Longest stay (nights)" | If you change nothing90 nights (about three months) |
| The rule"Maximum guests (optional)" | If you change nothingNo limit |
| The rule"Guests can book up to" | If you change nothing1 year ahead |
| The rule"Time to accept a request" | If you change nothing24 hours (one day) |
| The rule"Cleaning fee (₦) (optional)" | If you change nothingNo cleaning fee |
Instant book or requests?
- With instant book on, a paid booking is confirmed straight away. There is nothing to accept.
- With it off, you get a request. You press "Accept booking" or "Decline".
- If you do not answer in time, the request is declined for you.
- The guest then gets back everything they paid for the stay.
One set of rules for every date
These rules count for every date. Only prices and open or closed dates can change by date.
Questions people ask
What happens if I miss my answer time?
The request is declined for you. The guest gets back everything they paid for the stay. You get an email: "A booking request for [home name] lapsed".
Does pausing bookings cancel the ones I have?
No. Unticking "Take bookings online" only stops new bookings.
Can I charge more for each extra guest?
No. There is no price per guest. Use "Maximum guests (optional)" to set a limit.
Is the answer time used with instant book?
No. With instant book, paid bookings are confirmed straight away.
Read next
- Requests and decisionsHow to accept or decline a booking requestA guest has paid and is waiting. Press "Accept booking". Or press "Decline", and they get back what they paid for the stay.
- Getting bookableHow to open, close and block datesAll days are open unless you close them. Pick the dates you cannot host, and block them.
- Getting bookableHow to set night prices for busy days and seasonsYour listing price is your normal night price. You can set a different price for some dates, or for one day.
More about getting bookable
- How to make your short let bookable onlineSet your home as a "Short Let". Give it a night price. Then tick "Take bookings online".
- How to offer longer-stay discounts and free nightsGive guests a discount, or a free night, for staying longer. They get the one that saves them more, never both.
- How to choose your free-cancellation timePick how long before check-in guests can cancel for free. After that time, they cannot cancel.
- How to add house rules, arrival steps, door code and Wi-FiWrite your house rules and arrival steps once. Guests see them when their booking is confirmed. They see the codes only after you check them in.
More on Cabans
Still stuck?
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