Travel Tips

How to Book a Long Term Airbnb or Travel Home

How to Book a Long Term Airbnb or Travel Home

Last updated: October 26, 2026. This update clarifies selected Airbnb monthly-stay, payment, cancellation, and AirCover conditions; the family’s rental experiences and older screenshots are historical. Date information added October 28, 2026.

A family rental guide first published February 10, 2019. The Hong Kong opening and family stories below describe that stage of our travels. We used “long-term” informally for stays of a few weeks; Airbnb’s current monthly-stay policies apply to reservations of 28 nights or more. The guidance now distinguishes those rules from our past experiences, and the original booking screenshots are retained as historical examples.

Happy Chinese New Year from Hong Kong!

As I sit in this super tiny apartment, I feel totally at home at this long-term Airbnb. It’s strange to say that since only a few days ago when we arrived, I wondered how we would make it two weeks. It is, quite literally, the smallest place we have ever stayed in as a family. It is perhaps 600 or 700 sq feet? For our family of seven, one bathroom can be quite comical.

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What’s interesting on this worldwide journey is that I’ve noticed how much faster we are settling into the homes we stay in. The first long-term Airbnb of our trip, Portland, was a FANTASTIC location. The townhome was so much smaller than our old home, but it was still bigger than Grandma’s basement (where we stayed the month before), so we felt like royalty. However, I’m not sure we settled in for at least a couple of weeks. I felt so uncomfortable.. listening to all the weird sounds at night, never feeling like the bathroom was my space, feeling like I didn’t know how to cook there.

Bali

Singapore

However, now it only takes us about 24 hours. It’s always startling for me to get to a new place. While the kids LOVE exploring a new place, I’m overwhelmed. Chris and I have to quickly scope out bedrooms and beds and assign sleeping spots for all the kids. We have to figure out where luggage can be stored, where clothes go, if everyone has their appropriate bedding, etc. Usually, it’s late at night by the time we get there, and we have to book it to get the kids to bed.

All that being said, I really do LOVE staying in homes as we travel. There are so many advantages!

Originally linked 7Wayfinders film: Airbnb VS Hotels: Which is Better When Traveling Internationally?

Why We Love Long-term Airbnb

1. The local experience. By far and above, my favorite thing is how much more I get to see when I don’t stay in a hotel. Don’t get me wrong, I love a nice, luxurious experience. A resort can be a great fit, but for me it can feel like living a normal life in a hotel rather than getting to know a place. For me, we are traveling the world to try on new “lives.” What do we like here? How does it differ from where we used to live? What don’t we like? That is what I enjoy about staying in homes when it works for our trip.
   
2. Consider the neighborhood that fits your trip. A rental may offer a location different from nearby hotels, depending on the destination. Check the listing’s current map/location details against the places you plan to visit and how you will get around.
   
3. You can meet the neighbors! While I tend to avoid neighbors when we are in an apartment or townhome because I am embarrassed at the general volume of my children, we’ve met some great neighbors! Our kids met a brother and sister pair in Kauai, and they were the first friends they made on our trip. They still talk about them nearly every day four months later. When are you going to make those kinds of friends in a hotel? Especially when we are staying so long, this is HUGE for us.
   
   We also had a situation in Oahu where the internet went out, and Chris had to work. We were scrambling- it was Chris’ busiest time of year. The owner of our Airbnb rocked it and just called his neighbors. He found Chris an empty basement unit to use for two days during his work hours until the internet could be fixed.
   
4. Having a kitchen helps us eat in. Kitchen equipment and pantry items vary by listing. Some kitchens reflected a lived-in home, or one rented out for part of the year, like for us in Pacifica. Some kitchens we stayed in were better stocked than my own back home (hard to do). Sometimes I found spices, oils, foil, plastic wrap, etc. However, I usually bought those things. Check the listing and ask the host about any kitchen items you need before booking.
   
5. A rental can work well for a larger family. For a larger family, compare the full cost and available space across rentals and hotel rooms; neither option is always cheaper. Airbnb currently defines monthly stays as 28 nights or more; some hosts offer discounted monthly prices, but discounts are not guaranteed. You can ask a host whether a listed price could work for your budget. I don’t tend to be a hard negotiator, but we’ve gotten a little discount here or there or maybe a free cleaning. Any agreed booking or mandatory-fee changes should appear in the Airbnb reservation. Compare the full price and terms for your dates and group size.
   
6. Read reviews and check what matters to your family. Reviews have helped me learn about walking distances, WiFi, hosts, nearby food, and more. When we’ve had an issue, our hosts have worked to resolve it quickly. That has been our experience, not a guarantee of how every host or platform issue will be handled. Review the current listing details and house rules, and ask the host through Airbnb if you need clarification.

So what do you look for if you’ve never booked an Airbnb before, long term or short term? Where to start?

Recommendations and “Must-haves”

The booking-page images below are historical screenshots and may not match Airbnb’s current interface.

1. Type in the city you want to stay in, then add dates, guest count, and the number of beds or bedrooms you need. Airbnb’s filters and layout can change, so use the current options shown for your search.

2. Review the location information. Use the map or location details currently shown for the listing to compare it with the places you plan to visit. Consider transit, driving, and nearby parks or other features that matter to your family; actual travel times and neighborhood details depend on the listing and destination.

3. Compare total prices. If you are cost-conscious, compare a rental with hotels or other options for the same dates and group size. Look at the full price, space, included amenities, and cancellation terms rather than comparing nightly rates alone.

4. Compare suitable listings. Use the current Airbnb search results to compare available homes and total prices for your dates. Things I look for in a profile:

1. I read the description first. I look for the amenities and location details the host lists, such as WiFi, air conditioning, a pool, or nearby groceries. For a longer stay, check that essentials you rely on are included and ask the host through Airbnb if the listing is unclear.
   
2. I then skip down to the reviews. It’s OK if they are fairly new, but I need at least five reviews. I love it when there are 25+. I read a lot of them, even if I’m translating from another language (this option shows up on the site). If there is a recurring theme, good or bad, it is something to ask the host about. We always look for comments on the wifi and anything about kids.
   
3. Message the host through Airbnb. I tell them we have five young kids and ask whether the home and its house rules are a good fit for our group. I’ve had hosts tell me no, and that’s okay; I’d rather find another place than feel unwelcome. Share the details you need the host to know and ask specific questions about the home. A host may be able to answer local questions, but the help they offer varies.
   
4. Check the cancellation policy before booking. For stays of 28 nights or more, Airbnb applies a long-term cancellation policy, and the listing’s terms affect what is refundable. We’ve lost money a few times, so I read the policy attached to the reservation carefully.

5. Review the reservation before booking. Payment timing and cancellation terms depend on the reservation. Airbnb generally collects a first-month payment for monthly stays of 28 nights or more, followed by installments for longer reservations; domestic monthly stays in India are an exception and can be charged in full. The long-term cancellation policy applies, and the first payment may be nonrefundable. Check the exact reservation details before confirming rather than relying on a general 24-hour cancellation assumption.

Other Things I Want To Or Must Have In A Long-term Airbnb

• Fast WiFi is our most important factor! We have asked hosts for a screenshot of a speed test. If you are working remotely, confirm that the connection suits your needs; we described the connection in Thailand as dial-up and switched houses because it did not meet our needs.
• Washer and dryer. I’m doing some laundry pretty much every day.
• A kitchen that has the equipment we need. Check the listed amenities and ask about anything important for your stay.
• Baby crib and/or high chair. It stinks to have to rent these items and it’s usually expensive. I didn’t do my homework in Kauai and we paid nearly $300 for a crib and high chair for a month! I laughed when I was told this and said I could buy a new one. The response I got? “Well, if you can find it to buy…” . True. I am on an island.

Overall, Airbnb has worked well for us on many stays. We had one of our reservations in Singapore canceled after authorities came to the host’s house. That was our experience, and it is a reminder to review the current listing, reservation, and local requirements before booking. At the time I wrote this, we had just started trying Airbnb Experiences and had enjoyed them so far.

Current Airbnb booking notes

• Airbnb currently treats stays of 28 nights or more as monthly stays. Some hosts offer monthly discounts; the rate shown for the listing reflects any applied discount.
• For monthly stays, Airbnb generally collects the first month upfront and later payments in installments. Its policy describes exceptions, including domestic monthly stays in India charged in full; check the payment schedule shown for your reservation. A long-term cancellation policy applies; review the exact reservation terms, since the first payment may be nonrefundable.
• Airbnb policy generally requires booking and mandatory payments on-platform, with limited stated exceptions. Review the full price breakdown, including required utility or other fees. AirCover covers specified serious stay problems under its process; it is not a guarantee for every issue.

Airbnb monthly-stay rules and discounts · monthly-stay payments · monthly-stay cancellations · pricing and payment transparency · paying and communicating through Airbnb · AirCover for guests.

Go to www.airbnb.com and give it a try. I hope you find the long-term Airbnb of your dreams!

Happy Travels!

Comment below with any other questions or experiences of your own 🙂

Xoxo,

Leslie

Additional Reading

Travel Vaccinations: Everything You Need to Know

What Food To Buy When Staying In An Airbnb With Your Family

Hot Tips For Buying International Flights