11 Tips to Increase Airbnb Reservations During the Low Season in 2025 – From Special Discounts to Own Booking Website

92% of vacation rental owners and managers see variations in demand throughout the year. If you, as the Airbnb owner of a property, decide to rent it out as a holiday home, everything looks rosy in the summer months, but after the peak season, the summer slump or the so-called low season sets in.

Because in the off-season, bookings are usually not given, so you have to get to work and optimize the vacation rental to get more bookings. We’ll explain how to do this, so read through our tips and find out how to increase your sales and direct bookings in the off-season. These will ultimately make a crucial difference to the profit of your business.

11 Tips for Increasing Bookings
on Airbnb in the Low Season

The off-season can be a thorn for hosts, especially when you look at the number of bookings. Accordingly, the difference between holiday homes that bring in a lot of profit and holiday homes that just about make ends meet is the booking rate in the shoulder or low season. Moreover, 47% of hosts find that stays are shorter during the off-peak season.

Now, it sounded for a moment as if the off-season was the nightmare of every holiday apartment owner and the end of the world, but it is not like that! With the right tips and strategies, you can easily get enough bookings in the off-season. We will guide you through the various steps!

1. Define the off-season for your holiday apartment

Not every vacation rental has the same off-season, as not all conditions are the same for every holiday apartment. For example, a holiday apartment in a ski resort cannot be compared with an apartment on the beach, and amenities such as a sauna, or a pool, or a terrace also make a big difference here.

Because the off-season depends on demand. The off-season usually falls in the autumn and winter months, but holiday apartments in ski resorts may have problems getting bookings in the summer and autumn.

In order to counteract the low season, you must first determine exactly when the low season is for your holiday apartment. To do this, look at studies and industry figures and analyze your bookings. The following questions are very useful for this:

• When do you get fewer bookings?
• Has this booking gap also been present in other years?
• How do the bookings during this booking low differ from other bookings?

2. Offer local experiences and partnerships

Travelers often seek unique experiences on Airbnb, especially in the low season. Offer partnerships with local providers to enrich their stay.

Local partnerships to boost bookings in the low season

Strategy	Details	Benefits
Organize local activities	Partner with local guides to offer tailored experiences like sightseeing tours, food tastings, or cultural workshops. Highlight seasonal or lesser-known attractions to add exclusivity.	Enhances guest experience, making the stay more unique and memorable. Increases chances of positive reviews and word-of-mouth advice.
Create seasonal experiences	Design special experiences that align with the low season, such as autumn vineyard tours, winter hiking, or off-season beach retreats. Offer exclusive events like a themed dinner night.	Encourages guests to visit despite the off-season by providing activities they wouldn’t get during peak periods.
Provide discounted packages	Collaborate with local restaurants, wellness centers, and attractions to offer bundled discounts (e.g., “Stay 3 nights, get a free spa session” or “Book now and get 15% off at a partner restaurant”).	Attracts price-conscious travelers, making your listing more competitive and appealing.
Offer personalized concierge services	Go beyond basic tips – help guests book local experiences, secure restaurant reservations, or arrange private tours. Provide a curated digital guidebook.	Adds a luxury touch to the stay, making it easier for guests to explore the area and increasing satisfaction.
Feature local art & products	Showcase local art in your Airbnb or sell handmade products (e.g., candles, coffee, souvenirs) in partnership with artisans. Offer a welcome gift with locally made treats.	Supports the local economy, creates an immersive experience, and adds a personal touch that guests appreciate.

3. Shorten the minimum length of stay during low season

Hand in hand with what has just been said goes the modification of your booking conditions. If your minimum stay is 4 or 5 nights, for example, you will miss out on some potential bookings in the off-season. If someone only wants to go away for a weekend and wants to book with you, but this is not possible due to the minimum stay restriction, they will choose another accommodation. So, make your booking conditions more attractive in the off-season to increase booking requests and revenue.

Basic, automatically tiered discounts also work well. 10% discount for 3 nights or more, 20% for 5 nights or more, 30% for 7 nights or more, and so on. You can adjust the percentages and conditions as you wish.

4. Change prices in the low season

If you have answered the above questions, you will probably have noticed that not only the booking frequency but also the booking behavior changes during the low season – at least normally.

Most people do not plan a budget for vacation in the fall. Either the budget has already been used up for the summer/winter vacation, or a big vacation away from home is not possible this year. You should use this insight. Because how can vacationers reduce their budget for a vacation?

• Either they travel for fewer days;
• Or they book accommodation that is cheaper.

Basically, it is not due to the remaining vacation days for the year. So, there is an untapped market of potential guests who would actually like to vacation inexpensively. If your price is right, you could convince them to book your vacation rental.

However, it can be quite tricky to find reasonable prices for Airbnb bookings during the low season. If you already have a lot of interested customers, you should not lower your weekend prices too much. After all, you want to make sales. However, prices that are too high can put off potential guests so much that they don’t even bother looking any further.

So, how do you set prices for the off-season? Remember that you shouldn’t rely solely on your own judgment when setting prices. Look at the competition in your area and, if necessary, use dynamic pricing to adjust your prices based on data to meet demand.

Convince guests with ‘promotions’

Another tip, in addition to the basic price adjustment, is to offer promotions or special offers, because marketing is particularly important on the Airbnb platform in the low season. As we have already mentioned, potential guests do not yet have a desire to travel – so you have to awaken this desire.

For example, there is no budget for another vacation, but perhaps for a birthday or Christmas present. So offer an “all-inclusive – birthday offer,” for example. For $250, you can offer a weekend in your holiday apartment with balloons and a bottle of champagne to welcome you, as well as a basket with a recipe and the ingredients. This way, you can offer an experience and play on specific needs. It also works with “a week’s break,” “a trip with the dog,” or “a child’s birthday party without organization.” Put together packages depending on your capacity and the options in your holiday apartment.

You can also counteract the shorter length of stay with promotions. As mentioned, guests tend to stay for less time, especially in the low season. Give them an incentive by giving them something to stay longer. This could be a restaurant voucher, a glass of champagne, or a special welcome gift, or even extra nights. An example would be:

“Stay longer than 5 nights and get another night for free.”

This way you can get customers who were thinking about staying 3-4 nights to consider a week’s holiday with you. With this promotion, you can generate more sales, even if you give away a night.

Special offers are also a practical excuse to contact previous guests again or to follow up on booking requests that did not lead to bookings. After all, everyone likes a bargain, especially when it comes to holidays!

5. Identify potential off-season guests

This part can be a bit more complex, but it brings you a lot. Target groups may change. Huh? But it’s still the same vacation rental? That may be true, but needs differ depending on the weather and season.

Look at bookings in the high season and compare them with bookings in the off-season. Analyze the demographics of the respective guests and, if necessary, questions – these will give you a lot of insight into what your guests are looking for in your vacation rental. You can then determine what your typical guest profile is in the off-season.

• Maybe it’s seniors looking to avoid the tourist crowds of peak season, or young couples looking to spend a cozy fall weekend together.
• Maybe it’s adventurous groups looking to enjoy outdoor activities in a mild climate, or workers on a course or business trip looking for a room or accommodation.
• Not everyone is necessarily after summer heat or deep snow.

Once you’ve identified who your target groups on Airbnb are during the low season, consider how you can make your vacation rental more attractive to these guests.

Think about what they’re looking for and adapt your property or listing accordingly. For example, if you own a six-bedroom family vacation home, it’s very unlikely that couples will book with you. After all, you don’t want to pay a high price for a lot of unused space, so consider blocking off several bedrooms and advertising your vacation rental as a property with different units at a lower price.

The same goes for seniors or dog owners. Adapt your vacation rental and your advert to the respective target group. If you want to accommodate seniors in the off-season, your advert text should not sound too colloquial and dog owners are not very interested in the distance to the nearest adventure park, but the distance to the nearest park is essential.

6. Present special offers and promotions

To boost your bookings during the off-season, offering attractive promotions can make your listing stand out. Many travelers are price-sensitive during this time, and well-planned discounts or value-added offers can encourage them to choose your accommodation over competitors.

a) Last-minute discounts

Some travelers prefer spontaneous trips, especially when they find a great deal. Offering last-minute discounts for reservations made within 7 days of arrival can help you fill unbooked dates quickly.

• Adjust your pricing strategy to offer a percentage discount (e.g., 10-20%) for last-minute bookings.
• Use Airbnb’s “Last-Minute Discount” tool or set up special offers manually.
• Promote these deals in your listing title or description (e.g., “Last-Minute Deal: 15% Off This Weekend!”).

If your listing allows flexible check-in/check-out, highlight this in your promotion to attract spontaneous travelers.

b) Discounted rates for extended stays

Encouraging long-term stays helps maintain high occupancy and ensures steady revenue. Many remote workers, digital nomads, or retirees look for affordable yet comfortable accommodations for weeks or months at a time.

• Offer weekly discounts (e.g., 10-15%) and monthly discounts (e.g., 25-30%) in your Airbnb settings.
• Highlight your property’s long-stay benefits, such as a fully equipped kitchen, workspace, or laundry facilities.
• Attract remote workers by mentioning fast Wi-Fi, quiet surroundings, and proximity to cafes or coworking spaces.

Create a special package for long-term guests, such as a free weekly cleaning service or a welcome basket with local treats.

c) Seasonal & exclusive promotions

Take advantage of seasonal trends by offering limited-time promotions tailored to different types of travelers.

• Winter escape special. Offer a cozy winter package with complimentary hot drinks, blankets, and a guide to local indoor activities.
• Autumn retreat. Provide discounts for stays during the fall, including recommendations for scenic hikes and local harvest festivals.
• Spring or summer deals. Attract vacationers by offering discounts on excursions or partnering with local beach clubs.

Advertise these promotions on social media, in your Airbnb listing, and via email to previous guests.

d) Loyalty & referral discounts

Encouraging repeat bookings on Airbnb or guest referrals can help sustain occupancy even in low season.

• Offer past guests a special discount code if they book again.
• Provide incentives for guests who refer friends (e.g., “Refer a friend and both get 10% off your next stay”).
• Create a VIP list for returning guests with exclusive perks such as early check-in, free breakfast, or priority booking for peak season.

If you have a direct booking website, offer returning guests a better rate than third-party platforms to encourage direct reservations.

7. Create a special incentive in the off-season

If you offer a vacation rental on the beach and your peak season is in the summer months, you need to create other incentives in the off-season so that guests visit your vacation rental in winter, too.

Research local events, festivals, and local activities. Think outside the box! Does your city host the best Carnival outside of Punta Cana? Or is there a special attraction like SEA LIFE near you? Whatever you can think of, there is bound to be someone looking for the perfect accommodation for the occasion.

• Tell your potential guests about the special events taking place in your area in carefully written emails.
• Also, post on social media to pique the interest of your existing network.

But events aren’t the only thing that can give you that extra incentive, an additional amenity in your vacation rental can also secure you guests and thus be worth the investment. A hot tub, for example, is a magnet for guests, even in the colder months. Do some research and consider what could bring you the most guests and whether this will set you apart from your competition in a way that vacationers will definitely book with you.

8. Update the homepage and your listing with seasonal photos

We’ve already discussed that vacationers are looking for a different experience in July than in January. Ideally, guests should be able to envision the vacation they want when they view your listing. But that won’t work in November when your photos show the beach and a fresh lemonade on the balcony. Instead, highlight the amenities that are particularly attractive to your Airbnb guests in the low season.

For example, these could be outdoor shots showing colorful autumn leaves or snowdrops in bloom. Indoor photos could show a cozy fire, scented candles, a selection of board games and books, an autumnal door wreath, or a cup of tea on the coffee table next to a pile of cozy blankets.

Also, mention that there are warm-down duvets in the bedrooms, and scarves and hats are available at the entrance. A supply of tea and scented candles (preferably not the $2 scented candles that give every other person a headache) should also be available in your holiday apartment to ensure a nice autumn or Christmas atmosphere.

9. Adapt your accommodation for a new client

The low season brings different types of travelers, including business professionals, students, and digital nomads, who want to stay at Airbnb. Unlike vacationers, these guests prioritize comfort, reliability, and convenience. By making slight modifications to your offering, you can cater to their specific needs and maintain steady bookings.

a) Target professionals

Many professionals travel for meetings, conferences, or short-term projects. They often seek accommodations that provide a productive environment with business-friendly amenities.

• List your property on professional platforms like “Airbnb for Work” and similar business-friendly booking sites.
• Provide fast and reliable Wi-Fi (at least 50 Mbps) that is crucial for video calls and remote work.
• Furnish a coffee & refreshment station, so that a small coffee machine or complimentary tea can sweeten the experience.
• Offer flexible check-in/out times because business travelers often have tight schedules and may need an early check-in or late check-out.

Highlight nearby business hubs, conference centers, or co-working spaces in your listing description to appeal to professionals.

b) Offer a suitable workspace

A dedicated and well-equipped workspace can set your listing apart. Business travelers and remote workers need a quiet, ergonomic, and functional space to stay productive.

• Ergonomic chair & proper desk setup because comfort matters for long work hours.
• A desk lamp with adjustable brightness can be helpful for late-night work.
• Providing easy access to electrical outlets and USB ports is a significant plus.
• Keep essentials like a notebook, pens, sticky notes, and a printer (if possible).

Consider adding a “Zoom-ready” setup with a ring light and noise-canceling headphones to appeal to remote workers and content creators.

c) Cater to students & long-term guests

Students, interns, and researchers often travel for short-term academic programs, exchange semesters, or research projects. They typically seek affordable, comfortable, and well-located accommodations.

• Offer a monthly rental discount for students staying for a semester or short-term study program.
• Provide quiet study areas with proper lighting and minimal distractions.
• Include laundry facilities or offer free laundry services for longer stays.
• Highlight proximity to universities, libraries, and public transport in your listing.

If your Airbnb is near a university, consider partnering with student organizations or academic institutions to promote your rental.

10. Increase your booking rate by adding a “Book” button on your website

Have you ever thought about your own Airbnb direct booking website? If not, then it is in vain, because it can bring you a number of other additional advantages, such as renting without intermediaries and their commissions, communicating directly with clients through any social networks, simplified payment and document flow procedures, lower prices due to the absence of commission for both the landlord and the client, and much more.

It is not only beneficial for the low season on Airbnb! When interested parties find your holiday apartment’s website and want to book it, you should make it as easy as possible for them to book directly. A clear “Book” button that stands out clearly on the homepage is crucial for this.

Initial interest often wanes very quickly if potential guests first have to ask whether the holiday apartment is available or are redirected to a completely different page to pay. In this case, another holiday apartment will be preferred, which is particularly fatal in the off-season, especially since this problem is so easy to avoid.

• Use efficient booking software for your holiday apartment to avoid such problems and to be able to display all the important pages clearly, simply and collectively for both the guest and for you.
• Such a user-friendly booking system will continue to bring you direct bookings for your vacation rentals even in the off-season.

11. Collect and promote customer reviews

Reviews are essential to earning money. In the low season, they can influence undecided Airbnb travelers.

Increasing Airbnb bookings with guest reviews

Strategy	Details	Tips
Inspirit reviews	Guest reviews build trust and influence potential travelers, especially during the low season. The more positive feedback you have, the more attractive your listing becomes.	– Send a friendly thank-you message after checkout, politely requesting a review. – Use automated Airbnb messages to remind guests about reviews without being intrusive. – Personalize your request by mentioning something specific about their stay (e.g., “Hope you enjoyed the sunset from the balcony!”).
Use Airbnb’s review system	Airbnb allows both hosts and guests to leave reviews. Since guests can only see your review after they submit theirs, they are more likely to leave feedback.	– Leave a review for your guests first, as this often encourages them to do the same. – Keep your guest reviews positive and professional to increase the likelihood of them returning the favor.
Follow up with a gentle reminder	Some guests forget to leave a review. A polite follow-up message can prompt them to take action.	– Send a follow-up message 3–5 days after their stay if they haven’t reviewed. – Keep it light and appreciative, like: “We’d love to hear about your experience! Your feedback helps us improve and also assists future travelers.”
Focus on positive reviews in your listing	Showing great reviews in your description reassures potential guests and increases conversions.	– Update your listing regularly with snippets from top reviews. – Use phrases like: “Guests love our fast Wi-Fi and cozy workspace – perfect for remote work!” – Focus on frequently praised aspects such as cleanliness, comfort, or responsiveness.
Use reviews in marketing	Beyond Airbnb, positive feedback can be a valuable marketing tool.	– Share great guest reviews on your Instagram, Facebook, and website. – Create a “Guest Love” highlight on Instagram with top testimonials. – If a review mentions a unique experience (e.g., “Loved the homemade breakfast!”), emphasize this feature in your listing.
Respond to all reviews (good & bad)	Engaging with reviews shows you care about guest experiences and future guests notice this.	– Always thank guests for their reviews and mention something specific they enjoyed. – For negative reviews, acknowledge concerns professionally and show how you are improving. – Avoid defensive responses; instead, show commitment to guest satisfaction.
Improve based on guest feedback	Constructive criticism can help you refine your listing and attract more bookings.	– Regularly analyze reviews to identify patterns (e.g., slow Wi-Fi, noisy surroundings). – Update your listing to reflect upgrades based on guest feedback.

Final thoughts

If you follow our tips, you will be well on your way to increasing your Airbnb booking rate during the low season. Ultimately, creativity and flexibility are the key to attracting guests and increasing sales in the off-season and there is no one-size-fits-all recipe or guarantee of success.

So ask yourself what special features do you offer that your competitors don’t? Focus on that and adapt your vacation rental listing to the season. This will show your guests why it is worth booking with you in the off-season! And, of course, remember to change your marketing and listing again after the off-season.

Frequently Asked Questions About
Low Season on Airbnb

Updated on: 2025-02-20. Author: Mark Vasiliy Smetanin

Tags: Airbnb Airbnb Advertising Airbnb Marketing