Questions to Ask an Airbnb Host
Questions to ask an Airbnb host before booking and after, grouped in the order you would send them: the deal-breakers first, then the space itself, costs and house rules, the neighbourhood, arrival and the stay. They cover what listings leave vague, from shared spaces, beds and cameras to deposits, quiet hours, late arrivals and who to call when something breaks, and they work on any short-term rental platform. If you are wondering which Airbnb questions to ask and which to leave out, pick the handful that fit your trip and send two or three at a time.
Want questions from the whole vault instead? Try the random question generator.
The questions
Each question, and why to ask it
Before booking
Is the place available for my dates, and is the total on the booking page everything I will pay?
Why ask it
An easy opener that also gets the fee structure on record inside the platform's message thread. If cleaning, linen, tourist tax or a local fee is collected separately on arrival, this is where you find out, and a written answer is worth having if the amount changes later.
Is this the entire place, or would I be sharing any space with you or other guests?
Why ask it
Listings sometimes describe a private room in a way that reads like a whole flat, particularly where a bathroom or kitchen is shared. Ask directly, and ask whether anyone else has a key or comes in during the stay to use a laundry or storage area.
How many people can actually sleep there, and what are the beds?
Why ask it
Advertised capacity often counts a sofa bed, an air mattress or a child-sized bunk. Ask for the beds room by room with sizes, since two adults sharing a small double is a different holiday from what the number suggested.
Are the photos current, and has anything changed since they were taken?
Why ask it
Photos can be years old. Recent works, a replaced sofa, a removed bath or a new building next door all get discovered on arrival. If one room matters most to you, ask for a quick phone picture of it as it is today.
Are cameras or noise monitoring devices installed anywhere, and where exactly?
Why ask it
Booking platforms set their own rules on cameras and noise monitors and generally expect hosts to declare them, so read the current policy for the site you are using. Asking directly gets you the locations, such as a doorbell camera or a noise sensor in the hall. A vague reply to this one is a reason to book elsewhere.
Is the place a good fit for our group and the reason we are coming?
Why ask it
Say who is coming and why in the same message. Hosts approve a request faster once they know it is two couples going to a wedding and not a party of eight, and it lets them warn you off: a host who replies that the walls are thin or the garden is unfenced has saved you a bad week.
Do you live nearby and run the place yourself, or does a co-host or a company manage it?
Why ask it
Neither is better, but they answer differently. An owner next door knows which window sticks and can be round in ten minutes, while the person replying for a management company may never have stood in the flat, so ask them for photos and measurements in place of descriptions. If the host lives on the property, ask how much you are likely to see of each other.
Are there stairs before the front door, and how many?
Why ask it
Easy to miss in photos, and it matters for luggage, small children, anyone with a knee problem and anyone arriving late. Also ask about a lift if the flat is high up, and whether the lift is currently working.
Can I bring my dog, and is there a pet fee or a size limit?
Why ask it
A listing marked pet friendly can still mean one small dog, no cats and nothing left alone indoors. Give the breed and weight, ask whether the garden is fenced, and get the fee in writing so it does not turn up as a charge after you leave.
Is the place safe for a toddler, and do you have a cot or a high chair?
Why ask it
Ask about what a photo will not show a parent: an open staircase, a balcony rail with wide gaps, an unfenced pool, a glass table at head height. If a cot is offered, check that it is a full travel cot with a mattress and whether bedding comes with it.
Does the building or the area allow short stays, or will a front desk or neighbours ask who I am?
Why ask it
Rules on short lets differ by city and by building, so ask how it works there. A host who is set up properly answers in a line, sometimes with a registration number. Being told to say you are a visiting cousin is a cue to book somewhere else, since you are the one standing in the lobby with the suitcases.
The space
How is the place heated and cooled, and how well does that work at the time of year I am coming?
Why ask it
Air conditioning listed as an amenity may be one unit in a living room, and heating in an older building may be one radiator. Ask what the bedrooms are like at night in the month you are coming, and whether you set the temperature yourself or the building does.
What is the internet like if I need to work from there?
Why ask it
Ask for a speed figure or a screenshot of a test, not a yes. Find out whether the connection is shared with other units or relies on a mobile signal, and whether there is a table and a proper chair, since a fast line is little use from the edge of a bed.
What is actually in the kitchen?
Why ask it
Kitchen as an amenity can mean a hot plate and a kettle. If you plan to cook, ask about an oven, the number of burners, pans, a sharp knife, a way to make coffee and whether there is oil, salt and pepper. Naming the meal you have in mind gets a better answer than asking whether it is well equipped.
Is there a washing machine I can use?
Why ask it
On a longer trip this decides how much you pack. Ask whether there is somewhere to dry clothes and whether detergent is provided. A machine on the listing sometimes lives in a shared basement or takes coins, which changes the plan.
Are towels, bed linen, soap and toilet paper provided, and will there be enough for the whole stay?
Why ask it
Many places supply a starter amount: one roll, one dishwasher tablet, one towel each. On anything over a few nights, ask whether spares are kept in a cupboard or whether you are expected to buy and wash your own. Beach towels and a hair dryer are worth naming separately, since listings often mention neither.
Is there enough hot water for everyone to shower one after another?
Why ask it
A small tank in a house that sleeps eight runs cold by the third shower. Find out what heats the water and how long it takes to recover, and whether a switch has to be turned on beforehand, which catches plenty of visitors on their first morning.
Is the pool or hot tub open and heated on my dates, and is it only for us?
Why ask it
Pools close for the season, heating is sometimes an extra daily charge, and a hot tub in the photos can be shared with the unit next door. If the pool is the reason for the booking, say so, and ask what the water temperature is likely to be in that month.
Do the bedrooms have doors that close and curtains that keep the light out?
Why ask it
Lofts, studios and converted barns often photograph a mezzanine or a curtained alcove as a bedroom. That suits a couple and is awkward for two friends or for grandparents travelling with you. Light matters most in a northern summer and for anyone putting a child to bed at seven.
Is anything on the amenities list out of order at the moment?
Why ask it
Listings rarely get edited when the dishwasher dies or the lift goes out of service. Asking about right now, not in general, gives a host an easy way to tell you and to say when it will be fixed. Name the one amenity you are booking for, so there is no doubt it was checked.
Could someone who uses a wheelchair or a walker manage the doorways and the bathroom?
Why ask it
Accessible means different things to different hosts, so ask for measurements and photos in place of the word: the narrowest door, the height of any threshold, whether the shower is level with the floor, whether there are grab rails. A host who goes and measures is a good sign for the rest of the stay.
Are there pets in the property now, or have there been?
Why ask it
Ask about past pets as well as present ones if anyone in the group is allergic, since carpets and sofas hold on to hair long after the animal has left. Check too whether a resident cat or dog will be around during your stay, which listings do not always mention.
Are there working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and where is the fire extinguisher?
Why ask it
Requirements differ from country to country, so do not assume what you have at home. A host who can say where each alarm is has probably tested it lately. A vague answer matters more in a place with a gas boiler, a wood stove or an open fire than in an all-electric flat.
Is the tap water fine to drink?
Why ask it
A one line question abroad, or anywhere rural that runs on a well or a tank. If the answer is no, ask whether drinking water is left for guests or where the nearest shop is. Carrying six litres up four floors on the first night is a poor start.
What insects or wildlife should I expect at that time of year, and do the windows have screens?
Why ask it
Mosquitoes, ants in a ground floor kitchen, geckos on the wall and mice in a country cottage are ordinary in the places where they are ordinary, and a host can tell you which applies. Screens decide whether you can sleep with a window open, which counts for most where there is no air conditioning.
Costs and rules
Do you take a security deposit or a key deposit, and how and when does it come back?
Why ask it
Security deposits and key deposits sometimes come up only at handover, and sometimes in cash. Get the amount, the payment method and the date it is returned in the thread, and be cautious about any request to pay outside the platform.
Is there an extra charge per guest, and can friends visit during the day?
Why ask it
Plenty of listings price for a set number and add a fee for each person above it, and some do not allow anyone who is not on the booking to come inside at all. Put the real headcount on the reservation. An extra person nobody mentioned is the first thing a doorbell camera shows.
Are electricity, heating or air conditioning charged on top above a certain amount?
Why ask it
On monthly stays, and in some countries on shorter ones too, the host reads the meter at check-in and check-out and bills the difference. Ask for the rate and a typical bill for your month, and photograph the meter on the day you arrive so you both start from the same number.
Do you offer a lower rate for a week or a month?
Why ask it
Fair to ask once, politely, for a long stay or a quiet midweek gap in the calendar, and pointless for a peak weekend. If the host agrees, the new price should reach you as an offer through the platform. A long message arguing the rate down tends to get the request declined instead.
If my plans change, how flexible can you be on dates or cancellation?
Why ask it
The cancellation policy shown on the listing is the one the platform will apply, so read it first and ask only about the grey areas, such as moving the stay by a week. Some hosts will agree to a date change they would never refund, and it helps to know which kind you have before you pay.
If I want to stay an extra night or two, how should I arrange it?
Why ask it
Raise it as soon as you think you might, since those nights are open to other guests until you take them. Extending through the platform keeps the added nights on the same terms as the rest of the stay. Cash in hand for two more days leaves them covered by nothing.
Can you provide a receipt or invoice with my company's details on it?
Why ask it
For a work trip, check before you book, because the document the platform issues and the one your employer or tax office accepts are not always the same thing. In some countries an invoice for the stay itself has to come from the host, so ask how it works there and whether they have done it before.
What are the quiet hours, and how close are the neighbours?
Why ask it
The house rules give a time; this asks how much it matters. A detached house in a field and a flat with a baby asleep under the living room call for different evenings. A group that will be up late talking on a terrace should find out now and choose the place that suits.
Is smoking or vaping allowed anywhere on the property, such as a balcony or the garden?
Why ask it
No smoking usually means indoors, but some hosts and buildings extend it to balconies and shared courtyards, and the smell of smoke is one of the things hosts charge extra cleaning for. Ask where exactly is fine and whether there is an ashtray, then take the answer literally.
If something gets broken by accident, how do you want me to handle it?
Why ask it
Glasses break in every rental and most hosts shrug at one. Asking ahead tells you whether this host wants a message and a photo, a replacement bought locally, or a claim made through the platform. Whatever the answer, telling them the same day goes over far better than leaving it for the cleaner to find.
Location
Which part of the neighbourhood is it in, and what is the nearest landmark or station?
Why ask it
Listings tend to show an approximate pin until you have booked, and a pin a few streets off can be the difference between the old town and the ring road. A host can name the nearest station, square or shop without giving the door number. Once the booking is confirmed, ask for a photo of the entrance too, since numbering on older buildings is often unclear.
Where do I park, and does it cost extra?
Why ask it
Free parking on a listing can mean a permit you have to request, a paid garage two streets away or street parking that is empty in the photographs and full in the evening. Give the size of the car if it is a van or a large hire car, and if it is electric, ask whether you may charge it there and what that costs.
How long does it actually take to get from the door to the places I will be going?
Why ask it
A map gives a distance. A host knows the hill, the main road with no crossing and the bus that stops running at nine. Name the two or three places you will go most, ask whether the nearest stop runs late, and ask what a taxi to the airport typically costs, since a cheap place far out often is not cheaper.
Is there anything nearby that gets noisy: a bar, a building site, early deliveries?
Why ask it
Asked this way it is easy for a host to answer honestly, and most will. Church bells, a rubbish collection at five, a nightclub around the corner and a school run all show up in reviews, but only after you have booked.
Is the walk back at night something you would do yourself?
Why ask it
A softer way to ask about the neighbourhood than asking whether it is safe, and it tends to get a straight answer rather than a defensive one. Follow it with which direction they would avoid, which is where the genuinely useful local knowledge is.
Would you hire a car for a stay at your place, or manage without one?
Why ask it
In a city the honest answer is often that a car is a daily parking bill. In the countryside it may be that the nearest shop is a twenty minute drive and taxis do not come out. Ask about the last stretch of road as well, since a steep gravel track is worth knowing about before you reserve the smallest hatchback.
Where is the nearest supermarket, and how late is it open?
Why ask it
This one earns its place on arrival day. If you land in the evening or on a Sunday the shop may be shut, and a host who knows that will often leave milk and bread or point you to the one place still open. Travelling with children, ask about a pharmacy in the same message.
Where do you eat or get coffee nearby that visitors tend to miss?
Why ask it
Hosts usually have a short list ready, and it beats the top results on a map, which near any tourist street are the same three places. Ask for one cheap regular and one place for a last-night dinner. It is also the friendliest question on the page, and a good one to end a first message on.
Arrival
How do I get in, and what happens if I arrive earlier than check-in?
Why ask it
Confirm the method: lockbox, keypad, a person meeting you, or a key collection somewhere else with its own opening hours. Then ask about early arrival, since bag storage is often possible and is much easier to arrange in advance than on the day.
My flight lands late: is arriving after midnight a problem?
Why ask it
With a keypad it rarely is. With a person meeting you it can mean a late fee or a firm no, and some buildings lock an outer door or close the concierge desk at night. Give the flight number and ask what happens if it is delayed two hours, because that is the case that goes wrong.
Can you send the entry instructions and wifi password a day or two ahead, in case I have no signal when I land?
Why ask it
A door code that arrives by app an hour before check-in is no use on a phone with no data in a new country. Ask for the steps with photos and save them offline. Check too that the code will work at the time you expect to arrive, not only from the official check-in hour.
How many sets of keys will we get?
Why ask it
A group that splits up for the day with one key ends up planning around whoever holds it. Ask for a second set before you arrive, which is easier than arranging one mid-stay, and find out what a lost key or building fob costs to replace. With a keypad, skip this one.
Is there anything I should bring that guests often wish they had packed?
Why ask it
Hosts hear the same regrets every season: a plug adapter, water shoes for a stony beach, a torch for the unlit lane, slippers for stone floors in winter. It also turns up what the place does not supply, such as a beach umbrella or charcoal for the barbecue, while you can still pack it.
Could I check out a couple of hours late, or leave bags after check-out?
Why ask it
Whether this is possible depends on one thing: whether another guest arrives that day. So the host may only be able to say a few days before. Ask anyway, ask again then, and if the answer is no, ask where nearby stores luggage, which city hosts generally know.
Can I have a parcel or a grocery delivery sent to the address?
Why ask it
Worth raising on a stay of a week or more. Some buildings have no letterbox a courier can reach, some hosts would rather not have a guest's name on the post, and a grocery order needs someone to be in. If it is fine, ask exactly how the address should be written.
During the stay
Who do I contact if something stops working at ten at night?
Why ask it
You want a name, a phone number and a realistic response time, plus whether anyone is nearby. A remote host with no local contact means a broken boiler or a failed door code becomes your problem, and knowing that changes what you pack and where you book.
Will anyone need to come in while I am there: a cleaner, a gardener, someone for the pool?
Why ask it
Scheduled visits are normal, especially on long stays and at houses with a pool, and only become a problem when nobody mentioned them. Ask for the days and rough times, and whether a mid-stay clean or fresh linen is included on a longer booking or costs extra.
Where do rubbish and recycling go, and on which days are they collected?
Why ask it
Dull, and the one you will be glad you asked by day four of a week with a kitchen. Sorting rules can be strict, and where a fine exists it lands on the owner, who will not thank you. In a flat, ask where the bins physically are and whether the bin store needs a key or a code.
Do power cuts or water shortages happen there, and what is the backup?
Why ask it
A fair question on islands, in mountain villages and anywhere in storm season, and an odd one for a city centre flat, so leave it out there. Where it applies you want to hear about a generator, a water tank, torches in a drawer, and whether the wifi and the door keypad still work without power.
Is there anything in the place you would rather I did not use, move or do?
Why ask it
Owners who live there part of the year leave a locked cupboard, a wine rack or a piano they would like left alone, and most hosts have one small habit they wish guests would drop: shoes on the stairs, wet towels on wooden furniture, the gate left open. Asking saves an awkward message afterwards and tends to bring out the opposite as well: the bikes, the kayak or the spice shelf you are welcome to use.
What do you need me to do before I check out?
Why ask it
Requirements vary from nothing to stripping beds, running the dishwasher, taking out rubbish on a specific day and returning keys somewhere. Ask before you arrive rather than reading a laminated list on the last morning.
Is there anything about the place that guests are usually surprised by?
Why ask it
An open closing question that brings out the detail no listing contains: the shower that takes a minute to warm, the door that sticks, the neighbour who parks across the drive. Ask it last, once the host has seen from your other questions that you read the listing.
Dealing with hosts before and during a stay
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
Keep it in the platform's messages
Anything a host tells you inside the booking platform is visible if there is later a dispute about fees, condition or cancellation. Move to text or a phone call for convenience during the stay if you like, but ask the questions that involve money, access or the state of the property in writing first. A request to pay outside the platform, or to move the booking off it, takes away the protection the platform gives you, and it is the request booking sites themselves warn guests about.
Writing the first message
- The listing page has a link to contact the host before you book, and sending a question commits you to nothing. Use it, and not a booking request, whenever the answer could change your mind.
- Open with who you are, who is coming, the dates and the reason for the trip. Two lines is enough, and it is what a host most wants to know.
- Then ask the two or three things the listing does not already answer. A question the description covers plainly tells the host you have not read it.
- Leave the questions about bins, check-out and coffee until the booking is confirmed. They are welcome then and read as noise before.
- If a day passes with no reply, send one short follow-up, then look at another listing.
Ask before booking, then again a week ahead
- Before booking, ask the things that would change your decision: sharing, beds, stairs, noise, cameras, total cost, deposits, and whether your dog, your children or your late arrival are a problem.
- A week before arrival, ask the logistics: entry method, exact address, parking, arrival window, luggage, the nearest shop.
- The day before, confirm the code or key handover in writing and get a phone number that works in the country you are travelling to.
- If a host does not reply to messages before you book, treat that as information about how they will respond when something breaks.
Read the listing and reviews for what is missing
- Look for the amenity that is named without detail. Kitchen, workspace, air conditioning and parking are four words that can each cover a lot or very little.
- Sort reviews to the most recent and read those first. A change of ownership, a renovation or a new noise problem shows up there before the rating moves.
- Notice repeated hedges across reviews, such as several people mentioning the stairs or the shower. Guests soften complaints, so two mentions usually means a real issue.
- Compare the photographs against the floor plan or room list. A room photographed only from one corner is often smaller than it appears.
Common pitfalls
Asking everything in one message
A list of twenty questions tends to get a short summary reply that answers three of them. Two or three at a time, grouped by topic, gets specific answers to each.
Assuming a self check-in means no coordination
Codes get changed, lockboxes jam and cleaners run late. Confirm the code on the day of arrival and have a phone number for someone who can come out.
Not photographing the place on arrival
A few pictures of existing damage and meter readings in the first ten minutes cost nothing and settle any deposit question later.
Raising problems only in the review
Hosts can fix a heater, a missing towel or a noise issue while you are still there, and platforms generally expect you to have given them the chance. Message during the stay, in writing, and keep it factual.