Airbnb is an online platform that allows people to book spare rooms and homes like they would a hotel room, opening up a world of apartments, beach homes, and unique properties.
The platform has grown rapidly over the last decade, as more and more people have tried — and loved — finding great places to stay at often affordable rates.
If you are trying Airbnb for the first time, you can also save on your first booking by using a referral link or entering an Airbnb promo code.
This Airbnb discount code can earn you up to $55 in travel credits, which can be applied to Airbnb rentals or Airbnb experiences.
In this article we’ll give you a brief overview of Airbnb, share a link you can use to save on your first stay, and provide you an overview of their referral program.
We’ll also share some other ways you can save with Airbnb, and answer some frequently asked questions about the platform.
Getting to Know Airbnb
Airbnb is an online platform that allows for booking private rooms, apartments, and homes for short-term rentals.
Founded in Silicon Valley in 2008 and headquartered in San Francisco, the platform first started as a place to rent out spare rooms for overnight stays, and was popular for people who were heading out of town for a weekend and wanted to bring in some extra cash by renting out a bed to visitors.
As the app grew in popularity, they expanded into entire apartments and vacation homes.
New Airbnb hosts popped up, first around the country, and then around the world.
What was originally an app to find a cheap place to crash in a new city quickly became a place people used to design dream vacations, from Paris to Mexico City.
Your Airbnb stay works a bit like a hotel stay, just often a little more informal.
You’ll work out your check-in ahead of time with your host, then either pick up the key directly from them or from a lockbox near the apartment.
If you’re staying in a spare room, a host at the house will make sure you get in safely and get squared away.
If you have any issues, they’re a tap on the app (or a phone call) away.
Payment is handled directly through the Airbnb app, and if any issues arise, they have a customer support team ready to help.
Airbnb is always looking for new hosts, too.
If you want to become a host on Airbnb to bring in some extra income, you should read our article on the topic.
Airbnb Experiences
In 2019 Airbnb made an aggressive push into the travel experiences space.
Now instead of just offering a private room or an apartment to book, they are offering entire vacation planning services.
Say you’re going to New Orleans on a trip: Airbnb will not only help you find you a beautiful apartment in the Garden District, they’ll also pair you with local experts who can take you on historical tours of the city, or get you in to some of the best jazz concerts that only locals know about.
Learn more about Airbnb Experiences in our article on the subject.
Airbnb Discount Link for (2023)
In 2023, there is an Airbnb promo code for new users.
If you follow this link to sign up for the first time, you’ll get $40 off your first home booking of $75 or more, plus $15 towards an experience of $50 or more.
Already created an account and haven’t booked your first trip yet?
Unfortunately, you’ll have to create a new account with a new email address by following the link above to save on your first trip.
That’s it! Your Airbnb credit will automatically be applied when checking out on your first stay, provided it is $75 or more.
Other Ways to Save With Airbnb
Already an Airbnb member and still want to get in on the savings?
There are a few ways you can get discounts on bookings, or Airbnb credits you can apply to future stays.
The Airbnb Referral Program
The most tried-and-true way to save with Airbnb is to invite friends to sign up for the app with your referral link.
If they sign up with a new email address and complete their first Airbnb booking, you’ll instantly receive up to a $30 credit.
The credit will go to your Airbnb account, which you can apply to your next booking.
To find your referral link, log in to Airbnb.com.
In the top right of the screen, you will see an icon that shows your profile picture.
Click on that, and a menu will drop down.
If you scroll down in the menu, you will see an option for “Invite Friends.”
Click on that, and you’ll be taken to your home base to make referrals happen.
On this page you can copy your invite code, email friends directly, import contacts from your email account, and more.
If a friend follows your link and creates an account, you’re halfway there.
Once they complete their first booking, you’ll be credited with up to $30 that you can use toward future Airbnb stays.
That “Invite Friends” page of the website also lets you track any credits you’ve earned, as well as pending credits.
It’s a win-win.
Your friends will save on their first trip as an Airbnb user, and you save on your next stay as well.
Enabling Notifications
Another way to stay tuned in to special discounts is to enable email and notifications from Airbnb.
These specials and offers happen somewhat regularly, but they often only work for short periods of time or for specific locations, and the only way to stay informed about them is to make sure Airbnb can contact you with them.
Airbnb will sometimes offer vacation packages, or ways to tack on an extra night to a visit.
To enable notifications, again go to Airbnb.com and click on the icon in the top right hand corner.
Then select “Account” from the list.
Once there, you’ll be able to control all of your notifications from Airbnb.
Those include notifications from hosts, but also notifications about special promotions.
To ensure you get these, scroll down to where it says “Promotions and Tips.”
There you can select your preferences for how they reach out to you about special deals and coupons to save.
Frequently Asked Questions About Airbnb Promo Codes
We’ve covered Airbnb, the Airbnb promo code to use on your first booking, and other great ways to save when booking with Airbnb.
Let’s get into some frequently asked questions about the service.
1. What happens if I refer someone and they cancel their trip?
You will only earn the full referral credit once someone completes a booking, all the way through stay and payment.
When someone books using your code, you will see a credit as being “pending” in your account.
Once the trip is completed and paid for you will get the full credit.
Learn more about Airbnb’s cancellation policy here.
2. Can I give Airbnb gift cards?
You sure can.
Airbnb gift cards are easy to send and never expire.
You can find gift cards either in your personalized menu on the app or Airbnb.com, or by following this link.
3. Do Airbnb credits cover fees?
Airbnb credits you earn, either by following the promo link or by referring friends, are applied to the final cost of your rental.
That can include service fees and cleaning fees, depending on the listing, but either way, the credits will help you out.
To learn more about Airbnb fees, read our guide to how Airbnb works.
Save Money on Airbnb Trips
New users eager to use Airbnb for the first time can save in one of several ways.
There’s our Airbnb promo code which will earn you $40 off your first stay.
There’s also the Airbnb referral program, which lets you earn up to $5,000 in credits when you share your personalized sign-up link with your friends.
These trips can be redeemed for stays or for Airbnb Experiences, so take advantage of these credits for great places to stay and great adventures when you get there.
