Airbnb wants to make it even easier for you to find your next getaway. The platform made over 100 updates, but its new flexible booking options are among the most significant.
Airbnb's Flexible Search Tools Give You Even More Choices
With COVID-19 restrictions easing up in some areas, people are itching to start traveling once again. Airbnb's new features reflect this desire to travel anywhere, at any time.
In a post on the Airbnb Newsroom, the vacation rental marketplace announced some huge changes coming to the way you search for rentals.
Flexible Dates, a feature that Airbnb already started rolling out in February 2021, lets you find a place to stay without having a set date in mind. You can simply search for week-long vacations, weekend stays, and even month-long visits. According to Airbnb, the platform has already seen over 100 million searches using Flexible Dates.
Another feature, called Flexible Matching, will let you find a wider range of rentals, and will include homes that are on the outskirts of your search parameters. In other words, Airbnb may show you rentals that are priced slightly above your ideal price range. It may also display similar matches even if they don't have a specific amenity that you wanted (e.g., a pool or hot tub).
Finally, Airbnb is launching Flexible Destinations. This tool can help you find an interesting place to stay, no matter the location. With this feature, you'll come across unique homes, like historic houses, castles, and even wagons that you'll be able to spend your vacation in.
Aside from these updates, Airbnb has also made its search feature even better. When searching for a rental, Airbnb's search filters will now adapt to the season, location, and will also let you search for houses near specific areas, like the beach or a national park.
Brian Chesky, the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb commented on the change in travel patterns since the COVID-19 pandemic, stating:
We are seeing three fundamental shifts in travel as people become less tethered and more flexible. People can travel anytime, they are traveling to more places and they are staying longer.
Airbnb's search features definitely reflect this change, allowing users to be more flexible than ever with their travel plans.
Airbnb Adapts to the Changing Travel Landscape
Airbnb's new flexible search features should satisfy the wanderlust in those who haven't been out much since the pandemic. With more people working from home, it's more likely that people will start taking spontaneous trips.