Airbnb introduces Airbnb Rooms to offer users more affordable options

Airbnb is going back to its old ways. Long ago, the booking platform started as a way to rent a room in people’s homes (instead of entire places) and now they are putting a focus on that business model by revamping it and adding new features.

On Wednesday, Airbnb announced the expansion of its Rooms category, allowing travelers to rent a private room in someone’s home along with more information on the host. Users can now select the Rooms tab on the website or app to see a list of all available rooms for rent in their desired location.

What features do Airbnb Rooms offer?

Each listing includes a host passport with the host’s photo, ratings, reviews, and other information they choose to share, such as interests, jobs, and any pets. Host passports also confirm the host’s identity, email address, and phone number so guests can book with peace of mind.

Airbnb’s Rooms category offers information on whether the bedroom door has a lock, shared or private bathrooms, and whether there are other occupants besides the host. The Rooms tab has around 1 million private bedrooms available globally, with over 80% of private rooms costing less than $100 per night, with an average of $67 per night. 

Along with these updates, Airbnb is also reducing guest service fees after three months and offering interest-free payments through Klarna for US and Canadian users. And that’s not all, they’re also finally making hidden fees more transparent upfront. Cheers to saving that moola!