Airbnb will improve price transparency

Booking a stay through Airbnb can be a hassle for several reasons. Chief among them is the fact that it's not always easy to tell at a glance how much you're going to pay for your vacation rental, as the cleaning fee or security deposit may not be correct. appear only after clicking on an ad. However, Airbnb is finally ready to make pricing a little more transparent.

CEO Brian Chesky wrote on Twitter that starting next month, the company will offer the ability to see the total price of a stay in search results, as well as on the map, price filters, and ad pages. You'll still be able to see a breakdown of the total price, including Airbnb's service fee and any discounts. Additionally, Chesky says Airbnb will prioritize total price over nightly price in its ranking algorithm. “The highest quality homes with the best total prices will rank higher in search results,” Chesky said.

This is overall a positive development, as the prices per night displayed in the search results do not tell the whole story. Hosts may charge different cleaning fees or even fees for additional guests that are not immediately apparent. Showing (almost) the full price up front should make it easier for people to compare listings while reducing sticker shock at checkout.

However, there is a downside. The price you see in search results and on the map still doesn't include taxes. It would be helpful to see that on the jump as well, especially since many hotel booking sites display the full price with tax included in the search results. "Our thinking was that since prices in the United States are generally displayed before tax, we should follow that convention," Chesky wrote.

Elsewhere, Chesky said Airbnb will give hosts more pricing and discount tools. He noted that hosts want a better understanding of the total price users are paying and what they should be charging to help them stay competitive. Chesky added that users shouldn't have to undertake "unreasonable" payment tasks like vacuuming or removing bedding. He noted that simple actions like turning off lights, throwing food in the trash, and locking doors are reasonable, and that hosts should communicate these types of payment requests before a reservation is made.

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