August is peak season for most vacation rentals, but even in a fully booked month, gaps can appear between reservations. One or two nights here and there might not seem like a big deal, but over time, those empty days add up to lost revenue.
Here’s how to turn your short openings into real opportunities, without exhausting yourself or hurting your guest experience.
1. Understand the power of short stays
Short stays may seem like more work (extra cleaning, more communication), but they have key advantages:
- They fill unavoidable calendar gaps
- They attract spontaneous travelers and weekenders
- They often have lower expectations and higher flexibility
The goal is to make these stays worthwhile, both for your business and for your guests.
2. Optimize your minimum stay settings
Many hosts set a 3+ night minimum during August, but that leaves orphan days between longer bookings.
What to do:
- Use dynamic minimum stay settings (e.g. allow 1-night stays only when there’s a 1-night gap)
- Manually adjust your calendar for gap days with lower minimums
- Use smart pricing tools (or channel managers like Hosthub) that can automate this logic
Pro tip: Shorten your minimum stay only on days that would otherwise go unbooked.
3. Offer incentives for gap nights
Guests are more likely to book awkward dates if they feel like they’re getting a deal.
Ideas:
- Small discount for 1- or 2-night stays midweek
- Free early check-in or late checkout on short bookings
- A welcome snack or drink for gap-night guests
These perks are low cost, but they boost perceived value, especially when promoted in your listing description.
4. Promote flexibility in your listings
Make it clear that you welcome shorter stays, many guests assume high season = long stays only.
Tips:
- Add “Short stays welcome” or “Flexible dates available in August” to your listing title or intro
- Use Airbnb tags like “Great for weekend trips” if available
- Update your cover photo or description with late-summer availability
Even a quick Instagram story or email blast can help bring attention to last-minute availabilities.
5. Use direct bookings to your advantage
OTAs (like Airbnb) don’t always surface short stays well. Use your direct booking page to:
- Promote specific gap days (e.g. “August 18–19 now open!”)
- Run exclusive offers (“1-night flash sale”)
- Encourage repeat guests to grab a short getaway
Direct bookings give you more control over stay length, pricing, and communication, use that to your benefit.
6. Streamline your turnover process
One reason hosts avoid short stays is the operational hassle. But with the right setup:
- Use quick-clean checklists for 1-night bookings
- Pre-stock essentials to reduce restocking time
- Automate check-in/check-out messages
The smoother the process, the more feasible it is to accept shorter stays without stress.
Final thoughts: small stays, big value
Every night your property sits empty is a missed opportunity. With smart calendar settings, clear communication, and a bit of creativity, you can turn even single-night gaps into revenue, and satisfied guests.
And with tools like Hosthub handling your calendar syncs and channel management, managing short stays becomes far easier.
Start your free Hosthub trial and make the most of every day this summer.
