With 2020 having been the most chaotic and unpredictable year for travel in recent history, Airbnb is trying to ease the stress of trip-planning by offering a new “Flexible Dates” feature. Recognizing the increasingly popular “workation” trend — where people often travel during off-peak times and book longer stays — the accommodation platform is allowing people to search for homes without a specific check-in and check-out date.
Photo: Airbnb
Airbnb's New ‘Flexible Dates’ Feature Just Made Trip Planning Easier
“According to our new travel trends report, one-quarter of Americans would consider traveling during off-peak times of the year or the week. And in 2021 to date, more than one-third of people searching our platform have been flexible in terms of the date or location of their stay. At Airbnb, we believe these shifts will continue even after the pandemic fades, and that for those with new flexibility to choose their dates, travel will increasingly become a way of life,” Airbnb shared on its site.
The feature was released on February 23 and you can now search for a “weekend getaway,” a “week-long vacation,” or a “month-long” or “months-long” stay. The company hopes that the new flexibility will inspire people to plan their future getaways without worrying about cancellations, refunds, missed dates, and the usual hassle of accommodation booking.
“The traditional travel industry was built around fixed destinations with fixed dates in mind, but that model no longer meets the needs of today’s travelers,” Airbnb said. The platform is determined to keep up with the trends as they come and remain flexible in order to best serve its clients. 