Answers · Reviews
When should you ask a guest for a review?
Ask once, within a day or two of checkout, and only if the stay went smoothly. Skip any stay with an open complaint, refund or damage claim, and never offer a reward in exchange for a review.
Reviews drive ranking and conversion on Airbnb, Vrbo and Google. The ask itself is simple. Most of the value is in the timing and in knowing when not to send it.
The best time to ask
Within 24 to 48 hours of checkout, while the stay is still fresh. On Airbnb, guests and hosts have 14 days after checkout to write a review, so a late ask can miss the window entirely.
Checkout day
Fine for short, local stays. It can feel rushed if guests are still traveling home.
One to two days after
The sweet spot for most stays. Guests are home and still remember the details.
After the review window closes
Too late for Airbnb. If you still want feedback, ask for a Google review instead.
When not to ask
Do not send a review request when:
A complaint is open or was raised during the stay.
A refund, damage claim or dispute is in progress.
The guest already reviewed you on that platform.
The stay was cut short or ended badly.
In those cases, send a service follow-up asking how you can make it right. A rating prompt sent after a bad stay invites a bad review.
What to say
Keep it short and personal. Thank the guest by name, mention something specific about their stay, explain that reviews help future guests choose, and include a direct link to the review page. One message is enough. Do not start a reminder sequence.
The rules on incentives
Do not offer discounts, gifts or credits in exchange for a review. Airbnb and Google both prohibit incentivized reviews, and the FTC’s 2024 rule on fake reviews bans incentives that depend on a review being positive. You can reward guests for rebooking, just not for reviewing.
How to automate it safely
1. Trigger on checkout
Start from the checkout date in your PMS.
2. Wait a day or two
Send while the stay is fresh, inside the review window.
3. Skip problem stays
Exclude open issues, refunds and existing reviews.
4. Send one ask
A personal note with a direct link, and no reward.
How Yada helps
Yada sends the review request as a post-checkout journey and skips stays that should not get one, so the ask only reaches guests who had a good stay.
Frequently asked questions
Should I send a review reminder?
Usually not. One ask is enough for most stays, and Airbnb already sends its own reminders. If you do follow up, send a single reminder a few days later and stop.
Can I offer a discount for a 5-star review?
No. Platforms prohibit it, and the FTC bans incentives that depend on a positive review.
Should I ask for a Google review or an OTA review?
Guests who booked on Airbnb or Vrbo review there, and the platform prompts them. Direct guests have no OTA review to leave, so ask them for a Google review.
What if the guest had a problem?
Resolve it first. Send a service follow-up, not a review request.
Does Airbnb already ask guests for reviews?
Yes. Your message adds a personal touch on top of Airbnb’s prompt, so keep it short.