Does Using A VPN To Book An Airbnb Prevent Unnecessary Fees And Price Increases?

You've probably heard that deleting your cookies can bring prices down when booking your hotel or Airbnb, but the latest internet buzz is all about VPNs. If you've ever been to a country with a strict firewall, like China, you might have used a VPN to access Gmail or Instagram. Or perhaps you use one to stream a TV show or sporting event that's only available in another country. VPNs — virtual private networks — hide your computer's IP address and allow you to browse the net from a country of your choice. Now, according to many online users, VPNs can also help you save on travel — maybe Airbnb bookings.

VPN company Nord Security tested this theory. Users experimented with booking flights and hotels using a VPN to set their location outside the U.S. and, with a little experimentation, they could identify countries where significant savings were possible. Gerald Kasulis, a spokesperson for Nord Security, told Fox 56, "Those algorithms are being used against us to potentially trick us into paying more than we should be paying. So I think it's time that we take control into our own hands as well and start using those algorithms to our own advantage." This price variation — known as dynamic pricing — often means Americans pay more for online services that use such systems, which, according to Kasulis, includes Airbnb.

How much you'll save using a VPN takes some trial and error — and a bit of luck. Technical writer Eglė Juknevičiūtė detailed her process on VPN Pro, finding that booking with a U.S. IP address usually resulted in the highest prices across all travel platforms. She often scored the best deals by setting her location to Japan or Poland, and occasionally found that using a local IP address for her destination offered the lowest rates (as when she booked accommodation in the U.K.).

The biggest downside seems to be that it just might not work. On Reddit, many users complained that a VPN didn't save them any money, with one person noting they were redirected to the more expensive English-language site as soon as they tried to pay with an American credit card. A user on Threads also questioned how Airbnb guests could snag better prices through a VPN, pointing out that as a host, she sets her own rates.

Travel writer Block Blohm explains the possible issues: "There are going to be people who use this and they don't see a change. It's either option one: that website is not using dynamic pricing, or option two: they are, but you're just choosing the wrong areas. You gotta keep kind of bouncing around until you find the right server." (via Fox 56). Some internet chatter even suggests that using a VPN to book travel could get users blacklisted or have their reservations canceled. Nord VPN doesn't caution against cancelled Airbnbs, but does warn travelers to avoid free VPN services, which may install spyware or sell user data without consent.

Still, with a reputable VPN, most users report modest savings on Airbnb — or at the very least, no repercussions. If you're giving it a try, All About Cookies recommends logging out of the website and clearing your cookies before turning on your VPN. These tricks could also help you avoid overpaying when you book a rental car and get secure WiFi while traveling.