How to Attract Christmas Travelers to Your Airbnb (10 Proven Winter Hosting Tips)

How to Fill Your Airbnb Calendar This Holiday Season: A Host’s Winter Success Guide

When it comes to Airbnb optimization, the holiday season is one of the most profitable times of the year, but only if you plan ahead. Winter brings in family reunions, festive getaways, and travelers searching for cozy, memory-filled stays.

At BNB Guardians, we help hosts turn slow winter months into fully booked seasons with smart Airbnb management and data-driven strategy. Here are 10 ways to attract Christmas travelers and keep your calendar packed over the holidays.

1. Start Early with Your Airbnb Marketing: Attract Christmas Travelers

Holiday bookings start earlier than you think, many travelers plan months in advance. Start promoting your Airbnb Christmas deals by October to capture early planners searching for family-friendly or cozy winter stays.

Pro Tip: Update your Airbnb title with seasonal keywords like “Festive Cabin Stay” or “Perfect for Christmas Gatherings” to boost visibility.

2. Highlight Family-Friendly Features

Families love holiday getaways that feel like home. Mention board games, extra seating for holiday dinners, or bunk rooms for kids. If your property can host larger groups, list it under Airbnb Large Group Stays to reach bigger travel parties.

3. Offer Limited-Time Holiday Discounts or Perks

Nothing catches attention like a deal. Offer a winter discount, free early check-in, or a complimentary bottle of wine on arrival. You can even run a “Stay 3, Get 1 Free” promotion to encourage longer bookings during the off-peak weekdays.

4. Create a Festive Atmosphere

Your décor sells the experience. Guests love listings that feel magical during the holidays, think string lights, a small Christmas tree, and cozy touches like hot cocoa kits or cinnamon candles.

Include updated photos of your decorated space, they’re worth more than any discount.

5. Be Flexible with Check-In and Check-Out

Holiday travel is unpredictable. Offering flexibility for late arrivals or early departures shows empathy and increases your chances of booking last-minute travelers juggling family schedules.

6. Sell the Holiday Experience, Not Just the Space

Your listing description should tell a story, imagine your guests baking cookies in the kitchen, watching snow fall from the patio, or cozying up by the fire after a day on the slopes. Paint a picture of the Airbnb winter experience you’re offering.

7. Showcase Winter-Friendly Amenities

Highlight amenities that make your stay stand out: fireplaces, hot tubs, heated floors, ski storage, or nearby sledding hills. These features often justify a higher nightly rate and help your Airbnb appear in holiday travel searches.

8. Emphasize Location and Local Events

If your Airbnb is near a Christmas market, ski resort, or holiday light show, mention it in your listing title and description. Travelers often search for events first and choose lodging nearby.

9. Make It Pet-Friendly (Even Temporarily)

Allowing pets can expand your audience dramatically during winter. Many families travel with their furry friends for the holidays, and they’re willing to pay more for pet-friendly stays.

10. Optimize for Holiday SEO

Update your title and description to include Airbnb Christmas travel, holiday getaway, winter cabin rental, and family-friendly Airbnb. Refresh your photos, pricing, and tags to align with seasonal searches.

Final Thoughts

Holiday bookings don’t happen by accident, they happen by strategy. By decorating with intention, marketing early, and offering thoughtful perks, you can turn your Airbnb into a holiday destination guests remember (and return to).

Need help optimizing your listings and pricing for the winter season?

👉 Join the Airbnb Superhost Academy on Skool or book a call with us at BNB Guardians where hosts learn proven systems to scale their income, even in the slow months.