Vrbo Hosting Tips: Keep Instant Book On for More Bookings (Here’s How to Pause It)

Marifil Limpahan
3 days ago
2 min read

Vrbo Instant Book: Why We Recommend Keeping It On (and How to Turn It Off if Needed)

As a host, you’re always balancing control with convenience. One of Vrbo’s most useful features—Instant Book—lets guests reserve your property without waiting for approval. It saves time, boosts visibility, and usually leads to more bookings.

At BNB Guardians, we coach hosts on Airbnb and Vrbo strategy, optimization, and guest communication. Our recommendation? Keep Instant Book turned on to maximize results. But if you ever need to temporarily disable it, here’s how to do it—and how to manage bookings while it’s off.

What Is Instant Book on Vrbo?

Instant Book allows guests to confirm reservations right away, no approval needed.

This is a win-win:

Convenience for guests: No waiting on host replies.
Better visibility: Properties with Instant Book often rank higher in Vrbo searches.
Less work for you: Fewer back-and-forth messages about availability.

For most hosts, Instant Book is part of a smart Vrbo and Airbnb optimization strategy.

When You Might Turn Off Instant Book

Even though we recommend leaving it on, there are times you may need to disable Instant Book temporarily:

Maintenance issues: Plumbing, electrical, or other sudden repairs.
Personal breaks: Travel, family commitments, or time off from hosting.
New listings: Extra screening while building reviews and reputation.
Local laws: Some cities require more control over who books.

How to Turn Off Instant Book on Vrbo

If you do need to pause Instant Book, here are the steps:

Log in to your Vrbo account.
Go to the listing you want to adjust.
Select Rules and Policies.
Under Booking Type, change from Instant Booking to 24-hour review.
Save your changes.

That’s it, your property will now require manual approval.

Best Practices Without Instant Book

Turning off Instant Book gives you more control but requires more effort. Here’s how to stay on top of it:

Respond quickly: Guests won’t wait long—fast replies help secure bookings.
Be clear: Ensure your house rules and policies are detailed and upfront.
Pre-screen smartly: Ask about travel purpose, group size, and special needs.
Use automation: Tools like Guesty streamline messaging and task management so you can stay efficient.

Final Thoughts

For most hosts, keeping Instant Book turned on is the best approach. It improves visibility, increases bookings, and saves time. But when life happens—whether it’s maintenance, personal breaks, or compliance issues, you can always turn it off temporarily.

At BNB Guardians, we help hosts create winning Airbnb and Vrbo strategies, combining automation tools like Guesty with hands-on coaching. That way, you can scale your short-term rental business without burning out.

Need help with Airbnb or Vrbo management? Join our Airbnb Super Host Academy or book a call with us today.