Request to Book (RTB) allows guests to submit a booking request that a host can review before accepting or declining.
On Vrbo, RTB works differently than on other channels because of how reservation updates are shared between Vrbo and Hospitable. To help prevent booking issues and potential Vrbo penalties, specific timing rules apply to Vrbo RTB reservations.
At a Glance
For Vrbo Request to Book reservations:
Guests cannot submit new RTB requests within 48 hours of check-in
Instant Book reservations are not affected
Hosts have just under 24 hours to accept or decline an RTB request
RTB requests automatically expire before the 24-hour mark if no action is taken
No payment is collected for expired RTB requests
The remaining response time is displayed in the Hospitable inbox
A Vrbo Request to Book reservation displayed in the Hospitable inbox with available actions
Last-Minute Request to Book Limitations
Guests cannot submit a new Request to Book reservation within 48 hours of check-in.
New RTB requests close at 09:00 UTC two days before the check-in date.
For example:
Check-in date: 27 May
RTB cutoff: 25 May at 09:00 UTC
After the cutoff, guests can no longer submit a new Request to Book reservation for those dates.
Instant Book reservations are not affected by the 48-hour Request to Book limitation and remain available according to your listing's booking settings.
Responding to a Request to Book
When a guest submits a Request to Book reservation, you must respond within the available response window.
You can:
Accept the request
Decline the request
The remaining response time is displayed directly within the reservation conversation in the Hospitable inbox.
Hosts should respond as soon as possible rather than waiting until the end of the response window.
A Hospitable inbox conversation showing the remaining time before a Vrbo Request to Book expires
Automatic Expiration
Vrbo Request to Book reservations automatically expire shortly before the 24-hour response window ends.
If no action is taken before expiration:
The request automatically expires
The reservation is cancelled
The guest is not charged
Automatic expiration helps prevent situations where a delayed response could be interpreted by Vrbo as a host-initiated cancellation.
Once a Request to Book reservation expires, it cannot be accepted. The guest would need to submit a new request if the dates remain available.
Why These Limits Exist
Vrbo receives reservation updates differently than some other booking channels.
Because of this, actions taken too close to check-in or too late in the Request to Book workflow may not be processed in time.
The Request to Book cutoff and automatic expiration rules help reduce the risk of:
Booking confusion for guests
Delayed reservation updates
Host penalties on Vrbo
Listing suspension risks associated with late responses
Instant Book vs Request to Book
Instant Book and Request to Book follow different workflows.
With Instant Book:
Guests can complete a reservation immediately
No host approval is required
Last-minute booking availability follows your listing settings
With Request to Book:
Guests submit a booking request
Hosts must review and respond
Additional timing restrictions apply
Hosts who want to accept last-minute Vrbo reservations should consider using Instant Book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the Request to Book limitations apply to Instant Book reservations?
No. The Request to Book cutoff and expiration rules do not affect Instant Book reservations.
What happens if I do not respond to a Request to Book?
The request automatically expires before the end of the response window.
The guest is not charged, and no reservation is created.
Can I accept a Request to Book after it expires?
No. Once a request expires, it can no longer be accepted.
Where can I see how much time is left to respond?
The remaining response time is displayed in the Request to Book component within the Hospitable inbox conversation.
Why can't a guest submit a Request to Book for dates that are available?
If the check-in date is within 48 hours, new Request to Book reservations are not accepted.
Instant Book reservations may still be available depending on your listing settings.
Do these rules apply to Airbnb or Direct bookings?
No. These limitations apply only to Vrbo Request to Book reservations.