Why one fixed minimum stay usually isn't enough
A single minimum stay applied year-round is the most common setup mistake: set it too low and short one-night bookings crowd out longer, more profitable stays during peak season. Set it too high and off-season dates sit empty, because few guests book five nights for a quiet week in November. Under Pricing → Availability Rules, Smoobu lets you set a different minimum stay per date range — you configure the rule once per season period and it then applies automatically across every connected channel.
On top of straightforward seasonal tiers, the minimum stay can also be combined with a separate weekend rule that enforces a higher minimum for arrivals on specific weekdays, independent of the season. Together, these two rule types are the main reason a well-maintained Smoobu calendar rarely accumulates isolated, unbookable gap nights.
Step 1 — Set a default minimum stay
Before seasonal exceptions can apply, every property needs a default value that holds outside any defined special period.
- In Smoobu: go to Pricing → Availability Rules (on some account versions grouped under Calendar Pricing) and select the property.
- Set the default value: Enter the minimum number of nights that applies to any booking, unless a season or weekend rule overrides it. For most properties, 1 or 2 nights is standard for the off-season.
- Save. The default value applies immediately across every synced channel until a more specific rule overrides it.
This value is the baseline — the real control happens in steps 2 and 3 through season- and weekday-specific exceptions.
Step 2 — Create season-specific minimum stays
A higher minimum stay during peak season almost always pays off, since demand is already high and every additional night rented without a cleaning turnover adds margin.
- Under Availability Rules, create a new rule for a specific date range — e.g. school holidays, the Christmas market season, or a local event with high demand.
- Set the start and end date of the period and enter the different minimum stay that applies for that range, e.g. 3, 5, or 7 nights instead of the default.
- You can set up several periods in parallel — e.g. a moderate minimum stay for the shoulder season and a higher one for peak season proper.
- Check for overlaps: If two periods have overlapping date ranges, Smoobu typically applies the more specific or more recently saved rule — visually double-check the calendar after adding several periods.
Season periods can be set up years in advance, but should be reviewed annually — school holidays and moveable public holidays shift dates from year to year.
Step 3 — Combine with weekend rules
Even outside actual peak season, a plain Friday- or Saturday-only arrival with no minimum stay often results in unprofitable one-night bookings that block a whole weekend's worth of demand.
- Create the rule: Under Availability Rules, define a separate weekend rule that applies independently of the season rule.
- Select arrival days: Usually Friday and Saturday — set a minimum stay of 2 nights for these arrival days so a single isolated Friday or Saturday night can't be booked on its own.
- Combining with the season rule: If a season rule for the same date range already sets a higher minimum stay, Smoobu typically applies the higher of the two — verify the result for a specific weekend date in the calendar.
- The rule applies automatically on every channel that supports weekday-specific minimum-stay rules.
Step 4 — Spotting and avoiding gaps
Even with well-configured rules, single isolated nights between two bookings can end up shorter than the current minimum stay and become unbookable over time.
- Check the calendar regularly: A single open night framed by booked nights, shorter than the current minimum stay, can't accept a new booking as long as the rule stays unchanged.
- Set a temporary exception: For a specific gap night, Smoobu usually lets you enter a date-specific exception to the minimum stay to make that one night bookable again.
- To avoid gaps systematically, plan minimum stays that match your typical guest's length of stay — for a mostly weekend-guest property, e.g. multiples of 2 nights.
Troubleshooting common issues
Airbnb shows a different minimum stay than Smoobu
Channels don't always sync rule changes instantly — depending on the channel, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours for a new or changed rule to show up. First confirm the rule is actually active in Smoobu for the affected date range and property, and if the mismatch persists, trigger a manual sync for that channel.
A single night stays permanently unbookable
This is typical of a gap night between two bookings that's shorter than the currently applicable minimum stay. Check the calendar for which rule applies to that day, and if needed, enter a date-specific exception to free up that night in the short term.
The season rule and the weekend rule conflict — which one wins?
For overlapping rules, Smoobu typically applies the stricter of the two — usually the higher minimum stay. For dates that matter, don't rely on assumption — check the actual applicable minimum stay for a specific date directly in the calendar.
How high should the peak-season minimum stay be?
This depends heavily on location and target guest — there's no universally correct value. Many Berlin vacation rentals set 3 to 7 nights during peak season, and in heavily touristic holiday areas a fixed 7-night stay with a set arrival day is also common. Watch the booking rate over one or two seasons and adjust gradually rather than setting it once and never revisiting it.