A Google reverse image search is a great way to avoid drop-shippers polluting etsy, or find that pair of stilettos an influencer is gatekeeping. But did you know it’s also a potential means to dodge Airbnb fees?
“Wall Street Girly” Vivian Tu, better known as Your Rich BFF on Instagram, explained the clever workaround that could save travelers hundreds in a recent Instagram reel with nearly 20,000 likes.
The reel opens with a relatable clip: actor Rainn Wilson griping that he received a one-star review from an Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB) host for not washing dishes, despite paying a $207 cleaning fee. That’s when Tu, a former Wall Street trader turned personal finance guru, comes into frame to share a simple Google hack to pay a lot less.
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Tu’s method relies on a key insight: Many Airbnb listings aren’t actually owned by individuals. Instead, they’re managed by rental companies, listing the same properties across multiple platforms to see where they get bites.
Her solution involves taking a screenshot of the Airbnb listing’s main photo and running it through Google’s reverse image search. This often reveals the same property listed via the rental company’s proprietary website or other booking platforms, typically at significantly lower rates.
Tu explains that while this trick won’t work for individually-owned properties, it’s remarkably effective for corporate-managed vacation rentals. In one example she shared, booking directly through the property management company’s site saved $20 per night while also reducing additional fees. The savings come from cutting out Airbnb’s middleman commission, which property owners typically pass on to renters through higher nightly rates and service charges.
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This strategy arrives at a time when travelers are increasingly fed up with hidden fees across the travel and entertainment industries. The issue even reached the White House. The Federal Trade Commission’s rules on greater transparency for “junk fees” went into effect on May 12. For frequent travelers, these savings could add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually.
