Minimum stay: how to choose the right one for your rental

Is it worth accepting a one-night booking, or would you rather wait for someone who stays a week? That is the question behind the minimum stay, one of the simplest settings in your listing and one of the ones that most affects your workload, your costs and your calendar.

There is no right number for everyone. A short minimum can fill more gaps, but it also means more cleanings and more arrivals and departures. A long one gives you more calm, but it can leave nights empty. This guide shows you how to think through the decision with your own numbers.

Key Takeaways

• The minimum stay is the fewest nights a guest can book at your property.
• Every turnover has a cost in cleaning, time and wear. Factor it in when you decide.
• A minimum that is too long can leave gaps in your calendar that nobody can book.
• Review your minimum stay every season based on what your real bookings tell you.

Table of Contents

• What the minimum stay is and why it matters
• What each turnover costs you
• How to choose your minimum stay
• When to change it

What the minimum stay is and why it matters

The minimum stay is the rule that sets how many nights, at least, a guest has to book. If you set it to three nights, nobody can book one or two nights at your property.

It filters your type of guest

Without noticing, your minimum stay chooses your guest. A minimum of one or two nights attracts weekend getaways and travelers passing through. A minimum of five or seven nights attracts longer vacations and people coming to work or visit family. Neither is better than the other: it depends on what you want for your property.

It shapes your whole calendar

The minimum stay does not only decide which bookings you accept. It also decides which gaps stay open. If your minimum is four nights and three free nights are left between two bookings, nobody can take those three nights. That is why it pays to look at the whole calendar, not one booking at a time.

What each turnover costs you

Every time one guest leaves and another arrives, there is work to do. That work has a cost, whether you do it yourself or pay someone.

The costs that repeat

Before choosing your minimum stay, add up what each turnover costs you:

• Cleaning, plus laundry for sheets and towels.
• The supplies you restock: paper, soap, coffee.
• The time you spend welcoming guests, handing over keys and answering messages.
• Wear on furniture, mattresses and appliances with each arrival and departure.

Illustrative example. If each turnover costs you US$40 in cleaning and restocking, a one-night booking at US$60 leaves you very little. A three-night booking at the same rate spreads that cost over more nights. A cleaning fee can help cover part of it. Stripe processing, bank fees, currency conversion and taxes may apply separately.

Your energy counts too

If you manage the property alone, or from the United States through a co-host, many check-ins and checkouts can wear you down. Each one means coordinating a cleaner, a key handoff and messages across time zones. A slightly longer minimum may cost you a few stray nights, but it also brings less stress. To plan the cleaning side, read our guide to cleaning between guests and setting a cleaning fee.

How to choose your minimum stay

You do not need to get it right the first time. What matters is starting with a reasonable choice and adjusting it as you learn.

A four-step method

Follow this order to choose your first minimum stay:

1. Work out your cost per turnover. Add cleaning, laundry, supplies and your time.
2. Picture your ideal guest. Weekend getaways, week-long vacations or work stays?
3. Look at your area. A city property may get more travelers passing through. A beach or mountain one, more multi-day vacations.
4. Pick a number and test it. Keep it for a few weeks and track how many requests you get and how many gaps remain.

How it works on SimpleStay

On SimpleStay, the minimum stay defaults to 2 nights and you can change it in the listing editor whenever you want. That is also where you set your nightly price and, if you like, an optional cleaning fee. The guest pays the nightly price times the number of nights, plus the cleaning fee, and US$0 in SimpleStay service fees.

If you prefer much longer stays, the same listing can offer 3, 6 or 12-month rentals alongside nightly stays. Those requests always need your approval. SimpleStay asks for no guarantor and does not handle deposits or rent: you and the renter agree rent and deposit terms directly in the Inbox.

When to change it

Your minimum stay is not a forever decision. What works in one season may not work in the next.

Signs it is too long

If you see lots of stray one or two-night gaps between bookings, or you get inquiries from people who want to stay less than you allow, your minimum may be too long for your area. Lowering it a little can help fill those gaps, though no setting can guarantee bookings.

Signs it is too short

If you feel you spend more time cleaning than resting, if turnover costs eat a large share of each booking or if wear on the property shows quickly, your minimum may be too short. Raising it a little can bring more order. Before each season, also review your whole calendar. For planning the year, read our guide to high and low season in the Dominican Republic. For general context on the sector, see the overview of tourism in the Dominican Republic.

A setting you can adjust

The minimum stay is a balance between filling your calendar and protecting your costs, your time and your property. Work out what each turnover costs, think about the guest you want to attract, pick a reasonable number and review it against your real bookings.

If you want a listing where you can adjust your minimum stay, prices and cleaning fee whenever you need, list your property on SimpleStay. Every new listing gets a free trial: 30 days, or 7 days for listings located in the United States. After that it is US$50 a month per property, with 0% SimpleStay commission.

List your property with a free trial

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default minimum stay on SimpleStay?

On SimpleStay, the minimum stay defaults to 2 nights. You can change it in the listing editor whenever you want, based on your property type and your season.

Should I accept one-night bookings?

It depends on your turnover costs and your area. If each cleaning costs a lot compared with your nightly price, a one-night booking may leave you little. If you are in an area with many travelers passing through, it can make sense.

Does the minimum stay affect gaps in my calendar?

Yes. If your minimum stay is longer than the gap left between two bookings, nobody can book those nights. That is why it helps to review your whole calendar when you set your minimum.

Can I charge a cleaning fee on top of the nightly price?

Yes. On SimpleStay the cleaning fee is optional and you set it. The guest pays the nightly price times the number of nights, plus the cleaning fee, and US$0 in SimpleStay service fees.

How often should I review my minimum stay?

Review it before each season and whenever you notice clear signs, such as many stray gaps or too many turnovers in a row. Use your real bookings as your guide.