How to book and pay for Airbnb in Russia

Airbnb is an online platform for short-term housing rentals. It allows property owners to rent out rooms, apartments, or houses to travelers for short periods. The service is available in over 220 countries and regions worldwide. Both guests and hosts leave reviews about each other, helping to build trust.

The platform has changed the way many people travel, offering an alternative to traditional hotels. In this article, we will take a closer look at Airbnb in Russia, exploring how to use the platform under current conditions, book accommodations, and make payments.

Creating an Airbnb Account

There are several ways to create an account. The simplest and most convenient is to use a mobile phone. However, it is not necessary to use your own contact number. You can use a service like SMSBOWER, which offers the option to purchase a virtual number for Airbnb. This can be done in just a few clicks, and the website interface is user-friendly and straightforward.

Does Airbnb Work in Russia?

In April 2022, the company announced the suspension of its operations in Russia and Belarus. Here are the main restrictions that were introduced:

1. Booking accommodations in Russia is blocked for guests from any country. No listings from property owners are displayed within the country.
2. Russian users cannot book accommodations abroad.
3. Russian hosts can no longer post new listings or accept guests through the platform.

Although the Airbnb website continues to operate in Russia as of 2024, it has become non-functional. To use the platform's features, an account with an IP address outside of Russia is required. Despite these challenges, there are ways to interact with the service, which we will discuss below.

How to Register on Airbnb in Russia

To create an account, you need to use an IP address outside of Russia; otherwise, restrictions will apply.

There are several ways to create an account, as shown in the screenshot below:

The option to use a phone number is the simplest and most effective. However, this presents challenges for Russian users. While Russian mobile numbers are accepted for registration, accounts created with them are limited in functionality. The easiest solution is to use a virtual number. Below is a step-by-step guide using the SMSBOWER service, which will allow you to book accommodations on Airbnb in Russia.

1. Register on the SMSBOWER website. Simply provide an email address.
   
2. Top up your balance using any convenient method. All purchases on the service are made through your personal account.
   
3. Choose a virtual number. First, select the service, then the country. Sorting options are available (price, popularity, number of numbers). Click "Select."
   
4. Purchase the number.
   
5. Access the "Activation History" section. Here, the virtual number will be saved for future use.
   

Proceed to register on Airbnb. Use an IP address from another country when logging in. Enter the previously purchased virtual number in the appropriate field and click "Continue."
Return to your SMSBOWER account in the "Activation History" section. Copy the confirmation code and complete the registration.

In some cases, the SMS may not arrive. If this happens, click "Cancel" and purchase a new number. This process only takes a few clicks, and the funds are fully refunded to your account.

How to Book and Pay for Airbnb from Russia

Start by updating your profile information. Make the following changes:

• Set your place of residence to a foreign city.
• In the "Personal Information" section, use an email address with a .com domain (e.g., Gmail), avoiding Russian domains.
• Remove Russian payment methods, as they are no longer functional.

You can also adjust settings to match the country you selected as your residence (time zone, etc.).

To book accommodations on Airbnb from Russia, you will need to take additional steps. As mentioned earlier, you must change your address. If you are paying with your own funds, use cards and accounts from foreign banks. Ensure that the system does not detect your Russian IP address. Cookies in your browser history could reveal your location. A solution is to use a separate browser with a setting to clear data after each session. Note that the "Incognito" mode does not always work.

How to Pay for Airbnb from Russia

If you want to make payments independently but do not have foreign accounts, you can create a virtual card. Popular services include:

• FlexCard
• xCards
• PST.NET

We have a separate blog post about creating Turkish virtual cards.

Alternatively, you can use intermediaries:

1. Oplatym – Commission up to 20%, details discussed with a manager.
2. Remoney – Service fee is 20%, but not less than 690 rubles.
3. ProstoPay – Service fee is 20%, but not less than 1,000 rubles.

Using intermediaries is best for one-time payments. If you need to use foreign services regularly, consider setting up your own payment methods.

Airbnb Alternatives in Russia

Earlier, we discussed how to use the service despite existing restrictions. These methods are only applicable if you need accommodations abroad. Within Russia, listings are not available, and searches will not yield results.

If you need Airbnb in Russia now, consider its alternatives. Several reliable platforms offer similar functionality:

1. Sutochno.ru – One of the largest short-term rental services in Russia, operating in many cities.
2. Ostrovok – Initially a hotel booking site, now also offers private accommodations.
3. Tvil.ru – A platform for booking accommodations in Russia and CIS countries.
4. CIAN – Primarily a platform for long-term rentals, but also offers short-term options.
5. Avito – This marketplace also features short-term rental listings.
6. Kvartirka – A service for renting apartments and houses on a daily basis.
7. Yandex.Travel – In addition to hotels, private accommodations for short-term stays are available.

Using these platforms eliminates the need to wonder whether Airbnb can be booked from Russia. However, note that these services are primarily designed for the domestic market (and in some cases, for CIS countries). Our blog also includes guides on creating accounts on these platforms without a phone number. For example, we have articles on Avito and Yandex.Mail.