Once you have been approved as a follower of a property, you can exchange direct messages with the host at any time — before, during, or after a booking.
How to send a message
You can start a conversation from two places:
- From the listing page — use the message form at the bottom of the listing
- From your Messages inbox — go to Messages in the top navigation
Your message is delivered to the host by email. The host can reply from their email inbox or from within PrivateStay.
Receiving messages
When you receive a new message from a host, you receive an email notification. You can reply:
- Directly from your email inbox (reply to the notification email)
- From the Messages page inside PrivateStay
The full conversation thread is always available at Messages → [Property name].
What messages are for
Direct messages are great for:
- Asking questions about the property before booking
- Coordinating check-in details after a booking is confirmed
- Discussing date changes or special requests
- Anything else you need to communicate with the host
Note
The connection note you write when requesting access is your first message to the host. Once approved, full two-way messaging opens up.
Sending limits
To keep things respectful and spam-free, you can send up to 10 messages per minute. This limit is unlikely to affect normal use.
Message privacy
Messages are private between you and the host. Other guests cannot see your conversation. PrivateStay staff do not routinely read messages, but may do so in the event of a reported abuse or dispute.
Notification preferences
You can opt out of message email notifications from Account → Email Preferences. Even if you opt out of email notifications, your messages are still stored and accessible inside PrivateStay.