Short-term rental hosts in Yerevan spend a surprising amount of their day typing the same messages: "Yes, the dates are free", "Check-in is from 14:00", "Here is how to find the entrance". A Telegram bot does that part for you, and lets returning guests book directly instead of through a platform that takes a commission.
What the bot handles
- First contact. The guest chooses a language and an apartment if you have several.
- Dates and guests. Arrival, departure, number of guests, pets, purpose of the trip if you want to know.
- Booking request. You receive a clean card in Telegram and confirm or decline with one tap.
- Payment details. After confirmation, the bot can send how to pay a deposit. Payments inside the bot are also possible.
- Check-in info. Address, directions, door codes, Wi-Fi, house rules, sent at the right moment.
- After the stay. A thank-you message and a link to leave a review.
Direct bookings vs platforms
| Channel | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Booking platforms | Large audience, trust | Commission, rules you do not control |
| Instagram messages | Visual, personal | Messages get lost, slow replies |
| Telegram bot | Instant replies, no commission, guest stays in your contact list | Needs traffic from your own channels |
Most hosts keep platforms for new guests and use the bot for repeat guests, friends of guests and Instagram followers.
Guests from everywhere
Yerevan short-term rentals see tourists from Russia, Europe, the Middle East and the diaspora. A bot that answers in English, Russian and Armenian from the first message removes friction. For free-form questions like "Is there a pharmacy nearby?" an AI assistant can reply around the clock using information you give it.
Costs at Kinto
- Telegram booking bot: $500
- Online payments: $600
- AI assistant for guest questions, 24/7: $1,200
- Website for your apartments: from $700 for one page, $1,800 for several properties with galleries
All prices are fixed in the contract before we start, and the bot is registered to your account. More on Telegram bot development.
Pair it with a simple website
A small site with photos, prices per night and a "Book in Telegram" button makes you look established and gives you a link to share. If you manage several apartments or work as an agency, see our real estate website setup.
Managing several apartments
If you manage more than one apartment, or work for owners, the bot can start with a choice of property: photos, number of beds, district and price per night for each. The booking request then shows which apartment the guest wants, and can go to the person responsible for that property. Owners can get a separate summary, so they see bookings without access to all guest chats.
Typical guest questions to prepare answers for
| Question | Short answer to load into the bot |
|---|---|
| Is there a washing machine? | Yes or no, and where it is |
| Can I check in late at night? | Self check-in rules, key box or meeting |
| How far is the center or Cascade? | Walking or taxi time |
| Is there air conditioning or heating? | Yes, with a note on how to use it |
| Can I pay in dollars, rubles or by card? | Payment options you accept |
| Parking? | Street, courtyard or none |
Prepare these once and the bot answers them forever. For anything unusual, the guest taps "Contact the host".
Reviews and repeat guests
After check-out, the bot can thank the guest and send a link for a review on the platform where they booked, or on Google. Guests who booked directly can be offered a small return discount for their next visit. Over a year, a list of past guests in Telegram becomes a quiet but steady source of bookings without commissions.
Tips from practice
- Send check-in instructions the evening before arrival, not at the moment of booking.
- Keep house rules short and polite.
- Always include a button to reach a real person.
- Ask for the guest's arrival time, so you are not waiting at the door for hours.
Want to see how it would look for your apartments? Write to @kinto_am on Telegram or leave a request through the form. We reply within 15 minutes between 10:00 and 20:00 Yerevan time.
Updated: 2026-10-12