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Published August 13, 2024
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The easiest way to get bookings for your vacation rental is to list it on a vacation rental website. But with so many options available, it can be hard to choose which ones are right for your property.
You’re certainly familiar with Airbnb or Booking.com, but other alternatives can align best with your goals and the audience you want to attract. In this guide, we'll dive into a detailed comparison of the best booking websites, to help you choose the right fit for you and maximize your revenue.
What are vacation rental websites?
Vacation rental websites, also known as OTAs (online travel agencies) are online systems guests can use to reserve accommodations, experiences, and other travel-related services. These platforms connect property managers with potential guests, providing a streamlined process for booking and managing reservations and making it easier for hosts to reach a global audience.
Booking.com
Booking.com is one of the largest online booking platforms in the world, connecting travelers with accommodations, experiences, and transportation. The company was founded in 1996 in Amsterdam and has over 29 million total listings and has welcomed over 4.5 billion guest arrivals over the years.
Although it is more known as a hotel booking website, it has a wide variety of accommodation types, including apartments, homes, hostels, and B&Bs. Its audience also has a very wide range, from business travelers to leisure travelers.
Fees
Booking.com works on a commission-based model, with hosts paying a fee that typically ranges from 10 to 25%, depending mainly on the property’s location, type, and cancelation policy. Guests aren’t charged any fees from the platform.
Strengths
- Global reach - with a website available in 45 languages, listings in over 220 countries, and millions of daily visitors, you can attract a diverse range of travelers.
- Property management tools - the platform provides advanced tools for hosts, including dashboards with helpful insights. This is ideal if you’re looking for a more business-oriented platform or managing several properties.
- Instant booking - this feature eliminates the need for hosts to manually approve or decline bookings and the back-and-forth communication during the reservation stage.
Airbnb
Airbnb was founded in 2008 to connect people who want to rent out their homes or spare rooms as a holiday accommodation with guests. Since then it has grown and in 2023, Airbnb reported over 448 million bookings on its platform and counted 7.7 million active listings worldwide.
The platform has a user-friendly interface and its user base tends to be younger and more modern. It’s also known for more unique stays, like tree houses, boats, and even igloos.
Fees
Listing your property is free and most hosts pay a 3% fee for each booking, calculated from the booking subtotal, while guests pay a fee of about 14%.
Alternatively, you can opt for a host-only fee where hosts pay the entirety of the fee, usually around 14-16%. Host-only fees are mandatory in some cases, including traditional hospitality listings like hotels or serviced apartments and for hosts connected to property management software.
Strengths
- Large user base - being one of the largest booking platforms in the world, you can ensure your listings reach a wide audience.
- More flexibility and control - Airbnb allows you to choose when you want to rent out your space, adjust the pricing when you want, and set your own rules, providing more control over your property.
- Personalized experiences - the platform encourages a more personal approach to guest communication before and during their stay, which is ideal for hosts who enjoy interacting with guests.
Vrbo
Vrbo (short for Vacation Rentals by Owner) is a more niche platform, similar to Airbnb where it allows property owners to list their properties directly, but allows only listings for entire homes. Founded in 1995 and currently owned by Expedia Group, it currently has a selection of over 2 million homes.
Fees
On Vrbo you have two options for fees:
- You can choose a pay-per-booking fee of 8% per every booking, which includes a commission and a processing fee. This is the best option if you list your properties on multiple platforms.
- Or you can choose an annual subscription that you pay in advance, which currently is 699$ and covers all the booking and service fees.
Guests also pay a service fee of around 6 to 12% of the booking subtotal. Usually, the higher the reservation amount, the lower the percentage of the service fee.
Strengths
- Family-oriented - with its focus on renting entire properties, the platform is ideal for properties that cater to large groups and families.
- Standards for guests - Vrbo has requirements for guest eligibility and you can set your own criteria to ensure they’re a good fit for your property.
- Longer stays - guests tend to spend more and book longer stays on Vrbo than on other platforms.
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor, founded in 2000, is a platform specializing in travel-related services, connecting people to experiences, accommodations, restaurants, and other travel categories. It is known for being the most popular travel review site, with customers being able to leave their comments and reviews after experiencing a service.
The platform has a space called Tripadvisor Rentals dedicated to vacation rentals, where you can list individual rooms, apartments, or homes.
Fees
Listing on Tripadvisor is free and you pay a 3% fee for each booking, based on your total rent. Guests also pay a fee that ranges from 8% to 16% of the total booking value.
Strengths
- Trusted reviews - if your listing has consistently high reviews, this can enhance your reputation.
- Experience integration - Tripadvisor offers a variety of experiences besides accommodation, allowing you to reach an audience who might not otherwise see your listing, especially if your property is in a more touristic area.
Expedia
Expedia is one of the world’s largest travel agencies and allows travelers to book stays, flights, cruise ships, car rentals, and other travel services. The company was launched in 1996 and it’s part of the Expedia Group, which includes a variety of other travel-related websites like Vrbo, Hotels.com, Trivago, and Travelocity.
It works similarly to Booking.com, attracting travelers who appreciate the convenience of having all they need for their trip in one single platform. However, while Booking.com has a bigger presence in Europe, Expedia’s users are mainly in the USA.
Fees
On Expedia.com, the host fees are between 10% and 30% of the booking price, depending on the type of property, location, and business size (usually, smaller businesses pay a higher fee than bigger ones). The platform doesn’t charge any fees for guests.
Strengths
- Cross-promotion - when you list your property on Expedia, it might also show up on other of the group’s websites (only if you allow instant booking), enhancing your visibility to travelers across different platforms.
- Vacation packages - Expedia attracts travelers who prefer to book complete packages to simplify their trip planning, allowing you to reach a new segment.
HomeToGo
HomeToGo was born in Berlin in 2014 and it’s a platform that aggregates listings for vacation rentals from several booking sites, including Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo, along with its own listings. It allows users to compare accommodations across different websites, with an offer of over 15 million rentals. Its focus is exclusively on vacation rentals and excludes hotels or hostels.
Fees
Similar to Airbnb, you can opt for a host-only fee, which is 15% of each booking, or a split fee, where you pay 3% and the guests pay a variable amount up to 16%.
Strengths
- Price comparison - the price comparison tools attract budget-conscious travelers, which can be beneficial if you have a competitive rate.
- Wide network of partners - HomeToGo operates local apps and websites in 25 countries, which means that if you add your listing to the platform, it will also show up on other local platforms
We partner with hosts to provide their guests with a luggage pick-up, storage, and delivery service. Becoming a LUGGit partner is free and you earn commissions every time your guests book our service!
