Vacation Rentals and Homes (2024)

FAQs

Which vacation rental site is the best? ›

Vacation rental or short-term properties are accommodations that travelers can rent on a short-term basis. These accommodations range from high-end luxury properties to spare bedrooms in other people's apartments and can include homes, condos, villas, apartments and even tents, yurts and boats.

Since vacation rentals are managed by a single company, there are more standard rules and less flexibility than you might find with an Airbnb. However, there are a lot fewer surprises in regard to quality expectations, so you can expect the same high-quality accommodations no matter what property you choose.

While any investment comes with a certain amount of risk, owning a vacation rental property can be both rewarding and profitable. Before investing in a vacation rental business, it's important to consider the pros and cons of entering the industry, and whether you are willing to put in the required work.

Although both VRBO and Airbnb take precautions to guarantee the protection of their visitors, Airbnb poses more potential dangers for guests simply because it allows visitors to remain in shared spaces.

A new study says hotels are the more affordable option over Airbnbs and Vrbos — across 50 global markets. Find out where you can save. Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists.

Vrbo's map looks a bit outdated by comparison. However, aesthetics aside, Vrbo offers far better filter and sort functionality than Airbnb. For example, Vrbo lets you filter by user reviews, including properties rated highly for cleanliness and properties rated 4 stars and above. Vrbo's filters are also more intuitive.

Depending on the type of Airbnb apartment and the hotel, Airbnb can be cheaper than hotels but can also be more expensive. In general, Airbnb is cheaper than hotels because Airbnb does not have to pay for the overhead costs of a hotel or the general management of such a large operation.

A 5% commission fee is charged on the rental amount and any additional fees you charge the traveler (such as cleaning, pet, and boat fees).

Vrbo tends to have lower fees.

Vrbo takes a lower portion than Airbnb, which tends to result in costs being a bit better on Vrbo, although there are no guarantees. Both platforms allow hosts to set their nightly rate, cleaning cost, and pet fee.

Do I need vacation rental insurance for Airbnb? ›

Do Airbnb hosts need extra insurance? While Airbnb does offer its own form of coverage, it recommends that hosts carry additional coverage in the form of an endorsem*nt or commercial policy. If you are using another platform, such as VRBO, this is something you'll want to research before you list your property.

Airbnb charges hosts a service fee for each booking. What percentage Airbnb takes can vary, but it's typically around 3% for most hosts. However, Airbnb's commission can go up to 14% or more for hosts who have a Super Strict cancellation policy.

Rates of return vary depending on factors such as location, property type, and market conditions. However, vacation rental owners usually aim for a return on investment (ROI) of at least 8% to 10%. This ROI accounts for rental income, expenses, property appreciation, and potential tax benefits.

How Much Do VRBO Owners Make? VRBO hosts can earn an average of $33,000 per year, according to a study that was done in 2017 on vacation rental companies and short term rental data. Can You List Your Property on VRBO and AirBnb?

In the Reservation And Online Booking market, Expedia has a 7.32% market share in comparison to VRBO's 0.93%. Since it has a better market share coverage, Expedia holds the 3rd spot in 6sense's Market Share Ranking Index for the Reservation And Online Booking category, while VRBO holds the 9th spot.

Visit trusted travel websites to read customer reviews and see photos. And, feel free to ask for more photos, because a scammer probably can't provide them. Pay with a credit card―on the rental website―not by email or through a third-party website or service and don't pay anything before you have a contract.