AirBnB vs Vrbo?

[Anonymous]

Which is better, AirBnB or Verbo?

Pros and Cons of each?

[Anonymous]

Airbnb has lots of added fees. Many STR owners (including me) use it for marketing but try to steer renters to VRBO or direct booking. As a renter, I use both sites to find the right property, then try to reach out to rental company /homeowner directly.

I am both a renter and a STR owner.

[Anonymous]

I would never use AirBNB. I've used VRBO some, but look at the fees. They are insane. Usually I try to go with a local realty management company so if something goes wrong I have a chance of having another place to stay.

[Anonymous]

VRBO for both sides. For a renter, hotels are better.
The only things wrong with VRBO is what they have copied from Airbnb.

[Anonymous]

How are they any different?

I ask this as someone who has used VRBO three times and Airbnb many times.

[Anonymous]

I refuse to sign Airbnb's weird discrimination agreement that assumes the worst of people, so it's VRBO for me. Have never had any issues.

[Anonymous]

VRBO historically has had a business model where property owners pay a flat rate to market their property. Airbnb takes a cut from both the property owner and renter, this escalating rental fees. In an effort to keep up, VRBO is also implementing a similar fee structure. Most local rental companies use one or both sites. Look for the name of the rental company at the bottom of the listing and reach out to them directly.

[Anonymous]

They are same. Check both. And then if the property you like has a name like "Mango Tree Beach Villa", you google that and the town name to see if you can book cheaper directly. Or if its managed by the Mango Tree Property Company, you go to their website.

[Anonymous]

I check both and sometimes find Vrbo cheaper for the same place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are same. Check both. And then if the property you like has a name like "Mango Tree Beach Villa", you google that and the town name to see if you can book cheaper directly. Or if its managed by the Mango Tree Property Company, you go to their website.

Yes, this has been our strategy as well. Fees can be significant these days - we have found the cancellation agreements with VBRO have worked in our favor on several occasions - not sure about AirBnB's cancellation policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I check both and sometimes find Vrbo cheaper for the same place.

+1 I’ve noticed that VRBO is always a bit cheaper than AirBnB.

[Anonymous]

I rent a house in Rehoboth through VRBO, but as a traveler I’ve stayed in two AirBnBs. I had one great experience in Bermuda, and one disaster in Budapest when the AirBnB was a scam and just disgusting.

I used to rent my house through a rental agency but I discovered they all used VRBO and all of my guests were coming from VRBO, so why pay another 12 to 15% for the rental company to “manage” the place?

Best advice I can give you for Rehoboth is to look for places where you can check in anytime but Saturday. Saturdays are crazy as most rental homes turn over that day, so you’ve got tons of traffic plus the cleaners are all stretched thin and generally do not have enough time to clean properly. If you are renting from an individual on VRBO, odds are the house will be better maintained than if it is an investment property managed by one of the big rental agencies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I check both and sometimes find Vrbo cheaper for the same place.

+1 I’ve noticed that VRBO is always a bit cheaper than AirBnB.

Opposite for me

[Anonymous]

AirBnB usually has better cancellation policies.