Airbnb was founded in 2008 and since exploded taking over the traveling industry. According to their website, they now have over 29,000 tiny houses, 5,000 castles, and over 3,000 tree houses listed on Airbnb. Airbnb actually stands for Air Bed and Breakfast which is straight to the point name. It began when two guys were low on money. They decided to rent out some space in their apartment. Thus began the 1.3 billion dollar room rental website.
Although Airbnb is such a large and successful website it doesn’t mean it is the only place to find deals. I was recently looking for a weekend getaway for my girlfriend and I. I didn’t find anything appealing on Airbnb so I decided to see if there were any other options. Turns out there are a lot of options.
I put together a detailed list of sites like Airbnb. I am going to write a short summary of the sites and then list some pros and cons.
1. VRBO
“Connect travelers to the people and places they love, giving them the space they need to drop the distractions of everyday life and simply be together.”
Summary:
VRBO was founded in 1995 as a way for homeowners to rent their properties to families and friends looking for somewhere to stay. VRBO wants its customers to have their own area. Vrbo only rents out entire houses to give people privacy. Owned by HomeAway. $499 per year or 8% per booking.
Pros:
- Entire house
- Expedia Group partner
- Attracts older guests
- Million homes worldwide
- Around-the-clock customer support
Cons:
- More expensive
- Addition cost for guests
- Need paperwork such as rental agreement and insurance
2. HomeAway
Summary:
Founded in 2005 HomeAway is actually owned by the same company as VRBO. HomeAway acquired VRBO and VacationRentals in 2007. $499 per year or 8% per booking.
Pros:
- Available in 190 countries
- Million homes worldwide
- Around-the-clock customer support
- Owns 20 different travel websites
- More exposure for renters
Cons:
- All of the same homes as VRBO
- More expensive
- Addition cost for guests
- Need paperwork such as rental agreement and insurance
3. OneFineStay
“Enjoy the finest homes and service all around the world”
Summary:
Offers a “one-of-a-kind service to guests” founded in London in 2010. OneFineStay ensures the highest quality stay for its guests.
Pros:
- Professional managed experience
- Tailored to guests
- Provides peace-of-mind
- Fewer regulation troubles
- The screening process for homes
Cons:
- Homeowners control less of their home
- 90% of homeowners are not expected
- Upscale homes so more expensive
4. FlipKey
“FLIPKEY IS A VACATION RENTAL MARKETPLACE WITH MORE THAN 300,000 RENTALS AROUND THE WORLD. FIND THE PERFECT PLACE TO STAY FOR YOUR TRIP, AND GET GREAT VALUE ALONG WITH THE SPACE, PRIVACY, AND AMENITIES OF HOME.“
Summary:
Flipkey was founded in 2007 and joined the TripAdvisor Rentals family in 2008. Flipkey has over 830,000 properties in 190 countries. 3% fee per booking.
Pros:
- Ranks 12th among vacation rental sites
- Perks with TripAdvisor
- Great review information
- Reaches 390 million unique visitors per month
- Easy to use website
Cons:
- Bit pricey in some cities
- Some delays in customer service
Guests
When a guest looks for a vacation rental they are looking for certain things. Guests want clean, safe, affordable spaces to stay. The platform that they use affects these needs.
Guests should have the ability to communicate quickly and contact their landlord. Whether there is an issue with the house, questions, or any other reason. Certain platforms like Airbnb have their own messaging systems.
Guests should be protected from false advertising. Meaning, a guest should not arrive at a place looking different than advertised in pictures. There should be protections for the Guests.
Renters
Homeowners looking to rent a property as a vacation rent need a platform that fits their needs. Their goal is to make money. This means that keeping their fees low is important. These fees can range between 3%-20% depending on the property.
The vacation rental platform should also be formatted so that guests can easily find your property. The more people using the site the better chance that your property will be rented. Your rental should be run like a business and the site you use should set you up for success. This includes benefits like reviews, promotion, and quality site speeds.
My Choice
If you want to expand outside of the typical Airbnb community I would recommend HomeAway and VRBO. These two companies are now one and the same. They are Airbnb’s biggest competitor and for good reason. Similar to Airbnb, homeowners can customize their listing to run their business the way they want to. If you are looking for sites like Airbnb these are the sites.
