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The 15 Top Vacation Rental Sites for Hosts and Travelers
As a host, listing your property on the best vacation rental sites to maximize audience reach is vital. Whether you are a host, or guest looking for the perfect rental, here's why these 12 vacation rental sites are trusted and used by travelers worldwide.
Vacation rental sites and property rental marketplaces are vital for hosts looking to attract their ideal target audience, from families looking for a budget beach home to couples wanting to escape to a private luxury apartment.
Advertising your properties where your potential guests are can maximize your bookings simply because they have found you at the right place and time during their travel planning search.
Airbnb is one of the most recognizable names in vacation rental platforms, even with its ongoing travel regulation updates. But do you know that a handful of big players like Expedia and Tripadvisor have a stake in various vacation rental sites?
Tripadvisor, one of the oldest and best sites for vacation rental reviews, recently shuttered its direct short-term rental brands FlipKey and Niumba. However, the platform will continue to refer users to third-party booking sites like Vrbo and Booking.com instead of managing the rental transactions.
If you're wondering which vacation rental sites suit your needs best, we've researched the following 15 sites to list your property and reach the right audience.
15 Best Vacation Rental Websites for hosts
1. Airbnb
Airbnb is the top trusted vacation rental site, and one of the most recognizable vacation property rental brands across the globe. It allows hosts to make money by listing their short-term rental properties and experiences, whether they are entire homes, primary residences, or vacation homes.
Airbnb has the largest vacation rental host community. As one of the largest rental companies, Airbnb offers over 6.6 million listings in more than 100,000 cities and towns across 220 regions and countries around the world.
For guests, it means a lot of options to choose from on the Airbnb rental site. It is business- and family-friendly and offers unique accommodations and amenities in the world's top vacation destinations. These include amenities such as air conditioning, hot tubs, and bathrooms.
Airbnb is also one of the fastest-growing vacation home and short-term rental websites, with its most recent third-quarter earnings showing revenue growth of 10% year-over-year to $3.7 billion.
For hosts, there is no fee to list a property. However, hosts do pay a service fee per booking. There are two different fee structures for stays: a split fee and a host-only fee.
Depending on where your property is based, you will either pay a fee of up to 15%, or the guest will pay a fee of up to 15% while you pay up to 3%. Hosts can then opt to charge a cleaning fee, a security deposit, and extra guest fees.
As an Online Travel Agency (OTA), the Airbnb rental site acts like a search engine for various rental types. Therefore, hosts need to rank highly on the search results page to secure as many rental site bookings as possible.
Airbnb Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- Offers a $1 million Host Guarantee insurance policy and damage protection with Airbnb AirCover;
- No fee to create a rental listing;
- The host service fee is 3-16% per booking (depending on your location).
2. Vrbo
Previously known as VRBO (vacation rental by owner), it recently merged with its sister site HomeAway, to relaunch as Vrbo. Vrbo is part of the Expedia Group and specializes in providing vacation rentals in the United States. This makes it an excellent option for hosts who own or manage vacation rentals in the USA. It’s also one of the most popular rental listing sites in the world.
To rent a property on Vrbo hosts either pay per booking or an annual subscription of $499 per year. The annual subscription is a cost-efficient payment model if you have a high-value property.
Alternatively, if a host opts for a pay-per-booking option, he/she pays a 5% commission with a few service fees and a 3% credit card charge per booking.
Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- Only private apartments and houses can be listed;
- Hosts can choose between an annual subscription or a pay-per-booking option.
- Attracts family travelers, and travelers to US destinations.
- Guests are to pay a service fee of up to 12% per booking or sometimes higher. There can be additional fees such as a pet fee, cleaning fee, or other fees.
Although Vrbo has a lot in common with Airbnb, there are some major differences to consider. While you can list different types of properties on Airbnb (including shared rooms, cabins, beach houses, and treehouses), Vrbo only allows hosts to list private spaces. If you have a spare room to rent, keep in mind that you can’t advertise it on Vrbo and should consider other vacation property rental sites.
Another difference is the type of audience Vrbo caters to. Since only private home rentals are allowed on Vrbo, it offers the perfect vacation rental properties for older audiences who travel with a family and are looking for kid-friendly spaces.
3. Booking.com
Booking.com boasts over 28 million listings, including 6.6 million homes, apartments, and other unique, non-hotel stays. And with over 500 million monthly visits, this is a powerhouse platform for renting a vacation home. The site was originally known as a hotel booking site, only listing hotel rooms. However, in recent years, they have entered the vacation rental game with a bang as the number of short-term rentals listed on Booking.com has grown significantly.
Booking.com doesn’t have its own payment system. Instead, it allows hosts to choose the payment options they prefer. As a result, Booking.com charges hosts a 15% commission on each booking. The costs are deducted from your account by direct debit.
If a guest cancels a reservation, Booking.com doesn’t charge any fees. However, a guest can receive a bill from a hotel or another property that they have booked.
If you need to cancel a reservation on Booking.com, contact the hotel or property directly to discuss your situation. You may check it on your own, it has handy hotel reservation software.
Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- You can list your property for free;
- Hosts are to pay a 15% service fee per booking;
- Instant booking only;
- Guests don’t have to pay any extra commission or booking fee when making a reservation.
4. Expedia
Expedia is one of the largest online travel shopping platforms offering secure booking options for accommodation, air tickets, car rentals, cruise ships, and vacation packages.
It offers a variety of accommodation types in addition to vacation rentals such as hotels, villas, motels, guest houses and vacation homes. Users looking for vacation rentals specifically can filter their search results based on the “sort by” functionality, to save time and effort.
Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- Listing on Expedia is free. However, the commission ranges between 10 and 30%. You, as a host, will find the exact amount of the commissions to be paid to Expedia in your final contract.
- Expedia is a trusted, world-renowned OTA that attracts millions of visitors a year;
- Guests use Expedia to plan their getaways from start to finish. They are likely to book a rental property while purchasing air tickets and car rentals. Your listing has an even greater chance of being seen by the right people on Expedia.
5. HomeToGo
HomeToGo is one of the most popular holiday rental search engines for finding rentals listed across different platforms, such as Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com.
By typing in your destination and budget, HomeToGo will bring up hundreds of available listings that you can click on and browse. After clicking on a listing you’ll be redirected to the original listing page on the source website.
The advantage of HomeToGo for guests is that you’re able to quickly compare listings across multiple short-term rental platforms to choose the one best suited for you. For hosts, making your listings available on the HomeToGo platform increases their visibility and booking potential.
When picking a short-term rental platform, it’s crucial to consider the tools and support it offers hosts. While platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo offer basic features, you could benefit from dedicated management software like iGMS to streamline their operations.
With iGMS, hosts automate tasks like:
- guest communication,
- cleaning scheduling,
- and pricing optimization.
By integrating it with your chosen holiday rental platforms, you centralize everything, enhancing the experience for both you and your guests.
6. Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy is a premium vacation rental platform introduced by Marriott International in 2019, designed for upscale homes and villas in sought-after destinations and major cities worldwide.
It allows hosts to list their properties to a global audience, tapping into the extensive reach of Marriott's Bonvoy loyalty program, beyond its traditional hotel rooms.
To list on the platform, hosts must have a portfolio of at least 20 properties (varies by region) that meet
Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- Hosts gain access to Marriott Bonvoy's Loyal Customer Base, reaching millions of potential guests who are part of the Marriott loyalty program.
- The platform is ideal for high-end properties such as villas, mansions, and unique luxury homes.
- Marriott provides premium services, including a property management team to assist with guest communication and booking, and a streamlined reservation system.
7. Tripping
Like HomeToGo, Tripping is also a search engine that aggregates hotel listings together from different booking platforms, allowing users to browse offerings from multiple OTAs at the same time.
Tripping offers a map that appears alongside listings on the search results page. It displays hotels and hostels in addition to short-term rental properties, so users can filter their search options using the “Accommodation Types” filter.
Like HomeToGo, one of Tripping’s greatest perks is the wide range of properties it displays to users. For guests that offers a greater variety of options, and for hosts, it expands your visibility.
Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- Partners with the top OTAs;
- Offers quick and convenient means to compare properties across listings;
- There are no fees to pay to Tripping—the platform is free to use.
8. Homestay.com
Homestay.com offers vacation rentals and private room rentals in over 160 countries. With more than 55,000 rooms available, Homestay.com has served more than 200,000 guests since 2013.
The main difference compared to other short-term rental websites is that a guest can stay at a host’s place without any monetary remuneration. For example, a guest and host can exchange their homes or a host can stay at a guest’s place later on the next trip.
Stays can be provided on a barter basis as well (for example in exchange for housekeeping or work at a host’s property).
Hosts should pay a 3% service fee per booking. If a host offers additional services, such as laundry or cleaning, he/she should discuss cleaning fees and the price with guests before they decide to book.
Top Features for a Perfect Vacation Rental:
- Specializes in private rooms/solo traveler accommodations;
- Hosts can negotiate the pricing directly with guests.
- Guests can check-in and stay for free or in exchange for housekeeping or work at a host’s property.
9. atraveo
atraveo is one of the biggest short-term rental sites and offers plenty of accommodation options mostly across Europe. This site has currently more than 300,000 vacation home rental listings.
Hosts are charged a 15% service fee on confirmed bookings (plus VAT if applicable). There’s no fee to list a property.
Top Features for Short-Term Rental Properties:
- Hosts can list their properties for free;
- Once listed on atraveo, your property will be advertised on more than 1,000 affiliate websites throughout the whole of Europe;
- atraveo operates as a mediator of vacation property rental accommodation and tourist services. The platform charges a service fee for business transactions. It’s already included in the price of the property.
10. OneFineStay
OneFineStay is a one of the top vacation rental sites, backed by the Accor hotel chain. The site currently offers more than 5,000 high-end rental home listings in popular locations, such as London, New York City, Rome, Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc.
To list a property on OneFineStay, a host should send an application. The OneFineStay team will review it and decide if the property is a good match. If it is, OneFineStay will offer a full-service property management solution.
OneFineStay operates on an income-sharing model. Hosting income depends on many factors, such as the size, design, and location of the property. In addition to managing your property, OneFineStay promotes it through its network of rental sites and marketing channels. This allows you to extend your reach to a wider audience of travelers on the lookout for luxury stays.
Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- Luxury properties only;
- Full-service management for property owners.
- Fees depend on the property size, design, location, and the number of days a host is willing to rent out his/her accommodation.
- No additional reservation fees charged.
11. Interhome
Interhome has provided vacation rentals since 1965 and this is one of the oldest short-term rental websites. The vacation property rental platform currently offers 95,000 holiday homes and apartment rentals in 31 countries.
Fees depend on the country, region, and type of services provided by the Interhome team. Hosts can opt for hiring professional property managers. However, you may also manage your property yourself.
Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- Personal in-resort service from local Interhome offices;
- Full-service property management for hosts;
- No booking fees for guests.
12. Agoda
Agoda, a prominent global online travel agency, focuses on vacation rentals as part of its broader accommodation offerings. The platform serves travelers across over 200 countries and regions, with availability in more than 40 languages.
Agoda’s strong presence in Asia-Pacific markets is complemented by a broad selection of vacation homes, making it a key player for international travelers.
Hosts can list properties through Agoda Homes, supporting both short-term and long-term stays, with a the platform charging a commission rate of between 15 to 20% per booking.
Keep in mind that Agoda often aggregates listings from other platforms, such as Booking.com and Expedia, cross-listing properties to maximize visibility.
Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- A broad international reach, especially strong in Asia-Pacific.
- Multiple language options to cater to a global audience.
- Competitive commission rates and tools to manage listings.
13. Sonder
Sonder is a modern alternative to traditional hotels, offering apartment-style accommodations that combine the comforts of home with hotel-like amenities.
With more than 9,000 units in major cities globally, Sonder stands out for its design-forward properties and seamless tech integrations, such as keyless check-in. It operates independently but also partners with Marriott Bonvoy to offer a select range of bookings with loyalty rewards for members.
West Coast hosts, for example, can list properties on Sonder’s platform through a dedicated partnership, where Sonder manages all aspects of the rental process. Hosts earn from Sonder’s pricing model, but commission rates can vary depending on partnership agreements.
There is no fee to list, and no cross-listings on other platforms either, as Sonder manages its own inventory and revenue share model, with negotiates rates with property owners.
Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- A blend of home-like apartments with hotel services.
- Integration with Marriott Bonvoy, offering loyalty rewards.
- Tech-enabled, seamless check-in and guest experience.
14. Kid&Coe
Kid&Coe specializes in family-friendly vacation rentals, focusing on properties that cater to parents traveling with children.
The platform offers a curated selection of homes equipped with kid-specific amenities such as cribs, high chairs, and childproofing.
With listings in various destinations worldwide, Kid&Coe ensures that each property provides a safe, convenient, and comfortable environment for families. Hosts can list homes by submitting properties that meet the platform's family-centric criteria. Kid$Coe typically charges a 15% commission rate, with no cross-listings on other platforms.
Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- Focus on family-friendly properties with kid-specific amenities.
- A curated selection of safe and convenient homes for parents in top vacation destinations.
- Detailed search filters for family needs, including baby gear and child-friendly spaces.
15. Plum Guide
Plum Guide is known for its highly selective and rigorous vetting process, ensuring that only the highest quality vacation rentals are featured on its platform.
Listings are available in over 20 cities globally, and the platform’s appeal lies in its promise of design, comfort, and function. Hosts can apply to have their properties listed on Plum Guide, but they must undergo a thorough evaluation process.
Plum Guide offers a commission rate of between 15 and 18%, depending on the type of listing. The platform appeals to travelers looking for premium, verified properties for their next property.
Top Features for Vacation Rentals:
- Strict quality standards with a comprehensive vetting process.
- Curated selection of premium properties.
- A focus on high-end design and comfort.
Conclusion: Which are the Best Short-Term Rental Sites?
Finding the best vacation rental site where you can list or book a property might be a challenge. There are plenty of options for hosts and guests to choose from. If you are looking for a short-term rental for your next trip, determine your needs and budget first.
If you are a host in search of a platform on which to list a property, start with your goals, and identify your target audience. This way, you’ll be able to shape your offer and select the most suitable place to list your rental.
If you want to maximize your earnings, a good idea is to list your rental on several top short-term rental sites. Explore each of the options in more detail and then decide which of them looks the most promising in terms of bookings and revenue.
