The word is out. Airbnb, VRBO.com, HomeAway, and TripAdvisor charge fees to consumers.
Unlike in the hotel industry, where the booking fees are passed on to the hotels, these sites are charging guests for the use of their online catalogs. And the charges are not insignificant with an additional 6 to 20 percent surcharge added to the rental rate, which translates to consumers paying hundreds of dollars more just to use these big websites.
But there is hope. With a little extra sleuthing, travelers can avoid fees and guarantee a better experience for their next vacation rental.
5 Ways to Bypass Fees and Book Directly with the Vacation Rental Manager or Owner
1. Search Google Local
When searching for a vacation rental, scroll past the paid listings (that say Ad in small letters underneath them) down to the Google Local listings next to the map. Click on the map find a treasure trove of local listings for vacation rentals.
2. Use Convention and Visitors Bureaus and Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs)
Convention and Visitors Bureaus and DMOs are tax-funded and provide listings of vacation rental management companies and homeowners. Plus there is an added benefit. Since these sites are funded by tax dollars, guests can rest assured that the listings, management companies, and owners are licensed and providing legitimate vacation experiences.
3. Try Google Image Search
Using Google image search, travelers can search photos instead of marketplace sites to find the right rental for their family. Additionally, if you find a home you love on Airbnb or VRBO, try copying the picture into Google image search to find the original source of the photo.
4. Look for Clues in Descriptions
If you do find the perfect home on one of the big sites, look for clues in the description, in photo captions, or in reviews leading directly to the owner or manager. If that fails, copy the description into the Google browser to find the direct source of the booking.
5. Check out Facebook
Don’t neglect Facebook in the search for a perfect vacation home. Almost all homeowners and managers have Facebook pages. A Facebook search may take as long as a search on Airbnb, but at least you are communicating directly with the owner or manager and saving a ton of money in the process. Plus, there are a ton of great reviews on Facebook.
Many of the best home and deals are not even listed on the big websites because of the costs and headaches of working with these channels. In addition, vacation rental managers and owners have intimate knowledge of the area and their homes and can provide local, insider information that makes the stay exponentially better. Plus, they often have deals and tips on how to optimize your dates and budget.
Besides saving money, booking directly with the vacation home manager or owner provides travelers with an all-around better experience.
The OTA’s charge owners in 2 different ways either as an annual subscription or pay as you go which attracts a higher percentage rate. They also charge 3% for payment processing when paying the owners invoice.
The customers also pays a booking fee to the OTA.
The OTA actually makes a lot of money for simply hosting a data record and not doesn’t include the damage deposit in the overall holiday costs to make the holiday appear more attractive to customers.
SAVE 25% – ALWAYS BOOK DIRECT! USE THE POWER OF THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO HELP THE SMALL FRY LIKE ME
Thanks for the tip that I should also do some online image searches when looking for vacation house rentals. I’m thinking about taking my boyfriend on a staycation soon because it would be two years since we started dating soon. It was surprising that our relationship survived throughout 2020 without meeting much so I’d like to be able to do something quite significant of the both of us once we meet soon.