When you travel or plan a vacation what is your last thing to get comfort? Did you say “the hotel?” Well, you are right but hotels can also be boring. Why plan a vacation in a boring manner when you can plan it in a very fascinating way. There are numerous options for travellers looking for vacation rentals or any other type of alternative travel lodging.
Airbnb and Vrbo are two of the most popular platforms for seeking alternative lodging. Both are services that link up homeowners looking to lease out their space with travelers looking for short-term rentals
For making your experience worthwhile, you can choose either Airbnb or Vrbo. So, let’s check everything about Airbnb and Vrbo and then decide which is better for the travelers.
More about Vrbo
Vrbo’s full form is Vacation Rental By Owner. As the name suggests, it specializes in vacation rentals of all kinds: houses, apartments, condos, villas, and so on. Vrbo was founded in 1995. It allows homeowners to advertise their property listings to renters. Vrbo was acquired by HomeAway in 2006 and became part of the HomeAway network, which also includes VacationRentals.com.
More about Airbnb
Airbnb began in 2008 as Air Bed and Breakfast. It is a home rental platform with a simple notion: connect homeowners with travelers looking for short-term stays. The concept originated in 2007 when founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia were looking to rent space in their San Francisco apartment to help them afford the rent.
Comparison of Airbnb and Vrbo
1. Customer Service
Vrbo
Vrbo outperforms Airbnb in terms of customer service. A Vrbo guest, for example, can add travel protection insurance to their booking. As a result, if you become ill and need to cancel your trip, you will still receive a refund for the prepaid expenses. In addition, if you’re travelling with pets or children, you can purchase damage safety insurance to avoid any additional fees. Each listing on Vrbo also includes their Book with Confidence Guarantee. Their support team is available to answer any questions you may have before, during, and after your stay. They can also help you find another accomodation if your rental is cancelled by the host.
Airbnb
Airbnb, on the other hand, does not provide travel insurance, and their customer service is usually only available in an emergency. They will only assist you if you are unable to access your property or if the location is unsafe. And if you want a refund, they’ll want proof that you attempted it before contacting the help line.
2. Cancellation Policy
Vrbo
Vrbo homeowners can establish their own cancellation policies, so it is critical to carefully read the listing information. Refunds are granted in compliance with the property owner’s specific cancellation policy, which is based on the following six policy options: no refunds, 60-day, 60/30-day, 30/14-day, 14/7-day, or custom policies. The Vrbo vacation rental service fee is not refunded or cancelled.
Airbnb
Flexible, Moderate, Strict, Long Term, Super Strict 30 days, and Super Strict 60 days cancellation options are available to Airbnb homeowners on a 6-tiered scale. It’s critical to examine each listing carefully to determine its cancellation policy and to comprehend the features of each. The Airbnb service fee is refundable 3 times per year if you cancel within 48 hours of booking and at least 14 days before your planned stay.
3. Rental
Airbnb
Airbnb lets hosts and property managers list everything from cabins and tiny houses to luxury villas and castles. This typically means that travelers seeking more unique and specific property types will have an easier time finding them on Airbnb. Moreover, hosts can list shared spaces on Airbnb. This means that rather than paying for the entire property, travelers can book individual rooms within it.
Vrbo
Vrbo provides more traditional lodging. Vrbo only accepts bookings for standalone vacation homes and does not allow advertising of shared spaces of any kind because it caters to families. As a result, Vrbo is more appealing to larger families who are travelling together and want to rent an entire home. While both Vrbo and Airbnb offer short-term rentals, Vrbo properties are better suited for longer stays. Airbnb is a fantastic option for those who are travelling for a short period of time. Some Airbnb rentals, however, may offer discounts for longer stays.
4. Service Fee
Vrbo
When making a reservation, travelers pay a guest service fee ranging from 6% to 12% of the total reservation cost. Hosts can select among both two service fee models relying on their estimated annual income. They can pay a $499 annual subscription fee that covers all bookings made on the platform during the year. The alternative is to pay a booking fee for each individual reservation. In this case, hosts are charged a 5% commission on each booking, plus a 3% credit card processing fee. The annual subscription may help a host save money on hosting fees if he or she can guarantee that he or she will book more than the required number of bookings to cover the costs. As a result, if you’re a full-time year-round host with an annual income of more than $10,000, a subscription model makes more sense.
Airbnb
The split fee and the host-only fee are the two types of service fees offered by Airbnb. The service fee is split between the guest and the host, as the name implies. Guests will typically absorb the majority of the fees under this model, typically paying an additional fee of about 14% of the booking subtotal. In this case, hosts pay roughly 3% of the total booking cost, but this could be higher if they choose Strict cancellation policies. The host-only fee covers the entire service fee paid to Airbnb by hosts, saving guests from having to pay a guest service fee. This usually amounts to 14-16% of the total booking price. This usually amounts to 14-16% of the total booking price. A separate credit card processing fee is not charged to Airbnb hosts. Higher fees may apply to Airbnb Plus hosts and hosts who choose Super Strict cancellation policies. A 20% service fee is charged to each Airbnb property owner who offers Airbnb Experiences.
5. Special Features
Vrbo
Vrbo’s competitive advantage comes from some of the site’s extra features. When guests are narrowing down properties they want to stay in, it has a powerful search filter. Vrbo has a Trip Board feature that allows travelers to organise their favourite destinations and properties while planning their trips. If friends and family are planning a trip together, guests can even invite them to team up on the boards and search for properties with them.
Airbnb
Airbnb allows guests to book unique experiences in some most beautiful cities and tourist destinations. Airbnb are one-of-a-kind activities that guests can participate in while visiting a particular location. Guests can, for example, book a dance masterclass with a local host or go on an adventure with a local guide to discover the destination’s hidden wonders and places. For visitors, this creates a truly unique and immersive experience.
Who wins
In our viewpoint, Airbnb is better for travelers than Vrbo because it outperforms it in many areas. However, the valid response is dependent on your preferences.
There are a lot more new postings on Airbnb. Searching for properties on both platforms in the same region is likely to yield fewer results for Vrbo. Airbnb has postings in unusual locations or in settlements with a small population. The high popularity of Airbnb is most likely to say for such a vast number of listings.
Unlike Airbnb, Vrbo only offers stand-alone homes and does not give single rooms or shared spaces.
Airbnb offers a variety of housing options, including entire homes, shared spaces, hostels, and even hotel rooms. As a result, Airbnb enables you to save money on rent. Housing prices are roughly the same, and websites offer both low-cost and high-end options.
Airbnb, unlike Vrbo, provides a discount for long-term bookings. Without a doubt, when you stay for an extended period of time, the discount is significant because it can save you a significant amount of money.
As we all know, the hygiene of an apartment is frequently determined by its owner. However, Airbnb has a “Plus” tool, which implies that they have a person who verifies everything live to ensure that the reality matches the photos on the website.
Both are user-friendly. There are enough filters to meet your requirements. Despite this, Vrbo simplifies the process for those who only want to book highly rated accommodations. Unfortunately, such a filter does not exist on Airbnb.
Differences between Services of Airbnb and Vrbo
| Airbnb | Vrbo |
| Provides both shared and private residences | Provides full property for rent |
| More extensive host network of available properties | A smaller host network with a higher concentration of high-end propertie |
| Better for city dwellers and thrill seekers | More suitable for luxury rentals for families and groups |
| More choices at a lower average price | Excellent search filtering system |
To summarize, Airbnb is the only website that provides shared lodging. Single rooms and communal apartments are usually much less expensive than renting the entire property, making them ideal for budget travellers. And, because you’ll be sharing the space with property owners and other guests, you’ll have the chance to get to know them during your stay.
As a traveler via Vrbo, you must book the entire apartment or house. However, when compared to Airbnb, the total price on Vrbo is usually significantly lower. In terms of service and support, Vrbo outperforms Airbnb. You can make your decision based on what suits you more and what type of vacation you are looking for.
