12 Airbnb Alternatives for Your Next Vacation Rental

Airbnb has become the go-to site for booking unique vacation rentals around the world. With over 6 million listings, you can find everything from beach bungalows to cozy mountain cabins on Airbnb. However, Airbnb does come with some downsides. Service fees driving up the final cost, quality control issues, and a lack of professional management are common complaints.

Luckily, there are a number of great Airbnb alternative sites to consider for your next vacation rental booking. These options provide quality-vetted listings, transparent pricing, and robust inventories to meet any traveler’s needs.

Keep reading to learn about 12 top sites that can stand in for Airbnb on your next trip.

1. Vrbo

Owned by Expedia, Vrbo (previously HomeAway) allows homeowners to list their properties for short term vacation rentals. One perk is no traveler service fees, keeping costs down. Listings include condos, cabins, beach houses and more.

2. Sonder

Sonder focuses on apartment-style short term rentals that are professionally managed. This means each property meets Sonder’s quality standards for a consistent experience. Locations are mainly in city centers.

3. Vacasa

Vacasa manages listings on its own site and Airbnb. Homeowners get professional management services while renters get vetted homes and 24/7 customer support. Great for family and group rentals.

4. Booking.com

Primarily a hotel booking site, Booking.com also offers over 1 million home and apartment rentals worldwide. The benefit is tapping into an established brand with a large inventory.

5. TripAdvisor Rentals

This vacation rental site pulls listings from the TripAdvisor community. Travelers get the benefit of booking from a reputable brand with global reach.

6. Plum Guide

Plum Guide hand-picks and thoroughly vets high-end and luxury vacation rentals all over the world. Expect higher prices but also higher quality standards.

7. Kid & Coe

For family travelers, Kid & Coe specializes in vetted vacation rentals with kid amenities like books, games and baby equipment. Unique inventory perfect for families.

8. VacationRenter

This U.S.-focused site offers professionally managed vacation home rentals. Travelers benefit from consistent, hotel-like quality standards.

10. Oasis Collections

Oasis Collections offers a curated selection of high-end short term vacation rentals around the globe. Homes and apartments meet luxury standards.

11. FlipKey

TripAdvisor’s vacation rental site has over 300,000 properties worldwide. Traveler reviews and strong search tools make booking easy.

12. HomeToGo

This meta search engine compares vacation rental listings across platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. Great for price comparisons.

Tips for Comparing Airbnb Alternatives

• Carefully compare listing photos, amenities, reviews, fine print and cancellation policies.
• Consider location preferences – some sites specialize regionally vs globally.
• Weigh the importance of professional management vs owner-listed properties.
• Price out total costs including cleaning, service fees and deposits.
• Look for sites offering loyalty programs and deals for repeat travelers.
• For peace of mind, check company history, years in business and customer service reputation.

Conclusion:

Airbnb is not the only player in vacation home rentals. The sites above run the gamut from boutique agencies to big travel sites with robust inventories. Do some research to find the perfect alternative for your next trip based on location, amenities, quality standards and overall value. The options provide unique accommodations beyond basic hotels that help you experience destinations like a true local.