VRBO Instant Book Questions

[Steven Wood]

We are experienced Airbnb hosts but just listed our property on VRBO. On Airbnb we are able to welcome instant booking for guests who meet our review requirements. We like this little bit of security. VRBO does not seem to offer a similar option - it's just instant book or not. Am I missing something or is that how VRBO works? 

I do understand that we can cancel a booking for someone that does not meet our house rules, so... could we technically add a house rule about their review status/rating and then cancel their booking if they don't meet that requirement without penalty from VRBO? 

[John Underwood]

Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:

This says they do allow a cancellation if the guest does not meet your house rules, but the guest has to request the cancellation or you are penalized.  I seem to remember some hosts are penalized anyway if there are too many cancellations.  https://help.vrbo.com/articles...

I also believe when you have instant booking on VRBO, they automatically list you on Expedia's other sites.

 In think you are correct about listing on Expedia's other sites when you have instant booking turned on. But that was a rare event for me to get a booking from one of those other sites.

I think if you are staying booked up with instant booking turned off then you don't need it.  If you need more bookings then probably a good idea to try turning it on.