Comparing STR Booking Sites: AirBNB vs VRBO vs FlipKey etc

[Steven Andrews]

Which STR booking web sites are the best in your opinion and why?

My experience has been primarily with VRBO and Homeaway, which of course are the same essentially. They have slightly lower guest booking fees than AirBnB and Tripadvisor/Flipkey. Booking.com is cheaper but it seems more targeted to foreign customers and hotels as opposed to STR vacation rentals. And I heard it doesn't require prepayment so guests could cancel at the last minute and you're out everything whereas VRBO/Homeaway require a 50% deposit.

I also been concerned with the quality of guest on AirBnB. It seems it caters more to the crowd looking for a room or a couch rather than a more serious vacationer. But perhaps that has changed in recent years since more properties have gotten online there.

There's more but I'd rather get your input than go on and on about my own impressions. Thank you!

[Michael Baum]

Hi @Steven Andrews. Like @John Underwood, we get the majority of our bookings from VRBO/HomeAway. Our home is fully setup for families and that is who we get.

I had 2 AirBNB guest bookings this year and both were more trouble. One was OK but filthy as all get out. The other broke a window and also filthy. A trash bin full of crap covered TP. Go figure.