Compare King

AirBnB

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Pros & Cons

Most popular vacation rental service

Wide range of short-term rentals available in almost any location

Intended for local homeowners, more personalized stay

Usually somewhat cheaper than a hotel or commercial rental

Lots of diversity in listings, no anonymous hotels

Lots of scams, fake listings, and embellished listings

AirBnB support is unhelpful both to scammed customers and homeowners trying to recoup damages

Types of Rentals Offered

Almost anything

Private Homes or Commercial Rentals?

Some of both, but more homes than rentals

Location Limitations

Rentals available worldwide

AirBnB Full Review

Vrbo

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Pros & Cons

Similar functionality to AirBnB

More traditional accomodations like cabins and homes

No shared spaces allowed on the platform

Better for families and large groups

Better for rentals in heavily traveled areas

Less selection in fewer areas than AirBnB

No long-term stay discounts

Booking is less flexible than AirBnB

Types of Rentals Offered

Homes, cabins, and other single-occupancy spaces

Private Homes or Commercial Rentals?

Mostly private homes, but a few private condo or townhome rentals

Location Limitations

Almost none

Vrbo Full Review

Vacasa

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Pros & Cons

Pairs vacationers with commercial rental options

Allows for comparing rental options within a location

Can search with more flexible dates than competitors

More of a focus on experience accomodations like beach houses or rustic mountain cabins

Availability is very limited

More selection in remote areas than in cities

More expensive than couchsurfing apps

Types of Rentals Offered

Focus on rentals like beach houses and cabins

Private Homes or Commercial Rentals?

Commercial rentals

Location Limitations

Not available in most of the Midwest or outside North America

Vacasa Full Review

FlipKey

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Pros & Cons

Helps book commercial rentals and B&Bs

Focuses on intimate accomodations in tourist centers

Great for finding smaller properties or B&Bs

Can sort rentals by proximity to activities like swimming or rock climbing

Owned and operated by TripAdvisor

Bookings are less flexible than other services

Often slightly more expensive

Popular destinations can get booked far in advance

Types of Rentals Offered

Single-occupancy spaces

Private Homes or Commercial Rentals?

Commercial rentals

Location Limitations

Biased towards coastal and touristy locations in the US and Europe

FlipKey Full Review

Holiday Homes

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Pros & Cons

Aggregates other rental services and tries to find the best price

Useful for comparing prices and offerings fairly quickly

Also includes hotel listings for more information

Great for getting a general sense of what a rental should cost

Charges a markup to actually book through them

Better for comparing than actually booking through

Types of Rentals Offered

Almost anything

Private Homes or Commercial Rentals?

Both

Location Limitations

Almost anywhere

Holiday Homes Full Review

Vacation Rentals