EP155: Airbnb vs. HomeAway and VRBO
Summary
This article discusses the differences between Airbnb, HomeAway/VRBO, and Booking.com, including pricing structures, user experience, and the advantages and disadvantages of listing on multiple platforms. Hosts should consider diversifying their listings to increase occupancy but must also manage calendars carefully to avoid double bookings. Additionally, the article highlights the benefits of creating a dedicated vacation rental website.
Key Insights
- •HomeAway/VRBO is more profitable than Airbnb if a property is located in a popular tourist destination.
- •Airbnb has more listings (3 million) compared to HomeAway (1.2 million).
- •Airbnb charges a 3% fee for each reservation, while HomeAway uses a flat-rate pricing model.
Action Items
- ✓Update and sync calendars on each platform to avoid double bookings if listing on multiple platforms.Effort: lowImpact: medium
- ✓Consider creating your own vacation rental website.Effort: mediumImpact: medium
Tools & Resources
- →Booking.com: The episode mentions Booking.com.
- →Hostfully.com: The episode mentions Hostfully.com.
- →VRBO: The episode mentions VRBO.
- →HomeAway: The episode mentions HomeAway, VRBO, Booking.com, and Hostfully.
Watch Out For
- ⚠Failing to sync calendars across platforms can lead to double bookings and guest dissatisfaction.
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