VRBO/Airbnb same house different rates.

[Steve s]

Have used VRBO for different rentals in the past and presently looking for month long rental in Texas. Expanding my search, I looked at Texas rental through Airbnb and noticed a house we found on VRBO was listed on Airbnb and the price was $1200 less for a month stay. The same host was listed on both sites, and the rental calendar had the same days marked for future rentals. For that type of savings, I would get a membership through Airbnb. Curious if other members have done comparison shopping on the two sites?

 

[folivier]

Aren't they under the same ownership? I have a VRBO login (not sure if that's what you mean by membership) and have access to both VRBO and Airbnb. But haven't run into the price discrepancies you have.

 

[disneysteve]

I don’t know but they may have different fee structures. Or the owner may have updated rates on one and not the other.

I never book a stay without first reaching out to the owner asking for their best rate. Especially for an extended stay, posted rates are often negotiable.

 

[audreyh1]

Have used VRBO for different rentals in the past and presently looking for month long rental in Texas. Expanding my search, I looked at Texas rental through Airbnb and noticed a house we found on VRBO was listed on Airbnb and the price was $1200 less for a month stay. The same host was listed on both sites, and the rental calendar had the same days marked for future rentals. For that type of savings, I would get a membership through Airbnb. Curious if other members have done comparison shopping on the two sites?

I’ve occasionally looked at the same house on both, and my experience is that VRBO would include the taxes/some fees on the top line quote, whereas Airbnb did not. Otherwise they were equivalent or very close. So on the surface Airbnb would appear cheaper but in fact it was not. Many rental places offer on both platforms.

Membership on both platforms is free.

 

[audreyh1]

Aren't they under the same ownership? I have a VRBO login (not sure if that's what you mean by membership) and have access to both VRBO and Airbnb. But haven't run into the price discrepancies you have.

No. VRBO is owned by Expedia Group EXPE and Airbnb is an independent publicly traded company ABNB.

Expedia Group owns several brands other brands: VRBO, Hotels.com, Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire.com, Ebookers, CheapTickets, CarRentals.com, Expedia Cruises, Wotif, and Trivago

 

[olyveoil]

Quite common nowadays. Fees are different. IMO VRBO and AirBNB have lost their luster. for 4 or less people I don't even look at either anymore. The fees--rules--lack of transparency--fake review have made them much less desirable than hotels.

 

[TripleLindy]

A few years ago, I found the same house listed on VRBO and a local vacation rental site. The local site was significantly less, even after fees.

 

[disneysteve]

A few years ago, I found the same house listed on VRBO and a local vacation rental site. The local site was significantly less, even after fees.

We have rented numerous times in one particular complex in the Orlando area. Most of the homes are on VRBO but the complex also has it's own private site. Rates can and do vary because owner fees are different depending on where the rental originates.

 

[Steve s]

I should have used the term account then membership. My bad! I did reach out to the host and she told me VRBO has a higher fee structure but she was going to look at both listings from her end. Suppose now the rate on Airbnb could be raised closer to the VRBO. On VRBO the taxes are not shown until I go to the booking page where Airbnb shows total price right from the start. I did check a few other rentals in area and if listed on both sites VRBO were a little higher or the same. Note: when I type this it shows bold type dont know how to change sorry.
Thanks for the reply's! Appreciate!

 

[audreyh1]

A few years ago, I found the same house listed on VRBO and a local vacation rental site. The local site was significantly less, even after fees.

Oh we’ve definitely done this. I’ve often found the property on a local property manager/realtor site at a considerable discount. I often look at local listings anyway.

 

[audreyh1]

FWIW: For a month long rental - city lodging taxes don’t apply for rentals 30 lays or longer which in itself is a big discount.

 

[foxcreek9]

I will also find the same place on Booking.com, not often but it has happened.

 

[WhenIsItTime]

I use big name sites to find properties. but try to identify direct link to owner / manager to avoid big site fees. Manager has rules to follow, so you can’t ask for that through big site messaging tool.

 

[wildbilly]

Airbnb has always been cheaper by a LOT. Both are free per say. Just like any other search site. Airbnb will also have smaller stuff like a room in someone's house which works better for a single person like myself. These are roughly the same as a hotel room, sometimes cheaper, and I can a frig and kitchen.

 

[Wille]

I have rented two units this year where I found the same properties on VRBO less expensive than Air bnb.

 

[skipro33]

Check the cancellation policies. VRBO has a pretty generous one in my opinion.
I always reach out to the owner to see if they have a private listing, which is usually much less but with little cancellation refunds.

 

[Golden Mean]

Check the cancellation policies. VRBO has a pretty generous one in my opinion.
I always reach out to the owner to see if they have a private listing, which is usually much less but with little cancellation refunds.

Yeap. A couple of times we found the same listing (and nearly the same price) on both Abnb and VRBO, but the VRBO let you cancel up to the day before, where the Abnb was locked in 48 hours after booking. That was about 4 year ago thought, so YMMV.

 

[audreyh1]

Wow, I never had a VRBO reservation that let you cancel the day before. Must be new.

 

[WhenIsItTime]

Airbnb has always been cheaper by a LOT. Both are free per say. Just like any other search site. Airbnb will also have smaller stuff like a room in someone's house which works better for a single person like myself. These are roughly the same as a hotel room, sometimes cheaper, and I can a frig and kitchen.

OP is was stating the case was for the exact same property. They seem free to search, but not free to book.

 

[SALTedOut]

I use big name sites to find properties. but try to identify direct link to owner / manager to avoid big site fees. Manager has rules to follow, so you can’t ask for that through big site messaging tool.

sometimes you can google image the properties picture and it will locate websites to rent directly from the owner.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Several winters ago we were snowbirding in SW FL and looked on VRBO for a place to stay there next year.
We found a nice place, did all the paperwork, and waited until the next year to head south. About a month before time, the owner of the new place cancelled us and gave no explanation or compensation whatever. VRBO "promised" to find us an equal place but couldn't and so Too Bad.
While staying at another place the next winter, we tried (again) to reserve a place for the following year. Out of the first 12 VRBO places I tried (credit card for deposit IIRC), one at a time, 11 of them never replied. The 12th one immediately tried to cut a deal outside of the VRBO site, when I started asking for details he emailed us "Too many questions." Since then, we haven't looked at VRBO.

Just this March we rented a place near Phoenix for the month on AirBnB. There were some complications because the owner was traveling a lot but he was straightforward about everything and gave us more refund than necessary when he had a minor scheduling problem.