Travelers prefer vacation rentals for their stays over hotels and resorts today as such accommodations come at affordable rates, easy availability, better deals and offers, and much more. While looking for such accommodations, the first thing that comes to our mind when we think of "vacation rentals" is Airbnb because we all have used Airbnb at least once to book vacation rentals for its ease of locating places of stay worldwide- from inexpensive to regal, and quirky to palatial. In fact, Airbnb is one of the most popular vacation rental booking apps globally.
However, over the last few years, many alternatives to Airbnb have arrived, which can give the famed booking site a run for its money by addressing the issues that have cropped up with Airbnb, such as significant spike in costs and fees, which make an Airbnb booking cost more than that in a decent hotel. In addition, houses might sell out months in advance during peak periods. That's why a list of some of the top Airbnb alternatives seemed good. Whether you're looking for a more affordable option or a better experience than you recall, we can help you find it.
We have listed some of the best sites like Airbnb to consider for your upcoming vacation in the article. Just to be clear, these websites also have separate apps like Airbnb.
Best Airbnb Alternatives
VRBO
- A vast collection of vacation rentals
- Best for large groups and families
- An experienced player in this market
The first on the list is VRBO or Vacation Rentals by Owner is one of the most popular vacation rental booking sites available currently. It is not as popular as Airbnb but has more than a million properties listed, and you will be amazed to know that they have been in business since 1996, making it older than Airbnb by twelve years.
Vrbo rental business model is unusual because only vacation homes are available for rent on its site; as a result, it's not a hosted experience and is best suited for larger groups such as families or extended groups of four or more. There are plenty of homes suitable for singles. Vrbo formerly didn't charge visitors a service fee or booking fee, but in 2016 they added a booking fee to all bookings. Except for these minor differences, both products are pretty identical.
Vrbo also works great for the hosts. They can list their extra property on VRBO and earn handsome commission. Try Vrbo and check why it is considered one of the best alternatives to Airbnb.
VRBO
The first on the list is VRBO or Vacation Rentals by Owner is one of the most popular vacation rental booking sites available currently. It is not as popular as Airbnb but has more than a million properties listed, and you will be amazed to know that they have been in business since 1996, making it older than Airbnb by twelve years.
Vrbo rental business model is unusual because only vacation homes are available for rent on its site; as a result, it's not a hosted experience and is best suited for larger groups such as families or extended groups of four or more. There are plenty of homes suitable for singles. Vrbo formerly didn't charge visitors a service fee or booking fee, but in 2016 they added a booking fee to all bookings. Except for these minor differences, both products are pretty identical.
Vrbo also works great for the hosts. They can list their extra property on VRBO and earn handsome commission. Try Vrbo and check why it is considered one of the best alternatives to Airbnb.
- A vast collection of vacation rentals
- Best for large groups and families
- An experienced player in this market
Booking.com
- An old and experienced player
- Huge library of accommodations
- Interactive and user-friendly website experience
We all love to book apartments and vacation rentals as they are often inexpensive and readily available. Still, sometimes we miss the luxuries of a hotel room. We've found that booking.com is the finest location to find great prices on any hotel, and it is the undisputed leader when it comes to hotel booking.
What might surprise you is that Booking.com also lists houses and flats at affordable prices. So it's possible to continue using the service and wish to reserve an apartment.
They are always our first pick for hotel reservations when we travel since they offer a wide selection, their website is simple to use, and their pricing is usually the best. So, they are considered a better alternative to Airbnb.
Booking.com
We all love to book apartments and vacation rentals as they are often inexpensive and readily available. Still, sometimes we miss the luxuries of a hotel room. We've found that booking.com is the finest location to find great prices on any hotel, and it is the undisputed leader when it comes to hotel booking.
What might surprise you is that Booking.com also lists houses and flats at affordable prices. So it's possible to continue using the service and wish to reserve an apartment.
They are always our first pick for hotel reservations when we travel since they offer a wide selection, their website is simple to use, and their pricing is usually the best. So, they are considered a better alternative to Airbnb.
- An old and experienced player
- Huge library of accommodations
- Interactive and user-friendly website experience
TripAdvisor Rentals
- An old and experienced player
- Huge library of accommodations
- Interactive and user-friendly website experience
We all know that Tripadvisor is one of the best websites to check reviews about different properties worldwide. But how many of you knew that they provide much more than just reviews? There are over 800,000 homes listed on TripAdvisor Rentals in 200 countries worldwide, so you'll have plenty of alternatives to choose from. Aside from that, plenty of reviews can be followed while making decisions related to accommodation bookings. Unfortunately, this Airbnb competitor has only entire properties listed on their website and doesn't allow shared accommodations in their space.
TripAdvisor Rentals
We all know that Tripadvisor is one of the best websites to check reviews about different properties worldwide. But how many of you knew that they provide much more than just reviews? There are over 800,000 homes listed on TripAdvisor Rentals in 200 countries worldwide, so you'll have plenty of alternatives to choose from. Aside from that, plenty of reviews can be followed while making decisions related to accommodation bookings. Unfortunately, this Airbnb competitor has only entire properties listed on their website and doesn't allow shared accommodations in their space.
- An old and experienced player
- Huge library of accommodations
- Interactive and user-friendly website experience
Blueground
- Perfect for longer stays
- Rigorous quality checks
- In-App messaging for ongoing support
If you are planning a long vacation and want some perfectly cozy places to stay, then check out Blueground. They specialize in providing furnished apartments for 30 days or longer stays, and Blueground does not own the flats but furnishes and designs them to ensure excellence. They offer a range of amenities for the comfort of their guests, like WiFi, linens/towels, a fully equipped kitchen, and much more.
Blueground is a terrific alternative to Airbnb if you're more into homes, considering digital nomadism, or want to avoid buying furnishings somewhere you may not remain permanently. Blueground has nearly 5,000 homes in 18 North American, European, and Middle Eastern cities.
Blueground
If you are planning a long vacation and want some perfectly cozy places to stay, then check out Blueground. They specialize in providing furnished apartments for 30 days or longer stays, and Blueground does not own the flats but furnishes and designs them to ensure excellence. They offer a range of amenities for the comfort of their guests, like WiFi, linens/towels, a fully equipped kitchen, and much more.
Blueground is a terrific alternative to Airbnb if you're more into homes, considering digital nomadism, or want to avoid buying furnishings somewhere you may not remain permanently. Blueground has nearly 5,000 homes in 18 North American, European, and Middle Eastern cities.
- Perfect for longer stays
- Rigorous quality checks
- In-App messaging for ongoing support
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Agoda Homes
- Good last minute deals
- Boasts of a massive list of properties
- Smooth and interactive website experience
It would surprise me if you said you haven't heard about Agoda, and they are front runners and popular faces for hotel and travel bookings. But what is not well known is that they have a different website for vacation rentals and apartment bookings called Agoda Homes.
This Airbnb alternative provides about a million homes, including apartments, holiday rentals, private villas, and bungalows. So you'll have a wide range of choices. As a result, they provide stiff competition to Airbnb and other top players in this market.
Agoda Homes
It would surprise me if you said you haven't heard about Agoda, and they are front runners and popular faces for hotel and travel bookings. But what is not well known is that they have a different website for vacation rentals and apartment bookings called Agoda Homes.
This Airbnb alternative provides about a million homes, including apartments, holiday rentals, private villas, and bungalows. So you'll have a wide range of choices. As a result, they provide stiff competition to Airbnb and other top players in this market.
- Good last minute deals
- Boasts of a massive list of properties
- Smooth and interactive website experience
Sonder
- Get info on building amenities
- Book early check-in and late checkout
- View reservation details
In contrast to Airbnb, Sonder leases or owns all the properties they advertise and manage themselves. As a result, they can ensure that every property they advertise is up to their high standards. In addition, they offer several extras, such as free WiFi, high-quality coffee, and contactless check-in.
Sonder offers both short and long-term rentals, making them an excellent alternative for anyone searching for a long-term apartment rental. More than 8,500 Sonder properties are available in 27 locations across the world. They are available in various price ranges, from budget to upscale, and provide all the benefits of a hotel stay with the added freedom of a rental apartment.
Sonder
In contrast to Airbnb, Sonder leases or owns all the properties they advertise and manage themselves. As a result, they can ensure that every property they advertise is up to their high standards. In addition, they offer several extras, such as free WiFi, high-quality coffee, and contactless check-in.
Sonder offers both short and long-term rentals, making them an excellent alternative for anyone searching for a long-term apartment rental. More than 8,500 Sonder properties are available in 27 locations across the world. They are available in various price ranges, from budget to upscale, and provide all the benefits of a hotel stay with the added freedom of a rental apartment.
- Get info on building amenities
- Book early check-in and late checkout
- View reservation details
Conclusion:
Airbnb is often considered the undisputed champion for vacation rental booking. But, it has its share of shortcomings that need to be addressed to hold onto its position in this competitive market. In this article, we learned about the different Airbnb alternatives available. These websites and apps, similar to Airbnb, provide you with vacation rentals at the lowest prices possible and offer other perks. So, what are you waiting for?