Difference Between VRBO and HomeAway

Find your next holiday destination yet? If you plan to stay a little longer than a few days, you can always find a vacation rental that’s comparable to a more expensive hotel room with similar amenities. Vacation rentals are all the rage these days and they continue to grow in popularity, especially with business travelers. Vacation rental is a unique and affordable way to spend the night and a fun way to make the most out of your summer vacation. Renting a house or a condo can be surprisingly affordable and you’d feel like you’re staying at your home with plenty of space to play around for your kids. Plus you can cook your own meals and plan your own schedule and sleep in for as long as you want.

But with an abundance of options in the vacation rental space, it’s sometimes tough to choose the right one for you and your family. No doubt they are all great choices for families and groups, but finding the right one is the key to a perfect vacation stay. That being said, AirBnB, VRBO, and HomeAway are the industry leaders in the vacation rental business. But we are here to talk about VRBO and HomeAway. Both belong to the same parent company and they share almost same features and homes, allowing homeowners to list their accommodation for rent through their websites. HomeAway actually owns VRBO.

What is VRBO?

VRBO, short for Vacation Rental by Owner, is the most trusted vacation rental site that connects travelers looking for places to stay directly with homeowners renting their private space. Founded by a happening couple Dave and Lynn Clouse in 1996, VRBO is the one-stop-shop for vacation rentals, allowing private homeowners to rent out their holiday homes, with rates varying from one-night rates, weekly rates through to monthly rates. It provides all kinds of stays from cabins and farmhouses to luxurious condos and villas for hosts and travelers alike. VRBO joined the family of HomeAway vacation rental marketplace after HomeAway acquired VRBO in 2006.

What is HomeAway?

HomeAway is yet another vacation rental marketplace with headquarters in Austin, Texas. It is a vast community of homeowners and travelers with more than 2 million listings in over 190 countries worldwide that allow travelers to book cabins, villas, condos, beach houses, barns and everything in between. It was founded by Brian Sharples and Carl Shepherd with the goal of consolidating the worldwide vacation-rental sites under one roof. Over time, it has become a global platform allowing homeowners and property owners to list their accommodation for rent, with detailed pictures, availability, description, and rates.

Difference between VRBO and HomeAway

Basics

– Founded in 1996, VRBO is the one-stop-shop for vacation rentals, allowing private homeowners to rent out their holiday homes, with rates varying from one-night rates, weekly rates through to monthly rates. HomeAway is yet another vacation rental marketplace with headquarters in Austin, Texas. It is a vast community of homeowners and travelers with more than 2 million listings in over 190 countries. It was founded by Brian Sharples and Carl Shepherd with the goal of consolidating the worldwide vacation-rental sites under one roof. Both VRBO and HomeAway belong to the same parent company Expedia.

Fee Structure

– Like any other vacation rental site, VRBO and HomeAway also charge fees to both guests and homeowners. VRBO normally charge a 6 to 12% service fee to guests, while the people who plan to use the listings regularly can choose to pay an annual fee of $499 to advertise their properties. Hosts can also opt for the pay-per-booking model, in which they pay 8% for each booking through the website. HomeAway charge 4 to 10% of the total rental cost to the travelers, while hosts can choose between the annual subscription plan, which is set at $349 and the pay-per-booking structure (8%).

Flexibility

– Considering both VRBO and HomeAway belong to the same parent company Expedia, everybody can use the VRBO site for booking vacation homes including beach houses, villas, condos, cabins, and what not. Similar features and listings can be found on a similar site, HomeAway. The best part, they do not rent out single rooms or shared spaces so travelers looking to have long term stays will have no problem dealing with unknown guests. Plus the streamlined payment process provides more flexibility to book short-term stays and same night bookings.

Features of VRBO and HomeAway

– HomeAway, with listings in more than 190 countries, offers plenty of places to choose from, whether you’re the host or the guest. Both sites allow homeowners to list their private spaces for rent, with photos, descriptions, availability, maps, and rates, plus lots of reviews from guests. With a wide range of filters, you can find the right home with all the amenities you’d expect from a high-end hotel. With the most available high-end rentals, VRBO seems to be the obvious choice if you’re planning to rent a high value home for a longer stay.

VRBO vs. HomeAway: Comparison Chart

Summary of VRBO vs. HomeAway

Both VRBO and HomeAway belong to the same parent company Expedia Group and they share almost same features and homes, allowing homeowners to list their accommodation for rent through their websites. In addition, they do not rent out single rooms or shared spaces so travelers looking to have long term stays will have no problem dealing with unknown guests. Well, both VRBO and HomeAway are recommended for longer stays and combined with the millions of listing in over 190 countries, they make for an ideal vacation rental marketplace.

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