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9 alternatives to Airbnb for vacation rentals that are just as easy to use
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It goes without saying that Airbnb is one of the leading vacation rental resources on the market. It's convenient, approachable and, in some cases, extremely affordable. But it's definitely not the only worthwhile option available.
Now especially, so many more folks are resuming their travel plans for the first time in years. From updating their luggage collections to investing in vaccine card holders for extra security, travelers are taking the necessary measures to ensure that their next trip goes off without a hitch — and that includes a comfy and well-researched vacation rental.
Depending on the type of vacation rental home you're looking for, there are several other reputable alternatives to Airbnb that all types of vacationers swear by. Below, we've listed some of the best options that cover all the necessary bases.
Here are nine of the best Airbnb alternatives and competitors for sourcing vacation rentals.
1. Trip Advisor Rentals
Trip Advisor Rentals have everything from the perfect homes for nearby getaways to long-term vacation rentals for those more extensive (and necessary) changes in scenery.
There's a wide range of countries and properties to choose from, as this service offers vacation rentals in over 200 countries. While most sites like Airbnb feature a booking process dependent on communicating with the rental owner, Trip Advisor Rentals mimics online hotel booking. Simply enter where you want to go, select your dates and watch the options flow.
Book on tripadvisor.com/rentals
2. Booking.com
Booking.com is one of the most commercially popular options out there, but it's also one of the most reliable and has one of the widest selections.
This site has more professionally managed properties and a larger international property selection than most other booking services. Particularly, if you're looking for a no-frills, easy-to-use and hassle-free booking experience with less extravagant housing options, this is the perfect choice.
What vacation renters particularly love most about Booking.com's selections is their ability to blend in with their current surroundings. You'll find lots of apartments in professionally managed buildings and small homes in major areas in metropolitan international cities that are central to everything.
3. Vrbo
Chances are, you probably became familiar with Vrbo long before you knew of Airbnb. That's because the company was the go-to choice for vacation rentals long before Airbnb came along.
The platform, dating back to 1995, features an insane collection of more than 2 million homes worldwide. Here's what makes it a crowd favorite, though — while several other vacation rental services only offer a limited variety in some places, Vrbo often has massive availability in most popular destinations.
Also, you get a wide range of price points to choose from. Search results run from lower-priced, simpler homes to opulent mansions and villas, like the one pictured above.
4. Welcome Beyond
If design is at the top of your list, Welcome Beyond is a must-use resource. It's unlikely that you'll find more visually stunning and unique vacation homes than the ones featured in Welcome Beyond's collection. The brand's 272 vacation homes feature a design-first allure, not limited to standard brick-and-mortar houses. Listings also include tree houses, boutique hotels, lodges and even private islands.
You'll find Welcome Beyond's properties in 44 countries, with the majority located in Europe. There's a handful in the United States — mostly on the East Coast — and several others spaced out throughout Asia, Africa, South America, New Zealand and Australia.
5. Homes & Villas by Marriott International
Marriott International is one of the most popular and respected hotel enterprises in existence. Back in 2019, the company joined the vacation rental market with Homes & Villas by Marriott International. With this new brand, the hotel juggernaut created a well-curated collection of properties that offer travelers the perks of top-notch cleanliness and hotel-like services in a more secluded and personalized space.
In fact, Marriott even partnered with other more experienced home management and vacation rental companies like TurnKey Vacation Rentals to manage the maintenance and operations of these residences. With this partnership, the homes are thoroughly cleaned and come with the premium features and amenities that TurnKey is known for providing.
Book on homes-and-villas.marriott.com
6. Agoda
Agoda is currently one of the fastest-growing online travel booking platforms you can find. It also has one of the largest destination assortments of any online booking medium. One of the amenities shoppers love most about Agoda is its vacation rental options that range from Las Vegas, Nevada to Bangkok, Thailand.
There are thousands of properties available in tons of locations like South Korea, Malaysia, the UK, Australia and more. Also, you can narrow your search down by choosing which amenities are must-haves for your stay. For example, several customers choose private entrances, common spaces for gatherings, private kitchens, separate bedrooms and no shared walls with neighbors when booking with Agoda.
7. Sonder
Sonder is "building the future of hospitality" by bringing "exceptional stays everywhere," and according to reviewers, it's a majorly underrated force in the vacation rental space.
This service allows you to request any and everything you need directly from your phone, cutting out the middle man. "Hotels aren't always hip. Hosts aren't always reliable. So we're changing the game — with spaces that inspire and delight," the brand explains.
With multiple offices across the globe and hub cities in Denver, San Francisco, Montreal and London/Amsterdam, Sonder prides itself on staying small while providing a wide range of quality spaces. It offers over 4,500 listings worldwide in over 30 cities.
8. Plum Guide
Plum Guide's tagline, "Travel perfected by humans, not algorithms," rings true to its philosophy that quality should always trump quantity. There are over 5,000,000 vacation home listings available online, and this service aims to weed out the scum and provide its users with the best options possible.
"Our mission is to find and award the best homes out there with our trusted quality mark" — and yes, it's a literal mark in the form of a yellow sticker that reads "Plum Guide Official Selection." This decision is made by the brand's experienced Home Critics.
Also, Plum Guide promises three things to shoppers: What you see is what you'll get, you'll never pay more, and they're available to help you every step of the way, seven days a week.
9. TurnKey
For those whose top priority is premium customer service and professionalism — think a five-star hotel, but with no other guests — TurnKey Vacation Rentals is the place to book.
The full-service property management company, similar to Airbnb, operates as the "middleman" between the homeowner and renter. TurnKey's arsenal features an impressive 6,000 luxury homes in the United States. Some of the most popular local destinations are California, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Washington, Texas and Maine.
Echoing the importance of premier customer service, each home comes with a full kitchen, Wi-Fi access and 24-hour customer support. There are also professional cleaning services available, and each home comes pre-stocked with fresh toiletries, digital locks for touchless entry and even tablets that suggest activities and restaurants.
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