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Booking Short-Term Rentals: Direct vs. Third-Party Platforms
When it comes to booking short-term rentals, travelers have two primary options: booking directly with property owners or using third-party platforms such as Airbnb or VRBO/Homeaway. Both methods have their advantages and considerations, and understanding the differences can help you make an informed decision. In this blog, we will explore and contrast the benefits and drawbacks of booking short-term rentals directly versus using third-party platforms.
Booking Directly:
Booking a short-term rental directly with the property owner or manager has its unique advantages:
Personalized Experience: By dealing directly with the property owner, you can establish a direct line of communication. This allows you to ask specific questions, request additional amenities, or negotiate pricing and terms. The personalized touch often leads to a more tailored experience.
Cost Savings: When booking directly, you can avoid service fees charged by third-party platforms. Often times hosts also have their BEST prices on their own website. This direct approach may give you savings as much as 15-25%, as there is no intermediary involved.
Local Insights: Property owners or managers are typically more familiar with the local area. They can provide valuable recommendations about nearby attractions, restaurants, or hidden gems that might not be easily accessible through third-party platforms.
Considerations for Direct Bookings:
Limited Inventory: Booking directly means you may have access to a narrower selection of properties compared to third-party platforms, which offer a wide range of options in various locations. If you have specific preferences or require specific amenities, finding suitable properties might be more challenging.
***Work Around: Check out Airbnb and look for hosts in your location that have a logo in their pictures or a company name clearly visible that you can then search for on the web. Check out AFS Airbnb page for an example.
Ask your friends, Facebook Group pages, co-workers, etc for recommendations. Search Instagram for the destination.
Trust and Security: While many property owners are reliable and trustworthy, booking directly can carry some risks. It's important to conduct thorough research, read reviews, and establish trust before making a payment or sharing personal information.
***Work Around: Ask the host for their Airbnb, VRBO or Google Travel link to check out their reviews, verify their home and check their ratings. Also ask the host if they have any type of damage/liability waiver program or insurance and what it is. Lastly, consider travel insurance -even for booking 3rd party!
Third-Party Platforms:
Third-party platforms have become increasingly popular for booking short-term rentals due to their convenience and wider selection.
Extensive Options: Third-party platforms offer a vast array of short-term rentals worldwide. You can easily browse through numerous properties, filter by location, amenities, price range, and read reviews to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Security and Guarantees: Reputable third-party platforms often provide security measures such as verified listings, secure payment systems, and refund policies. They act as intermediaries, holding funds until the guest's stay is complete, which offers an added layer of security.
User-Friendly Experience: These platforms usually have user-friendly interfaces and booking processes. They often include features like instant booking, real-time availability, and integrated messaging systems for seamless communication with property owners.
Considerations for Third-Party Platforms:
Service Fees: One of the downsides of using third-party platforms is the service fees they charge - typically 15-25%. Not to mention most hosts up their prices on these 3rd party platforms to cover their own service fees. These fees can significantly increase the overall cost of your stay, making it important to factor them into your budget.
Limited Personalization: Third-party platforms focus on catering to a wide range of customers, so the booking process may lack the personal touch you would experience when dealing directly with property owners. Customizations or specific requests might be more challenging to accommodate.
Booking short-term rentals directly or through third-party platforms each has its pros and cons. If you need a wide selection, do not have time to ensure security guarantees and protections, and need a more user-friendly booking process, third-party platforms are worth considering.
On the other hand, if you value personalized experiences, cost savings of 15%++, and local insights - booking directly might be the right choice for you.
Ultimately, it's essential to weigh your priorities, conduct thorough research, and consider factors like location, budget, and specific requirements to make an informed decision that best suits your travel needs.
Be sure to check out more Benefits of Booking Direct vs. Third-Party in the following blogs:
Allergy-Friendly Vacations: Booking Direct vs. Third-Party
Booking Direct: Save Money, Support Local & Female Entrepreneurs
Learn all that Allergy Friendly Stays offers you and what our step-by-step process is here.