What Is The Best Vacation Rental Website

The 12 Best Vacation Rental Sites For Hosts And Travelers

Guides,All posts,Vacation Rental Tips

The role of vacation rental sites and marketplaces is increasing. Each day they attract millions of visitors who seek accommodation for their vacation. For hosts, vacation rental sites are the perfect place to reach their target audience at the right place and time. So, if you are looking for new ways to maximize the number of bookings, you should start by advertising your properties where your potential guests are.

As a guest, you might want to find the best home away from home for your next vacation. To help both guests and hosts, weve researched the top 10 vacation rental websites.

Read on to find out which of these platforms are the best short-term rental sites for you.

Realtorcom Best Real Estate Website For Data Accuracy

When it comes to data accuracy, Realtor.com is the top name that comes to mind. It is affiliated with the National Association of Realtors and is considered the gold standard for listing quality and accuracy.

While it does not offer an option to search for for-sale-by-owner properties, its massive database includes nearly 99% of all MLS listings. Fellow real estate website Mashvisor acknowledges it as one of the best websites for real estate news today.

It also provides a mobile app that has been downloaded on both Apple Store and Google Play Store countless times. While itââ¬â¢s not as good a mobile app as Trulia, it remains one of the most trusted websites that real estate professionals and investors trust.

Going through Realtor.comââ¬â¢s listings is almost a similar experience as browsing Trulia homes for sale. Any investor will most likely find a great deal when looking at Realtor.com homes for sale listings.

Homes For Heroes Best Real Estate Website For Modern

Last, but most definitely not least, we cannot in good conscience complete our list without honoring our heroes today. Homes for Heroes is a website that allows modern-day heroes to buy, sell, or refinance their homes and earn different rewards and savings. The website is for the military vets, those who are still on active duty, firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement officers, healthcare professionals, and teachers.

Although it does not come with a mobile app and does not offer free property information on the website, Homes for Heroes more than makes up for them with its different benefits. It helps our real American heroes save up on the different services that go with real estate transactions.

A portion of the amount on closed deals goes to a nonprofit that supports other local heroes. It is one of those programs that honor those who sacrificed a lot by giving back to them.

Related: 8 Best Websites to Access MLS Real Estate Listings Without a Realtor

Recommended Reading: Vacation Rental Calendar Excel Template

The Best Vacation Rental Sites

To help you sift through the options, I tested more than a dozen top vacation rental sites to figure out which ones offer the best combination of plentiful inventory, useful filters, informative listings, and fair prices, without too many hidden fees. I discovered that theres no single best vacation home rental site, but that each one has pros and cons to suit different types of travelers.

The 10 Best Real Estate Websites For Real Estate Investing

If youââ¬â¢re a first-time investor and youââ¬â¢re looking for houses for sale, you know that finding them will be a lot easier online. Compared to the limited inventory you got in your backyard, going online will open more opportunities for investments.

While there are a lot of great and reputable websites out there, we have listed ten of the top real estate websites that have something specific to offer investors. The following are the best real estate websites for agents, sellers, buyers, and investors both novice and experienced:

Read Also: Turnkey Vacation Rentals Customer Service

Homes & Villas By Marriott International

Homes & Villas by Marriott International is a curated offering of vacation rentals by one of the worlds oldest hotel chains. It brings together Marriott Internationals 92 years of hospitality experience and the local expertise of select property management companies.

They guarantee that their vacation homes are serviced at the same standard that is expected from Marriott hotel rooms. Properties listed on the website are rigorously vetted before being accepted into the program.

Homes & Villas by Marriott International with us, you can list your properties quickly and effortlessly.

Top destinations: Europe, North America, South America, Caribbean

What Are These Vacation Rental Websites

These websites are actually digital platforms whose main task is to collect a large supply of vacation rentals.

It works as the infrastructure through which owners can advertise and manage the rental of their properties with their guests. In addition, owners can follow a series of strategic steps in order to rank their vacation rental at the top of platforms such as Airbnb.

You May Like: Marriott Vacation Club Maui Timeshare

Why Are Real Estate Websites Important

COVID-19 made us all realize how important technology and the digital realm are. Since it disrupted our pre-pandemic normal lives, almost everyone and everything migrated to the digital world.

Work-from-home and online businesses became two of the primary financial saviors of almost every professional and business person. Transactions were made, and deals were closed online for most of 2020 and 2021. Society learned to function using different online platforms and applications. Even the real estate industry was forced to embrace technology in the face of a downturn.

Real estate websites have given the industry its much-needed lifeline. Lots of buyers and sellers conducted most of their business online, only meeting up in person for the turnover and whenever necessary. Traffic on real estate websites dramatically increased at the height of the pandemic.

Buyers can look at properties online in the comfort of their homes. Sellers also benefit from an increase in views by the hundreds compared to the few who actually swing by to check out their properties.

According to the 2020 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 28% of home buyers found their homes through a realtor, 4% of them got houses from yard signs, and a whopping 51% purchased their homes online.

With an audience like that, itââ¬â¢s no wonder that real estate companies are beefing up their online presence.

+ Best Vacation Rental Website Templates In 2021

Creating a website for your short-term rental has never been easier. Here are some of the best vacation rental website templates to help you easily create a website for your properties .

This list includes the templates offered by vacation rental website builders, as well as WordPress themes, and templates from other popular website builders like Squarespace and Wix.

Disclosure: Contents

Don’t Miss: Fun Family Christmas Vacation Ideas

Roofstock Best Real Estate Website For Turnkey Properties

If youââ¬â¢re looking for a website that allows you to turnkey homes with tenants in place, then Roofstock might be worth checking out. It gives investors the chance to invest in single-family and multi-family properties to add valuable assets to their investment portfolios.

Such an arrangement is especially helpful for first-time investors looking to build a good portfolio. It not only allows them to own real estate property but own a rental property business as well. While the company does allow you to buy, sell, or bring your own house to the table, it does not come with a mobile app to make your reach wider, unlike Trulia or Realtor.com.

What Can A Vacation Rental Do For You

Whether youre embarking on a thrill-seeking excursion or looking for a quiet couples trip by the sea, vacation rentals are available in virtually every size and type. You can find cottages, cabins, lodges, houses, apartments, and more, all with a range of amenities to help you make the most of your trip. With a vacation rental, you can enjoy features like pet friendly yards or gardens, pools and hot tubs, outdoor grilling, and entertainment space, all in the comfort of your own home-away-from-home. Best of all, you can find rentals for virtually any budget, all with amenities that help you save, such as kitchens and entertainment features.

Don’t Miss: Palm Springs Vacation Rental Companies

Regional Specialist Vacation Rental Booking Sites

• Akilar: This Spain-focused regional vacation rental site lists villas, apartments, and homes all around Spain.
• Casamundo: With 700,000 listings in Europe and the U.S., Casamundo is a giant among regional specialists.
• : This large network of rentals is focused mainly on Spain, Italy, and France but its also has listings in Asia and North America.
• Cottages.com: Cottages.com lists more than 20,000 holiday cottages and luxury homes in the UK, Ireland, France, and Italy.
• SnapTrip: SnapTrip calls itself a marketplace aggregating over 60,000 professionally managed cottages from big name partners in the U.K.

Which Is The Best Vacation Rental Booking Site

Theres no one agency or platform that shines above others for families, but we can provide some conclusions based on our vacation rental site reviews and years of using these booking platforms.

• If youre looking for budget alternatives to conventional hotels, start with one of the giant booking platformsthats where youll find the bulk of the low-priced options. Go to a regional specialist platform if you want more options.
• For rentals in the U.S., do a local search in addition to checking the larger vacation rental booking platforms.
• Cast a wide net. Check with as many different sources as you have time and patience for. And keep in mind that many rentals will list with more than one booking platform, but a few stick to one or two. Prices are almost always the same.
• Avoid booking vacation rentals through Craigslist or eBay. Although both list vacation rentals, they provide almost no consumer protections.

You May Like: Los Angeles Vacation Rentals By Owner

2 Zillow Best Real Estate Listing Website

Zillow is widely known in the industry as one of the best real estate websites for rentals. It has been around for quite some time, building its reputation as an industry leader and authority along the way.

As a real estate website, Zillow maintains a huge database of around 135 million listings. It also offers some how-to guides for buying and selling. It also provides links for pre-qualified financing, which is especially helpful to investors who are on a budget.

The website is also free to use for both buyers and sellers. The only downside to Zillow is that its Zestimate algorithm is only as good as the data and information put into it.

An Introduction To Vacation Rental Website Builders

In addition to the popular website builders , there are now an increasing number of vacation rental website builders to meet the demand of this growing industry. Theyre built specifically for property rentals, and they come packaged with other features designed to help you manage your short-term rental business.

Using a vacation rental website builder is the easiest way to create a direct booking website, since direct booking is built right into the website .

Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a website builder.

• Additional vacation rental features All of these website builders are actually just one feature in a larger property management system. Youll want to look into their other features like channel management, automation, and others you might be interested in.
• Value for the price The platforms here have a wide range of price points. Given that the website builder is just one of several features in these vacation rental management software platforms, its important to keep in mind what else youre getting for the price.
• Ability to customize your website How many templates do they have and how customizable are they? Can you change fonts and colors? Can you create additional pages?
• Design aesthetic What do their websites look like? Depending on your priorities, this may be more or less important to you. As web designers, its important to us.

You May Like: Teton Valley Idaho Vacation Rentals

Best Rentals In The United States

Vacation homes are usually one of a kind. So if someone has already rented the property you love on the dates youre travelingor if the owners decide to use the home for themselves and take it out of the rental poolit wont appear as on option when you search your vacation date range.

That said, we love to browse for the best of the best when it comes to relaxing vacation rentals. We cant get enough of these serene lake house rentals, and these beach house rentals will leave you dreaming of crashing waves and sand between your toes. Give small-space living a go with these tiny house rentals, or book one of these Airbnbs for the best fall foliage.

Why Stay In A Vacation Rental

Vacation rentals can offer more space, privacy, and flexibility compared to hotel rooms. Depending on the property, youll have access to amenities like hot tubs, gourmet kitchens, washer/dryers, free onsite parking, private pools, and so many more.

Vacation rentals are available in a wide range of locations so you can choose where you want to stay, like the center of the city or a local neighborhood with great nightlife. Plus, if youre traveling with your family or a large group, having multiple bedrooms and bathrooms means theres enough space so everyone can stay together under one roof.

Last but not least, at rates of up to 80% off traditional hotel rooms, vacation rentals are often the most affordable, cost effective option. So if youd like to feel home away from home on your next trip, in a place where you can cook, lounge and entertain? Stay in a vacation rental.

Don’t Miss: Dream Vacations Franchise Owner Reviews

How To Optimise Distribution On Luxury Vacation Rental Websites

Some owners are very picky and limit the number of agencies and OTAs as they dont appreciate over-distributing their properties in order to keep a flair of exclusivity.

Paola Gheis

The distribution of luxury vacation rentals is very different from that of non-luxury properties.

In the luxury vacation rental business, quality and finesse are embedded in the property and the value proposition of the holiday experience offered, says Paola Gheis, Founder at Paola Gheis Vacation Rental Consulting, a consultancy that specialises in developing marketing strategies for luxury villas. This is also true for the quality of the sales channels used.

One of the most obvious differences is the number of channels that properties are listed on. In the case of luxury homes, owners and managers are usually more selective.

Some owners are very picky and limit the number of agencies and OTAs as they dont appreciate over-distributing their properties in order to keep a flair of exclusivity. Other owners are less strict but they carefully select the quality of the luxury agencies to promote their villas or boutique hotels, says Paola.

Useful Vacation Rental Websites

Hotels often rely on inflated descriptions of their rooms. Got a single room with a tiny balcony? That’s a deluxe. Or throw a couch in there and it turns into a suite, with the extravagant price tag to match. In response to travelers wanting better options, a new crop of vacation rental websites has sprouted up offering everything from sprawling mansions to air mattresses, often with significantly more space than your average hotel room. Combine that with lower prices and locations in less touristy neighborhoods, and you could be experiencing your destination just like the locals do. Here are some vacation rental sites to look into for your next holiday.

CouchsurfingFor the utterly penniless , there is CouchSurfing. With over four million members in more than 90,000 cities, CouchSurfing offers everything from free accommodations , to meals and activity partners. Both surfers and hosts are required to create a profile page, and trusted hosts can receive a verified status confirming that their names and locations have been authenticated. Other members can also vouch for one another, certifying them as trustworthy. As accommodations are based on how willing your hosts are, guests have to put in a request for a couch or a meet-up and hope for the best.

Read Also: Cancel Marriott Vacation Club Membership Within 10 Days

Vacation Rental Brands & Management Companies

Sometimes you dont want to gamble on a vacation rental – it could be great, but it could be a disaster. Vacation rental brands and management companies provide consistency and peace of mind for travelers who want a high-quality experience.