I’ve been using AirBnB for just over a year and made it to Superhost! But one of the issues is that your place doesn’t always book up 100%. Registering on other websites like AirBnB can open further booking opportunities. Also it can be a good idea not to put all of your eggs into one basket incase a platform goes under or there is a problem with your account. Here are the best websites like AirBnB that I can recommend….
The Best Websites like AirBnB
Booking.com
Hosts looking for websites like AirBnb could consider a few alternatives, one of them being Booking.com. While mostly known for hotel reservations, Booking.com has been doing temporary apartment and residence rentals, comparable to AirBnb’s model. But there are some notable differences between the two services in this regard to keep in mind. AirBnb allows two way reviews, with guests reviewing hosts and host reviewing guests. This way hosts can verify that the guests they are booking to stay at their place are respectful and conscientious of the places they stay. Booking.com only charges the hosts for the transaction of renting, not both parties like AirBnb. Also, most listings at Booking.com do not have a prepayment option and cancellations are free, which means a last minute change could leave hosts without money they were expecting from the rental.
Vrbo
This company, named Vacation Rental by Owner (Vrbo), much like AirBnb, allows listings of hosts properties for short term rental, but unlike AirBnb, they allow only listings of an entire residence, an unshared space, compared to potential of rented single rooms in a resident’s place often listed on AirBnb. While AirBnb allows hosts and renters to both place reviews after the end of the stay, Vrbo allows for responses (visible to others who might be searching) from renters to owners, allowing for more direct communication and questions about the residence. Unlike AirBnb, Vrbo requires a subscription for hosts to post listings on their site. Vrbo typically collects the full price within 2 months of the rental, and pays it out 5 to 7 days to owners after the payment is collected.
Homestay
Unlike AirBnb which offers the choice of private rentals and or shared accommodation, Homestay is focused on staying with the resident. One of the main differences with AirBnb and Homestay is that Homestay’s listing of availability is smaller because they are not offering private residence rentals. Additionally, Homestay collects a 15% booking fee from the hosts, while AirBnb collects 3% of the listed price.
Flipkey
While Flipkey was founded before AirBnb, AirBnb has a much wider range of rental choices and locations around the globe. The function of both of these sites is actually very similar, with the key difference being that AirBnb offers a choice of shared residence stays or private residences, where Flipkey only allows hosts of private residences to list. Both services are free to sign up for, and both charge hosts 3% of the listed price.
OneFineStay
While AirBnb focuses on producing as many listings as possible, OneFineStay is more niche to more high-end, curated, host verified market of short term rentals. OneFineStay requires that the hosts’ listed properties be visited and verified an OneFineStay representative in order to qualify for a listing process. OneFineStay has about 5,000 worldwide properties, while AirBnb has over 1.2 million.
Websites like AirBnB Coming Soon
I’m really looking forward to the launch of fairbnb.coop which is an ethical version of AirBnB based on Community powered tourism. 50% of our platform fee is used to fund a project of your choice for the communities you visit. I love this idea and I’m certainly looking to register with them when it kicks off in Spring 2020.