Looking for sites like Airbnb to book your next vacation rental? Here is our guide to the best online apartment booking websites that provides a list of over 25 websites where you can search and book apartments and vacation rentals online.
Getting a great place to stay is key to a good travel experience and if you are looking beyond hotels and hostels, renting an apartment, a house, or a private room can be a great alternative. Staying at an apartment versus a hotel can be great way to save money, have more autonomy, and connect with the local people.
Most of these apartment booking websites also allow you to list your own property so that you can earn money while you travel or rent out a spare room or second home. Airbnb may be the best known vacation rental website, but there are a lot of Airbnb alternatives out there, and many have been on the scene for a lot longer.
We’ll provide information on over 20 apartment booking sites like Airbnb and share tips on how to use them so that you will always be able to find the perfect place for your next vacation.
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Apartment Booking Sites Like Airbnb
Apartments give you the flexibility to cook your own meals, have complete flexibility about coming and going, and allow you to do laundry while traveling.
Today it is easy to book an apartment or vacation rental online from anywhere in the world, and apartments can offer a lot of benefits compared to hotel stays for certain travelers. So whether you are tired of Airbnb, looking for some additional sites to compare prices, want a professionally managed property, or want to book apartments in a region where Airbnb has few properties, this list of websites like Airbnb should help you find some great new apartment booking websites.
This list includes both peer-to-peer properties (such as on Airbnb) and professionally managed vacation rentals.
Most of these booking websites also allow those who have extra rooms, empty apartments, or second homes to list their properties online as well, so we’ve provided details for property owners as well.
Here we go, this list is in no particular order:
1. Vrbo
Vrbo, which stands for Vacation Rentals By Owner, was one of the first websites to connect apartment owners with travelers, and has been around since 1995! It was also the first apartment company I (Jess) ever used to book an apartment in France for a week.
Vrbo is currently owned and operated by the Expedia Group. In 2019, they recently rebranded to Vrbo (ver-boy) from VRBO. Properties from HomeAway, Abritel, Stayz, and other Expedia owned vacation rental websites have been added to Vrbo to consolidate their vacation rentals into one website, greatly expanding the number of listings.
Many of the properties listed on Vrbo can’t be found on other listing sites like Airbnb, and with over 2 million listings to choose from is definitely one you should check out when traveling. Properties are located worldwide in over 180 countries with a heavy concentration in Europe and North America.
For Property Owners: Vrbo does allow property owners to apply and list their properties directly on the website. You can read more and sign up for Vrbo here.
2. Agoda Homes
If you are traveling in Asia and looking for apartments and vacation homes, we recommend checking out Agoda Homes. Agoda is a well-known hotel booking website, but it also offers apartments, vacation homes, guesthouses, and private rooms in homes.
Agoda offers over 700,000 apartments and other vacation rentals in over 50 countries, with the largest number of properties located in Asian countries.
For Property Owners: The set-up and listing is free for property owners, and then Agoda Homes takes a commission on bookings. You can learn more here.
3. Plum Guide
Plum Guide is a London-based company that just launched in 2016. It currently offers over 10,000 apartments and vacation rental properties on its website with a large number of its properties located in major international cities like Los Angeles, London, Rome, and Paris. However, it has been expanding to more destinations and also includes properties in smaller towns and rural areas as well.
The Plum Guide is similar to Airbnb in that is a peer-to-peer vacation rental website; however, the company is much more selective about the properties listed on Plum Guide. They send a staff member to meet hosts and evaluate each property using a checklist to decide if it is a good fit.
The company aims to only include the most popular and best-rated properties and markets themselves to a more discerning traveler who doesn’t want to search through a large number of listings to find the perfect place.
Unlike most peer-to-peer vacation rental websites, Plum Guide doe not publish guest reviews of properties on their website as they believe that the peer review system is flawed. You can read our in-depth Plum Guide review for our thoughts and experiences using this relatively new platform.
For Property Owners: Owners can apply to have their apartment of vacation rental listed on Plum Guide, and then it will be evaluated to see if it meets the company’s criteria. You can find out more here.
4. Booking.com
We’re guessing you’ve used Booking.com at some point to book a hotel stay. And with many excellent deals and many properties offering no-fee last minute cancellation policies, we love it too.
What you might not have realized is that in addition to hotels, you can also book vacation rentals properties on the site, including apartments and villas, all around the world. And with about 6 million properties on their books thus far, there’s no shortage of choice.
Booking.com has apartments and holiday homes available to book in over 200 countries and territories. They have a large number of apartment properties in Europe (particularly the UK and France), Australia, North America, Asia, South Africa, and northern Africa.
For Property Owners: It’s free to list on Booking.com, and then fees are applied to every successful booking made through their service. Sign up to list your property here.
5. Homestay
Homestay differentiates itself by offering hosted experiences for those who want to actually meet the property owners and talk to the local host or family. All their stays also include breakfast. Homestay has properties in 150 countries; however, they have fewer properties than many of the other websites on this list, which means that it can be more difficult to find a property and get a booking accepted.
Properties are more concentrated in Europe (particularly the UK) and major cities worldwide (Los Angeles, London, Sydney, Paris). We have stayed in multiple Homestay properties around the world and have enjoyed the interaction with hosts and loved the fact that we could take advantage of their local knowledge and even share their pets for a few days!
We can offer you a 5% discount on all Homestay bookings if you use this link to book, as well as up to USD $30 off your first booking when you sign up using this link (discount varies depending on the currency).
For Property Owners: Registering a property on Homestay is free. You can sign up to list your property here.
6. Marriott Homes & Villas
Marriott is well known for its international hotel brand, and in 2019, Marriott launched Homes & Villas to offer upscale and luxury vacation home rentals and villas. The company offers over 20,000 properties in over 200 destinations worldwide.
Marriott Homes & Villas specializes in premium and luxury vacation homes, villas, and condos. Marriott does not own or lease the properties; all properties are professionally managed by local professional management companies for the owners.
Homes & Villas listed properties worldwide in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
This is a particularly good option for Marriott hotel lovers, as Marriott Bonvoy members can redeem and earn points on homes and villas that are part of the program.
For Property Owners: Marriott doesn’t accept homes managed by individual homeowners. Your home would need to be managed by one of the home management companies that work with Marriott Home & Villas.
7. Sonder
Sonder is one of the newe Airbnb-like companies and has been rapidly growing over the past few years. The company started in 2012 in Montreal, Canada. It provides a curated list of over 8,500 apartments in over 25 cities worldwide.
The company focuses on modern well-designed and decorated apartments that are outfitted with all the amenities and comforts someone would want in their own home. They also focus on properties that are in tourist-friendly and trendy neighborhoods. They offer 24/7 customer service and you are renting directly from them as they own or lease the property, furnish, and maintain them.
They have the largest number of properties in the United States and Canada, but also have a number of properties in major cities in Europe as well as apartments in Dubai.
For Property Owners: Individual property owners can not rent out their apartment or home on Sonder as the company currently owns or leases all their properties. However, if you are looking to sell or lease real estate, you can contact them.
8. Blueground
If you are looking for a longer-term stay, Blueground specializes in apartments that can be rented for 1 month and longer. You can even rent some of the properties for 1 year or more. Apartments are fully furnished and managed properties with all the basic amenities included.
They currently offer over 5,000 apartments in 18 major cities, including New York City, Paris, Istanbul, Chicago, London, San Francisco, and Boston.
Although they cater primarily to business travelers, they can also be great for leisure travelers wanting to stay in a place for a longer amount of time.
For Property Owners: Blueground rents unfurnished apartments that meet their criteria from owners and then furnishes and manages them for you. You can find out more and sign up here.
9. Evolve
If you are looking for a vacation rental in the United States, you might want to also check out Evolve. The company started in 2011 and is based in Denver, Colorado. They currently have over 18,000 vacation homes in over 700 destinations throughout the United States. They include properties in popular big city and beach locations as well as rural getaways and lesser known destinations.
They specialize in the hospitality side of the vacation rental business and so do list many of the properties listed on popular sites like Airbnb and Vrbo. However, they strive to differentiate themselves from these marketplaces by offering a better customer service experience. According to the Evolve CEO in a Forbes December 2020 interview: “Evolve properties must be safe, clean, and ready to welcome a guest, and meet or exceed the photos and descriptions. It’s our job to ensure that guests enjoy a 5-star experience while staying in an Evolve home.”
For Property Owners: Independent property owners can apply to see if their property matches the Evolve criteria. Owners are paid on a commission based on the earnings from the property. You can find out more and sign up here.
10. Top Villas
Top Villas is an Orlando, Florida based vacation rental website focused on villas and vacation properties in Florida and the Caribbean. They currently have over 4,000 luxury rentals in over 50 destinations.
The majority of the rental properties are in Florida and the Caribbean, but there are also vacation rentals available in other parts of the USA (California, Colorado, and Tennessee) as well as some parts of Europe (Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal) and Asia (Thailand and Indonesia). This website is particularly a good one to check if planning a trip to Florida, California, or the Caribbean.
For Property Owners: Listing a property is free on Top Villas and you can do that here.
11. Hotels.com
Hotels.com was founded in 1991 and has been a popular hotel booking website for a long time, but like Booking.com it has expanded its offerings to include a wide variety of accommodation, including vacation rentals. They offer hundreds of thousands of properties worldwide with a focus on North America and Europe.
Hotels.com is particularly popular in North America and if you use it regularly to book accommodation (whether it is a hotel, apartment, or vacation rental), you can save with their loyalty program where after you book 10 stays, you get a reward stay.
For Property Owners: Property owners can list properties for free on Hotels.com, but you need to sign up with the Expedia Group here. Hotels.com became part of the Expedia Group network in 2001.
12. Belvilla
Belvilla is the leading holiday home rental provider in the Benelux region, offering around 40,000 in over a dozen European countries, with most of the properties in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Great Britain.
Belvilla offers a wide range of properties to suit just about any type of traveler and budget, from city studios to cabins to beach chalets to castles.
For Property Owners: Property owners can list properties here. Belvilla became part of Oyo Vacation Homes in 2019.
13. Quest Apartments
Quest Apartments is a bit different from all the rest of the websites listed as it only offers serviced apartments. The company caters to business and leisure travelers who like the services of a hotel but wants the autonomy (e.g., kitchen facilities to cook) and space of an apartment. They offer apartments for both short stays as well as apartments for long-terms stays.
Quest Apartments operates over 170 apartment hotel properties in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. A good place to search for travelers heading to Australasia.
For Property Owners: We don’t believe Quest Apartments accepts private individual properties for inclusion.
14. Interhome
Interhome offers approximately 50,000 vacation rentals in over 25 countries, with a focus on European apartments and vacation homes. Founded in Switzerland in 1965, this company has been providing vacation rentals for a long time and they are able to assist guests on-site with check-in and provide comprehensive services.
A great website to check out for those heading to Europe and wanting to have a local service agent available 24/7.
For Property Owners: Property owners choose either full professional management of their property or choose to act as representatives. Fees vary by type of management and contract agreement. You can find more about listing your apartment on Interhome here.
15. TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals
You may already use TripAdvisor to read and leave reviews on hotels, tourist attractions, and restaurants. TripAdvisor also has its own apartment rental search engine, known as TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals.
TripAdvisor has been gobbling up apartment rental companies like FlipKey, holidaylettings, and HouseTrip and so all those listings are also in its search engine. With almost 1 million properties across 190 countries, there’s certainly no shortage of choice. And of course, as you’d expect, there’s a full review system for each property.
Plus, TripAdvisor allows you to book flights, car rentals, and other travel services online, meaning you can do all your travel bookings through one site and provider. Definitely worth checking out!
For Property Owners: Registering a property with the TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals service is free, then you pay a fee per booking. You can sign up for TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals online here.
16. Cottages.com
Cottages.com has over 20,000 properties located in the UK, Ireland, France, and Italy. They focus mostly on villas and cottages in the countryside, small towns, and in coastal locations.
Cottages.com is definitely focused on catering to the British traveler and common holiday destinations for those in the UK. But it is a website to check out for anyone traveling to the UK, Ireland, France, or Italy and looking for accommodation.
For Property Owners: Cottages.com does allow property owners to apply to list their holiday homes on the website. You can find out more here.
17. Oliver’s Travels
Oliver’s Travels first started as a website that allowed people to book French chateaux back in 2003. It has since grown and expanded to focus on holiday villas, castles, and luxury properties in over 20 countries.
Oliver’s Travels primarily focuses on historical and character properties and holiday villas in warm and tropical locations. Most of their properties are located in Europe, but they also have properties in a number of other destinations such as Bali, Thailand, Florida, and the Caribbean.
They are definitely one to consider if you are looking for a more unique and more upscale property for your next trip. They have a particularly good selection of properties in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Croatia.
For Property Owners: Olivers’ Travels offers free listings for property owners and then charges commission fees. You can find out more here.
18. Sykes Holiday Cottages
If you are planning a trip to the UK or Ireland, then Sykes Holiday Cottages is a holiday home booking website we can definitely recommend checking out. They list over 16,000 self-catering properties on their website.
Sykes Holiday Cottages offers a range of properties to suit just about any type of traveler and budget, from city studios to beach chalets to cabins in the woods to castles. Most of their properties are situated in small villages and in the countryside. Their website also makes it easy to find certain types of properties such as those which accept pets, those with pools, and those located near the coast.
For Property Owners: Sykes does allow property owners to apply to list their flat or holiday home on their website. It must be located in the UK or Ireland. You can find out more and apply here.
19. Rural Retreats
Rural Retreats is another website to consider if you are looking for a place in the UK or Ireland. They focus on a collection of over 600 properties that are located in rural areas of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.
Rural Retreats offers a number of different types of properties, from shepherd’s huts to castles, to suit a wide range of travelers and budgets. Although their focus is on rural properties, they do have a small selection of city apartments available as well.
For Property Owners: Rural Retreats does allow property owners to apply to list their property. It must be located in the UK or Ireland. You can find out more and list your property here.
20. Turnkey
If you are looking for a vacation rental in the United States, you might want to check out Turnkey. They currently have over 5,000 vacation homes in over 80 destinations throughout the United States. Turnkey has properties in over 20 states with a large number of their properties located in popular states like Florida, Texas, California, and Colorado.
They specialize in premium and luxury vacation homes and apartments that are professionally managed and cleaned and are able to offer 24/7 support to both customers and owners. All properties offer full kitchens, free Wi-Fi, and an easy check-in process.
For Property Owners: Independent property owners can apply to see if their property matches the Turnkey criteria. Owners are paid on a commission based on the earnings from the property. You can find out more and sign up here.
21. Vintage Travel
If you are looking for a holiday villa in with a pool in a sunny part of Europe, then Vintage Travel is a booking website to consider. Vintage Travel is an independently owned and operated company that focuses on villas with swimming pools. It only has
Vintage Travel currently has villas in a number of European countries, including Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Portugal, Croatia, and Cyprus. They focus on popular sunny tourist destinations and island locations like the Balearic and Greek islands.
All villas have private swimming pools, come with a food pack and linens, and most also come with pool towels. Some pools have child safety features like fencing and alarms, and you can request children’s items like cots or highchairs free of charge in advance for many of the family-friendly properties. The company has local representatives in each area.
For Property Owners: If you have an individual villa with a private pool, you can apply to have it listed on Vintage Travel. You can find out more here.
22. OneFineStay
If you prefer your travel to be at the luxury end of the scale, then OneFineStay might be a website to consider. It has been noted as the luxury home sharing version of Airbnb. OneFineStay offers city apartments in several major cities worldwide (Paris, London, NYC, Rome, Sydney, etc.) as well as villas in many popular travel destinations like the Caribbean, Maldives, and Hawaii.
Backed by the Accor hotel group, OneFineStay aims to offer the best of both the hotel and apartment rental worlds. Homes are professionally serviced, offer tailored amenities, and 24/7 guest phone support. One to consider for those looking for higher-end apartments and vacation villas.
For Property Owners: OneFineStay does allow owners to apply to include their properties but only include higher-end properties. They offer a serviced hands-off solution to property owners. You can apply to list your property here.
23. Novasol
Novasol is a Denmark-based company that was founded in 1968. It offers over 50,000 self-catering holiday homes across 25 countries in Europe. It is currently Europe’s largest self-catering holiday provider.
Novasol offers properties that can appeal with a range of budgets and travel styles from very basic cottages to luxury retreats. A great one to check out for those looking for a self-catering vacation rental in Europe, especially northern Europe.
For Property Owners: Property owners who have a property located in Europe can find out more about renting their property with Novasol here.
24. RentaVilla
RentaVilla is a vacation rental company that has been around since 1983. It initially focused on providing places for families who didn’t feel comfortable in a hotel. Today they offer villas, apartments, houses, and condominiums in Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Indonesia, Thailand, Morocco and the Caribbean.
The family-owned company has employees who personally inspect each property, and cater mostly to American travelers. The company has local representatives in each area and can help in arranging additional services such as car rentals, cell phone rentals, and maid services as needed for customers.
For Property Owners: There is no way to list your property online as all are chosen and selected but you can give the company a call if you have a property that would be of interest.
25. Couchsurfing
If you are traveling on a budget and want to stay for free, then Couchsurfing may be a good bet. The website allows you to connect with a local person who has a spare bed, couch, room, or apartment and they let you stay for free. Begun in 2004, this was a pretty radical concept at the time.
Couchsurfing is designed for people who want to meet and stay with local people and want to be part of the Couchsurfing community, and ideally you return the favor and host people coming through your own hometown. Even if you are not looking for a hosted experience, you can also find people to have coffee with in new places or offer to meet up and have coffee with travelers near you. There are also thousands of events and meetups each year for Couchsurfing community members.
The website had at last count around 400,000 hosts and 11 million users. Most popular in North America and Europe, but hosts live worldwide.
NOTE: In May 2020, as an effect of the coronavirus pandemic and rising costs, Couchsurfing has implemented a small fee to be a member for most users. So you do need to pay a small monthly or yearly fee to use the website at last check. However, it is still free to stay, host, and take part in community events after you pay the fee.
For property owners. It is free to list your property (although there is now a small fee to join). If it illegal in your city to rent or sublet your spare room, this can be a great way to still meet up with travelers and host them without breaking the law.
26. Outdoorsy
Outdoorsy, the “Airbnb of RV rentals” started in 2015 in the United States. It is currently the world’s largest peer-to-peer RV (recreational vehicle) rental marketplace where owners to can list their RVs when not in use to others wanting to rent one. They list RVs (motorhomes), campervans, travel trailers (caravans), fifth wheels, trailer tents, and other outdoor adventure vehicles.
Outdoorsy currently have over 200,000 RV listings across 14 countries, with the majority in the United States and Canada. But they also now offer motorhome and campervan rentals in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of western Europe (including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy).
Another Europe focused alternative to consider is GoBoony. See listings for GoBoony here. You can list your RV here with GoBoony.
For RV Owners: It is free to list your RV and then you pay fees based on bookings. You can list your RV here.
27. FlipKey
Part of the TripAdvisor family, FlipKey has over 300,000 properties to choose from. Owners are verified by FlipKey, and they can list whole homes, apartments, villas, or private rooms. They have properties worldwide with a heavy concentration of properties in North America, and particularly the United States.
We used to often recommend FlipKey to people; however, now all the properties have been consolidated into TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals (included above). Many of the same properties are also available on other large platforms like Vrbo and Airbnb. So now we don’t use this vacation rental booking website much these days.
For Property Owners: To have your property included on Flipkey, you need to register to have your property as part of Tripadvisor Vacation Rentals as described above.
28. Local Apartment Booking Websites like Airbnb
With all of these huge search engines to choose from, you might think that your search is over. But don’t forget to check to see if there are local websites like Airbnb specialized in the city or region you plan to travel. Localized websites often offer amazing properties that you won’t find anywhere else. For example, when we visit the Costa Brava region of Spain, we check out Naturaki (read about Laurence’s experience here) and Charming Villas.
Also be sure to see if there is a website that caters to the type of property you want whether you want a self-serviced apartment in San Francisco geared to business travelers, a hosted guest stay experience in Vietnam, or a rural farmstay in Tuscany. For instance for those looking for small town and rural properties, we love Gites.com for places in France and Agriturismo for properties in Italy.
Go with Oh started in 1997 in Barcelona and has grown to include over 3,000 rental properties in Europe. A great place to check out if you are looking for an apartment rental in Barcelona (over 500 properties) or another major European city. It is free to list your apartment and then you pay fees based on bookings. You can learn more and sign up your property here.
If you have a specific city or region in mind, it’s definitely worth doing a bit of internet research to see if there are any local apartment booking companies. Sometimes you find very localized websites like Airbnb that can help you book somewhere truly unique. If you still are not able to find the sort of property you are looking for and are looking for a longer term stay, consider asking a local rental agency to help you find and book a property.
Don’t Forget Airbnb
If you are looking for websites like Airbnb, don’t forget to check Airbnb itself! We have used Airbnb all over the world. They have an incredible choice of properties, the review system makes picking a place easy, and prices are usually competitive.
This is particularly true for longer stays, where hosts often provide a discount. Properties are available worldwide in 191 countries, so you can find a stay almost anywhere, and properties include everything from houseboats to apartments to even private islands.
Admittedly, my love for Airbnb has declined since I first wrote a review of my Airbnb experiences back in 2013. Back in 2012, when few people had used Airbnb (even among my fellow San Francisco based travelers), most of the apartments and rooms were actually run by the owners (and you met them!), there was an Airbnb concierge service, and prices were almost always much better than hotels. Back then it seemed most of the property owners (especially those renting rooms) were doing it to meet travelers rather than to make money (Couchsurfing was very popular at the time).
Time has changed things at Airbnb, some for the better and some for the worse. The number of property listings has skyrocketed, the concierge service appears to have disappeared, prices have gone up, legal battles have ensued, and many properties are now managed by people hired by the owners to run multiple properties.
Three of our recent stays have been managed by people hired to run apartments owned by other people, and this can result in some pretty poor communication and coordination. Our last stay in London was absolutely terrible. That said, we think like with all these apartment booking websites, travelers just need to be careful and read past reviews carefully. We will still continue to use Airbnb, but we also now check on other apartment booking options, such as many of those on this list, before we make a booking.
For Property Owners: It is free to sign up and list a property on Airbnb, with fees applied per booking. You can find out more here.
There you have it, over 20 apartment booking websites! Find any new favorite places to book your next vacation rental?
If you are looking for our personal favorites from this list, you can check out our best vacation rental websites article. And if you are looking to book an apartment or vacation rental in the UK or Ireland, we recommend checking out our more specific guide to booking holiday homes in the UK and Ireland.
Have you used any of these alternatives to Airbnb or use other websites like Airbnb not on this list? If so, we’d love to hear about your experiences. As always, we appreciate your comments and always do our best to answer all your questions!
Namit Dolkar Post author
This is such a detailed and helpful guide for anyone looking to list or book apartments online, especially with the variety of alternatives to Airbnb mentioned. I really appreciate how you broke down the pros and cons of each platform, making it easier to find the right fit based on individual needs. The tips on crafting an engaging listing, including high-quality photos and detailed descriptions, are incredibly practical for hosts. For travelers, the advice on reading reviews and understanding cancellation policies is spot-on. It’s great to see a focus on transparency and safety for both parties. With the growing demand for unique and affordable accommodations, this guide feels timely and essential. Thanks for sharing such a thorough resource.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Namit,
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, and glad you found it helpful and yes reading reivews, checking cancellation policies, and looking at all the photos and listing details are definitely all important things to do wheen booking an apartment or house online.
Wishing you lots of happy future travels!
Best,
Jessica
Namit Dolkar Post author
Thank you for this comprehensive guide on how to list and book apartments online! With the ever-growing popularity of vacation rentals, having a resource like this is invaluable for both hosts and guests. Your step-by-step instructions and insights into alternative platforms beyond Airbnb offer a wealth of options for those seeking accommodation that suits their preferences and budget. Kudos on such a great resource.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Namit,
Glad you found our article helpful and if you have any questions (or tips to share!) about booking apartments online, just let us know!
Best,
Jessica
Denny Chiu Post author
If I cancel a reservation with a host one time, can they refuse to agree to a future reservation? I have read that hosts cannot see my cancellation history, though I certainly can. Under “my trips,” first the actual trips completed are listed. Then the ones cancelled, whether due to the host cancelling or the guest cancelling. It’s not made clear.
-https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Support-with-your-bookings/Cancellation/m-p/1889825#M93642
I’m hoping for an alternative to Airbnb, but that may be somewhat like hoping there will be an alternative to Amazon. But Uber is no longer the only…in its field, so maybe…?
Now Airbnb is threatening to remove my account. This after 10+ years of booking through them and nothing but glowing reviews from hosts.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Denny,
I removed a lot of your comment as it was not original content and was all copy and pasted from the Airbnb community forum where you had a very long discussion. People can go read it at the link you posted.
To answer your question, we are not hosts so can’t speak to this directly, but yes, as some hosts replied to you, they can refuse to accept reservations based on past guest communication and behavior. Guests cancelling a reservation, especially a more last minute one, can really affect a host (as can hosts cancelling a guest reservation last minute as I am sure you know!). No one wants a guest booking who they believe is likely to cancel on them. And I do imagine if Airbnb thinks you are violating either their usage or discrimination policies, they could of course ban you at their own discretion.
I agree with you that Airbnb customer service, perks, fees, etc. are definitely not like they used to be when I first starting using them many years ago. But to be honest, in terms of sites not wanting guests who have high cancellation rates, this is going to be similar at most Airbnb alternatives. We see people doing this on Booking.com sometimes (high rates of cancellation or booking multiple places for the same night, only to later cancel most of the bookings) and while big hotels can absorb this kind of thing, it can really negatively impacts small hotels, B&Bs, and shared accommodation hosts a lot if they can’t get the place rebooked for the full period.
As travelers, we try to do our research before booking and rarely cancel. If you find yourself still looking for alternatives or comparing prices, you probably shouldn’t book yet. Its not really fair to the hosts. There are of course lots of justified reasons to change dates or cancel (trip plans change, illness, death in family, a pandemic) etc. but this should not be a regular thing. Hosts are normally willing to work with anyone who needs to just change dates as they much prefer that to a full cancellation. Also with our travel insurance, if we are not able to get a refund, we are able to claim on our travel insurance if we have to cancel or change a trip for any reason covered by our policy (you can get ones that will allow you to cancel for any reason althought these tend to be a little more expensive).
If you are finding booking on sites like Airbnb not a great fit or you are banned, you might consider looking into hotel member programs you can join which often give a lot of privileges to regular travelers who are part of their programs, including free cancellation, free dates changes, regular upgrades, discounts, and lots of other perks. Many of these certainly have locations in the places like the big cities in the USA, Europe, and Asia that you say you normally travel. Some of these, like Hilton and Marriott also run apartment style hotels or vacation home booking services which might be a good fit if you want something with the perks of a hotel but the flexibility/space of an apartment.
Anyway, hope that is somewhat helpful to you and wishing you the best of luck in finding a good alternative to Airbnb. I would contact Airbnb directly for any Airbnb specific questions related to your bookings or account or their user policies.
Best,
Jessica
Dev Post author
Thanks for sharing about these alike websites to Airbnb, I was actually looking for same !!! Looking forward to a Homestay while in India now!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Dev,
Glad our post was helpful, and hope you have a great time in India!!
Best,
Jessica
Ebony Post author
this is amazing, very helpful. thanks!!!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ebony,
Thanks for taking the time to comment, glad you found our article helpful! There are a lot of apartment booking websites out there. If you have any questions as you look for apartments or homes to book online, just ask!
Best,
Jessica
Kelly Post author
Mostly looking for 1 bedroom apartments in the US and some long term rental in Portugal,Ireland and Italy.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kelly,
Many of the apartment booking websites we list offer rentals in those locations. Most places will allow for long-term bookings (30+ days) but if you are thinking of staying 6 months or more you may want to look into signing an actual lease.
Blueground may be a good one to check out as they are more designed for those looking for long-term rentals in major cities.
Best,
Jessica
Anthony Post author
I have a rural holiday home located in a coastal city in the southeast of the Chinese mainland. Which website do you think I should post it on? It will get more European and American tourists and more customers.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Anthony,
So as you know, most foreign travelers have been banned from coming to China or its has been very difficult for the past 3 years. It is opening up but I expect China will not be a very popular destination for most travelers from Europe or North America this year. However, as time goes on more travelers will of course return.
If you were going to just choose just one website, Airbnb is probably the one to choose since it is the most well-known globally and used by a lot of Americans and Europeans. If you are thinkng about being on a few websites, a few others I would consider are Booking.com, Vrbo, and Agoda Homes. Booking and Vrbo are particularly popular in Europe, and Agoda has the most listings in terms of Asia so a good one to be on.
I would check out each of these websites and see if you think they would be a good fit for your particular property and then check out the conditions for property owners.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Anthony Post author
Hi jessica: In fact, Airbnb has removed all the houses in Chinese mainland since July and August last year. So what I’m considering is which website is more popular with family-style tourists whose may be age over 30+ or more age ….., So do you have any better suggestions? Thank you for your kindly reply.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Anthony,
Oh, yes, I forgot that Airbnb removed all of its China listings over the summer. But my answer would remain the same as the ones I already listed (e.g., Vrbo, Booking, Agoda) are some of the most popular vacation home websites used by American and European travelers after Airbnb. So I would check those out first and see if any of them would be a good fit.
Best,
Jessica
Anthony Post author
Thank you Jessica,
RPWA Post author
It is a beautiful article stating about the guide and how to list book apartments online website like Airbnb alternatives. Anyone searching for same topic may find their shelter here. I am sure many people will come to read this in future. Great blog indeed, will visit again future to read more!!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Glad you found it helpful! If you have any questions about booking apartments while traveling, just give us a shout 😉
Best,
Jessica
Joshua Post author
I really appreciate you for publishing this blog here about guide how to list book apartments online websites like airbnb alternatives; it’s really a helpful and very useful for us. This is really appreciated, great article!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Joshua,
Glad it was helpful in your vacation apartment search. If you have any questions just ask!
Best,
Jessica
LMQ Post author
Great info! This article provides details on how to list book apartment online websites like airbnb alternative. Content here based on right facts. I am sure many people will find this helpful!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi LMQ, Glad you found our article helpful. If you have any questions on booking an apartment online, do let us know! Best, Jessica
Oka Post author
I can see that you are helping your readers a lot by providing super valuable information on booking apartments online. Airbnb is the only 1 I have used but I will now also look into Vrbo and have heard godo things also about Skyes for UK? ~ Oka
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Oka,
Thanks for taking the time to leave us a comment. Yes, Airbnb is of course a popular one, as is Vrbo.
Sykes Holiday Cottages is a great website to try if you want to book a holiday home in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland) or Ireland and they just concentrate on that market, making it ideal for those traveling in the British Isles. We’ve used it in England and can recommend it.
Best,
Jessica
Ranju Post author
Thanks for the recommodations. what are best apartment booking websites for Asia trip?
For Nepal trip
Thanks
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ranju,
For Asia, I would recommend starting with Agoda Homes as Agoda has the most listings for Asia. For Nepal, most loding options are homestays, guesthouses, and hotels but you can also find some apartments and I know Agoda does have a few apartment and vacation rental listings.
If you don’t find what you are looking for there, you might also check Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com as they may have additional options.
Best,
Jessica
lisa Post author
My wife and I live in Longboat Key, Florida and are looking for a cooler place to spend the summer preferably in London. We want an apartment to be walking distance of restaurants and things to do.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lisa,
I would recommend making a list of the main attractions you want to visit in London and any specific restaurants you want to go to, and then find an apartment that best fits with your travel plans. But some central London areas to consider may be the Covent Garden area or Kensington as both are near lots of attractions and offer shopping and restaurants.
You’ll find apartments for rent through the city, but I would stick to central London if you want something within walking distance of popular tourist spots. The public transport system is really good in London so you can easily get to and from most places in central London fairly quickly as well so really any area of central London can work.
If coolness is important, just note that it can get hot in London in the summer (although not FL hot!) and many flats in London do not have air conditioning. So you may want to ensure the apartment you book does have A/C.
As you probably know, the UK is still under lockdown and all nonessential businesses are closed due to the pandemic. It is unclear when places like restaurants, museums, cafes, etc. will reopen. The UK is also considering a mandatory 2 week quarantine for all international arrivals. So I would wait to book until you know that it is safe to travel and that things you want to do/see will be open.
If London doesn’t work out, you might consider heading to a domestic city for cooler weather instead, like Denver, San Francisco, or Seattle.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Nancy Post author
This is a great article about alternative short term listing sites that are great options other than Airbnb.
I’d also like to mention that Florida Rental By Owners – FLARBO is another fabulous and trusted option.
There are no traveler fees.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Nancy,
Glad you found the article helpful, and thanks for sharing info about your company. It may indeed be a good company to consider for those looking for self-catering places in Florida, USA.
Best,
Jessica
Derek McDoogle Post author
I totally agree with you when you said that to spend a great time on vacation, you need to rent a nice place. My wife and I would like to take our kids on vacation but we haven’t decided where to go. I will talk to her to see if she would like to rent a vacation home to stay where we go so we don’t have to stay in a hotel.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Derek,
I don’t think you need to have a nice place to go on vacation and have a good time. But I think that for some people and on some trips, apartment or vacation rentals can be a better fit for people, especially families with kids and those traveling as part of a group. Those staying longer periods of time (a week or more) also often benefit and can save money by choosing an apartment or vacation rental over a traditional hotel.
The shared accommodation (renting a room in someone’s house) is also a great option for those traveling on smaller budget and those wanting to meet others but perhaps don’t want to stay in a hostel or there are no hostels available.
But it really depends. We primarily do stay in hotels or motels when we travel, but we if are staying somewhere longer or the prices seem too high in a city, we generally go for an Airbnb or similar. If we are staying for a week or more, we usually will book an apartment to stay in as it almost always saves us money.
It is great to have so many accommodation options!
Best,
Jessica
Jamesford Post author
It really is worth doing these big family get-togethers for family milestones. If you get a super-duper luxury venue like one of these RentaVilla it makes for magical memories Â
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi James, Yes, renting an apartment, villa, or house is great for big families and large groups! It is great to all be under the same roof and be able to have the full place to yourselves. Best, Jessica
Charlotte Burks Post author
Being.a Host in the Midwest is very competitive. Your post has enlighten my horizon. Thank you for sharing. I will put these to good use.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Charlotte, Glad you found our article helpful, and wishing you the best luck in the coming year with your apartment hosting! Best, Jessica
Fabrice Post author
Thanks for the article ! I own a little cabin in the woods near the smallest city in the world, Durbuy, in Belgium. I have been looking for alternatives to Booking.com as they have managed since three years to incrementally increase their fees through various “improvements” and now they have become quite expensive.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Fabrice, Glad this was helpful to you and hope you found some ideas for alternatives. Good luck with your litte cabin in Belgium, it sounds delightful 😉 Best, Jessica
Roslia Santamaria Post author
Thanks for sharing this amazing post, very helpful list in finding apartments around the world!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Roslia, Glad you found it helpful, and just let us know if you have any questions. Best, Jessica
Katty Post author
I found that if you list your place with Booking and you’ll get your first 5 bookings commission-free. Just register here.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Katty,
Yes, if you are a property owner and want to list your guest house/apartment/house etc. on Booking then you do currently get your first 5 bookings commission free and only start paying after that. So can be a good one to try to see if it works for you!
Best,
Jessica
Simon Post author
One thing to be aware of with AirBnb is the host’s ability to cancel you at very short notice without compensation other than a refund.
Last year we booked six months ahead for a July villa rental in the south of France. 8 days prior to departure we were told that the host had withdrawn the property from the market with a ‘justifiable reason’ which Airbnb would not disclose to us for ‘data protection’ reasons. A load of horseshit.
We had to scramble around with 48hrs and luckily did find something else.
Meanwhile had we decided to cancel even with a month we would have forfeited 100% of our substantial rental cost.
It is very clear whose foot the shoe is on with Airbnb.
I know favor the sites where the guest has a reasonably equitable ability to cancel or change.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Simon, Sorry to hear about your situation in France but glad it ended up fine in the end. Yes, we have had situations where the host has cancelled on us for no reason only a couple weeks before our recent trip to Boston (they removed their house from Airbnb completely) and we ended up having to book a more expensive and less ideal apartment as hotel prices were extremely high during that particular weekend in the city. However, I am not sure Airbnb had any control over our particular situation.
So I think with Airbnb (and most other similar booking sites) there is going to be potential issues like this that are less likely with traditional hotel bookings. But we have found out of the many years of using Airbnb that in the vast majority of cases things do go smoothly. But it is good that there are a number of alternatives to Airbnb out there.
Best,
Jessica
AirBNB No More Post author
I’m glad you point this out. As I’ve commented on another of this blog’s posts, I have since stopped using AirBNB out of irritation with its system. I’ve also experienced a similar situation with how I was forced to cancel a booking out of safety concerns for my baby – the property did not have safety rails for its stairs. AirBNB would not accept this as a justifiable reason to cancel the booking which I had just made, as the property had a strict cancelation policy.
On another occasion, a property’s photos clearly showed a kitchen with various appliances, including a microwave. The host advised us shortly before arrival that the microwave was not working. This being a basic appliance, which we particularly needed for our baby, I requested for partial compensation. The host refused, and AirBNB supported the host, saying that the microwave was not specifically listed among the amenities. AirBNB would not accept my argument that the host was misleading guests by posting photos of the property’s kitchen which prominently featured a microwave.
I’ve also been frustrated by how the AirBNB site allows hosts to comment on the guests’ cleanliness, whether publicly or privately. As I pointed out in my other blog post, guests should be called out if they trash the place, but “leaving the property as it was found” should only mean that guests should load dirty dishes in a dishwasher, and throw out the trash, and nothing more. After all, these are paying guests, who currently end up paying close to budget hotel rates, and which often already include cleaning fees. Guests are on holiday and it is utterly ridiculous to be expected to spend your time while on holiday cleaning up the property you paid to use. If hotels criticised guests for dirty rooms, those hotels would lose business.
Moreover, there is often a note in AirBNB property descriptions that the cleaning fee does not cover cleaning up the property after the guest’s departure, but only for preparing the place for the guests’ arrival! This is utterly ridiculous – of course the property should be clean upon arrival! This is not something guests should have to pay for separately!
I have thus decided to patronize more traditional booking sites wherein only the guests post reviews of the properties. After all, the hosts have other remedies through the booking site should there be issues with how the guest treated the property.
James Scarlett Post author
A great home rental and exchange site with listings in 57 countries where you set your own terms is Sabbatical Homes.
Our members work out their own terms with each other. We offer low-cost listing fees that are good for 12 months and we don’t add any hidden fees. Once a member has found a match, we request that they contribute an honor-based success fee (they decide the amount they want to contribute). This allows us to keep our listing fees low for our community, continues growth and improvements on our website, all while remaining advertisement-free.
Our members are often looking for homes for sabbaticals, for writing retreats, or simply to experience a new country by living as a local. We create the platform for them to make a match, and they decide their own rental or exchange terms and agreements outside of our site.
I believe our site will appeal to you and your readership Jessica! I hope you’ll take a moment to explore SabbaticalHomes.com and let us know what you think.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi James, Thanks for letting us know. It would obviously not work for us but is a helpful site for academics and university professors looking for places to stay or want to rent their place for a sabbatical. Best, Jessica
Cassie Post author
Thanks for this list. I am surprised Craigslist isn’t mentioned as one of the first choices since it has been around so long and it’s free to both parties. Also I just heard of hipcamp.com which is for staying on land in cabins or tents.
I wonder if Couchsurfing would be more popular if people would just leave a hundred dollar bill every time they stayed somewhere for a couple of nights for “free.” It’s cool that it exists, but something in that vein that is donation-based would be a good middle way to make it worth people’s time to host and cheap for guests- and a way to get around some of those stupid laws in those short-term rental restricted areas. Because it does take the hosts time to wash up everything and meet up with folks.
We have a small cabana we like to rent out on our property in beautiful Puerto Rico and the rise of Airbnb, (like Uber for the taxi industry) has recently pit people against each other. The hotel industry doesn’t like it because it takes away customers and drives their prices down and the long-term renters don’t like it because it drives up their rents. But hosts and guests seem pretty happy with the options and income these sites provide. Interesting times we live in.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Cassie,
Glad you enjoyed our list. I had not heard of people using Craigslist that often for short term accommodation. Interesting, but I think it is not popular because of safety/fraud concerns. Yes, we have just heard of HipCamp ourselves (U.S. only currently and obviously for camping/glamping/cabins) and are going to try to check it out on our next trip to the U.S.
I do think that CouchSurfing would have remained more popular and more active if users were encouraged to donate. I think many hosts that used to be on CouchSurfing have moved to Airbnb and other pay services. I have not used it in several years.
Yes, the rise of large scale platforms like Airbnb have definitely changed the travel industry. They are not new concepts, but the consolidation of so many of the properties onto one platform and the ease of booking has really changed things (both good and bad) for hotels, locals, travelers, etc.
Best,
Jessica
Gunaseelan Arunachalam Post author
Hi Jess
Great Post. I am searching Airbnb like websites. Then I come to know about this blog that’s really awesome and helpful for me to know other than VRBO, FlipKey, HomeAway. Guna
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Guna, Glad this was helpful and hope you found some new favorite apartment booking websites. Best, Jessica
Michael Post author
Hello Jessica,
thank you for your great post here. Right now, I am searching for alternatives of Airbnb. I am a owner and the times at Airbnb changed a lot!
They want to go to the stock markets and changed their mind. Only important is groth and profit. Starting in 2012 it was a community of people who wanted to test something new. To share and to get to know new people and different cultures. Thats why I liked it. And of course, because of the point, that you see the people who want to book your apartment. I mean, its my private stuff, and I am not a hotel. So I want a secure booking, with people who are sympatic to me.
But that changed a lot, Airbnb wants to force you to take more bookings, and to take every booking! Thats a shame!
As a host you are a little b**ch now, you have to accept everything and the guests are allowed to do everything.
Because of that I am searching for good alternatives! Your article helped me a lot! Thank you!!!!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Michael,
Thanks for sharing about your experiences as a host in Germany. I am sorry to hear that you are having negative issues with Airbnb – you are right things have changed a lot since 2012. My first stays in Airbnb were back in Germany and France in 2012 and things were different for guests then as well as prices were much lower, fees were less, and there was more direct contact with hosts. In some ways it has become a victim of its own success, but they also want to maximize profits of course.
I am glad this article has been helpful to you in searching for Airbnb alternatives and I hope one of these apartment booking sites will be a good fit for you!
Best,
Jessica
Joie Post author
Thank you for your comment about Airbnb, I just took my listing down after 4 years of being a super host. It’s appalling what Airbnb has become and how much pressure it puts on its host to accept any and all guest. Host no longer have access to enough guest information prior to booking. There are penalties when refusing unsuitable requests. It has gotten too stressful and impersonal. Shame on Airbnb.
Tim Post author
Should add Behere to list. It’s specifically for women, but my partner booked for us in Barcelona and Lisbon.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Tim, Thanks for this recommendation, we will check it out 😉 Best, Jessica
Vijay Patel Post author
thank you so much for this list of apartment websites and places to stay. this is really helpful for me I am a frequent traveler and face many issues for where to stay for some time, but now as you provided a list I am going to try one of them. Thanks for posting this.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Vijay, Glad you found our list useful. There are a lot of companies and websites out there where you can book places to stay when you travel. The best one tends to depend on what part of the world you are traveling, what type of accommodation you prefer (e.g., apartment, hotel, room in home), and travel budget. I hope that one (or more) of these are helpful to you, and do let us know if you have any questions. Best, Jessica
Lincoln Post author
Great tips on booking apartments, plenty of useful info here. I’m sending it to some friends as we’re planning a 2 week trip to Europe.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lincoln,
Glad you found this helpful. Just let us know if you or your friends have any questions as you book apartments for your trip to Europe.
Best,
Jessica
Fahim Post author
A lot of information which actually we need to help find us an apartment. So many choices we have never heard of here, we appreciate the advise! We are going to Europe and looking for not an Airbnb, but apartments, which one would you suggest starting with?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Fahim,
I would probably start with VRBO as they have a large number of apartments in Europe and have been booking apartments for a very long time. After that, you might check Booking.com apartment listings as they also have a lot of apartments in Europe. But many of the companies have apartments, and it does depend a bit on which part of Europe as there are also local apartment booking websites that can be useful as well. But you can maybe start with those 2 sites and see what you find!
Best, Jessica
Arthur Post author
Thanks for sharing this very useful list of places to book apartments online!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Arthur, You’re very welcome and hope you find the accommodation you are seeking for your travels! Best, Jessica
Colin Gardiner Post author
Super helpful article! I work for a company called Outdoorsy.com which is a peer-to-peer RV rental site much like Airbnb. I think it is also a great alternative to Airbnb! Would be awesome if you could include on your list.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Colin, Thanks, glad you found our apartment booking website list helpful! I am not aware of Outdoorsy but will check it out and email you for more info and definitely happy to include if we think it is an established website that would be of interest to our readers. Best, Jessica
Tal Post author
Hi Jessica,
Thanks a lot for this informative, comprehensive and well written post.
Since we are planning to visit London next summer, can you share the name of the disappointing airbnb rental location you experienced there, to allow us avoiding it? could be on email as well if you prefer.
Thanks !
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Tal, Glad the post was helpful! The apartment that we had the really bad stay in London was taken down by Airbnb within a couple weeks of our stay so you don’t have to worry 😉 However, just read the reviews and don’t book a place without at least a few recent positive reviews. I can’t really recommend Airbnb in London at a budget level (low price generally equals bad in a city as expensive as London) and there are a lot of complaints about Airbnb places in London. I am sure there are good ones out there, especially at higher prices, but we tend to either stay with friends or book a hotel. We have had a great Homestay experience in London a couple years ago. Best of luck in finding an apartment in London! ~ Jessica
Tal Post author
Thanks Jessica.
Glad to hear it is no longer listed, although i’m less thrilled to hear I should lower my expectations 😉
Anyway I really appreciate it. Such inputs are always for the best!
I would love sharing my own experience once we find our place and visit it.
Cheers,
Tal
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Tal, I am sure there are great places on Airbnb in London, we just have not been lucky enough to find them in our few attempts 😉 Be guided by the reviews as they are normally accurate, and consider alternatives to Airbnb as listed in this post. Sometimes budget hotels are actually less expensive than apartment rentals in London if you are are coming for a short stay. Yes, we’d love to have you share your own experiences after your stay in London. Best, Jessica
Kathlene Post author
Wow, this is a really helpful list. VRBO has always been our go-to and also sometimes Airbnb, but this gives us some alternatives that might be a good fit for apartments on our next trip to Europe.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kathlene, Glad you found the list helpful and hope you find some new favorite apartment booking websites from this list! Happy travel, Jessica
Melissa Gould Post author
Jess,
I just have to say that I think all of your posts are really well written. You provide quite a bit of detail as well as write intelligent, well-organized posts. Your blog is exceptional and this post stands out for me because it is so useful. We moved to Italy four years ago, Germany one year ago, and whittled our way down to booking on AirBnb because I found Homeaway and its affiliates repetitive and often unresponsive (plus I was just too lazy to maintain that many accounts). You have provided so many more options that, like most others, I didn’t even know existed.
I recently learned about Sawdays as well, and regret that I didn’t use it for our recent trip to Edinburgh. We plan on going back to Scotland, though, and I will definitely use it then.
Thank you for providing such comprehensive posts! I started blogging as a SAHM and have a small idea of how much work goes into it. My family very much appreciates it!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Melissa, Thanks for taking the time to comment and glad you found our post on Airbnb alternatives helpful! Yes, I think the point that many of the room and apartment rental companies are now owned by the same larger companies can be a bit frustrating. Especially since each requires a different log-in and profile but some contain similar or even the same properties. But I think as you noted it is good to have options besides the more well-known apartment booking websites like HomeAway and Airbnb. I have never heard of Sawdays but will check it out! If you’re heading back to Scotland, we have loads of content on Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland on our blogs, and also happy to answer any questions since that is where we are based. Best of luck on your future travels. Best, Jessica
Nate Post author
Hello, Wow! I found some great information here and who knew there were so many Airbnb alternatives, I am new to self-catering lodging options!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Nate, Glad you found some new options. Depending where you are traveling in the world, the options vary about which websites work the best, but there are definitely some other options to consider other than Airbnb! Best, Jessica
Kathleen Calado Post author
Didn’t know so many applications in renting apartments exists! Thank you for this one. I always just use Airnb whenever I try to find hotels online especially when I travel around the world. I’ll definitely try some of them. Thank you once again for sharing this!!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kathleen, Yes, there are a lot of websites where you can book apartments online. Before Airbnb I was still often staying in apartments, such as through VRBO, so it is not new but Airbnb has made the experience much more commonplace and simple! But it is good to know there are other options if you can’t find what you are looking for on Airbnb or want to compare prices/offerings. Best, Jessica
Olasoji Post author
Hi, thanks for the info. Thought everything starts and ends with Airbnb. Gr8 job.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi there, yes there are alternative websites to Airbnb out there! Not all of them are likely to be sites that will work for you, but I hope you discovered a few new websites to book apartments online! Best, Jessica
Carolyn Post author
This is a really useful resource to check next time I’m looking to rent an apartment when I’m traveling. Another company that offers vacation apartments is Adina Apartments- they have properties in a number of German cities (including Berlin, where I think Airbnb is now banned) as well as Budapest and Copenhagen.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Carolyn, Glad you found this useful for booking apartments when you travel! Thanks for the extra recommendation for Adina Apartments – we have never heard of them or used them before, but will check them out next time I am in Germany. Best, Jessica
Brit Post author
Great list Jessica and Laurence. Very helpful!
We are working on something new here with locals that is, we believe, pretty special and hopefully can make a future list. Not even close to the same scale, but grassroots work with locals takes time. (smile) Right now it’s Montenegro farm stay with more than the normal organic offerings plus loads of adventure in the mountains. Soon it will include neighboring countries. New partners being added weekly.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Brit, Thanks, yes there are a lot of sites like Airbnb out there! It is great to have choices, especially local ones like it sounds you are doing. We love checking out good local accommodation sites when we can like the few we mention in our post! Best of luck on your list, we definitely need Airbnb alternatives! Best, Jessica
Carme Post author
Really helpful post! Thank you to mention us. We are really lucky to have you around Girona and Costa Brava, your posts and pictures always capture the essence of our region. All the best!!! Carme.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Carme, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Naturaki is a great example of a small regional rental company – we love Costa Brava and hope to get back there again soon! Best, Jessica
Jim Post author
We’ve used some of these sites, but there are certainly several new ones we can now look at for the future. Thanks for doing the research and sharing!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jim, Yes, there are so many of these vacation rental booking sites and I think most people just find a couple they feel comfortable with using and use those. This is what we do most of the time. But sometimes it is good to check out some new resources, especially when traveling outside North America and Europe. Jessica
Lyn Post author
I never had any idea there were so many resources similar to Airbnb, thanks for broadening my options.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lyn, Glad you found some new resources! Jessica
Jessica Post author
Thank you Jessica, this is so helpful. I’ve used VRBO in the past in California around Lake Tahoe and I can only recommend it – very serious owners and cheaper prices vs the classic AirBnb route for big houses for snow or summer season.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jessica, yes we’ve had good success with VRBO as well – it was the first website I ever used to book an apartment online! As you say, it is good to have different websites for different kinds of rentals. Best, Jessica
Jessica Post author
Definitely agree. I am liking Airbnb less and less as it’s getting more and more expensive now
Linda Bibb Post author
Like you, we used to use Airbnb, but we’ve become discouraged by higher prices. Thanks for the list. It’s nice to have so many good alternatives.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Linda, Glad you found the list useful. Yes we used to find so many great prices on Airbnb that were often cheaper than 2 people staying in a hostel. But I think as it grew and gained a lot more users, most people raised their prices once they had a few reviews under their belt. We understand the higher prices, but the fact that so many of the properties are owned by people who own a large number of properties in a city that manage them like rental properties has definitely lead to some disappointing experiences. That said, we still use it, just are more selective and love that there are so many websites like Airbnb that we can check as well! Best, Jessica
Ruth Post author
This is a great resource! I have not jumped in the apartment bandwagon yet but would like to open up to this trend. We “accidentally” ended in an apartment in Budapest. I thought I booked a hotel room through Booking.com and when we arrived to the reception, the attendant told us we booked an apartment. It was spacious, had couches, a dining table, kitchen, desk, washing machine and dryer. I could see myself staying a month or more on a place like this.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ruth, Yes, Booking.com now has apartments and villas that you can book online. Sounds like you found a good one by accident 😉 Apartments are not for everyone and they are not always great for short stays, but they are ideal for certain kinds of people like those who want longer stays, families, those who like to cook and do laundry while traveling, and people traveling as a small group. Best, Jessica
Anisa Post author
I had no idea there were so many alternatives! I used VRBO before AirBnb ever existed and it was great. Airbnb has such a large listing of properties, but it is still good to know about these alternatives.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Anisa, Glad you found some new alternatives to Airbnb – VRBO and Airbnb are great but it is good to have options. I also like that some of these sites are much more specific and curated than Airbnb or VRBO for certain regions or certain types of clients. Best, Jessica
Anda Post author
I have been using Airbnb and VRBO for a long time now. It’s the best way to find lodging if you don’t want to spend your time in a tiny hotel room (and pay a great deal of money on it!) I haven’t heard about Roomorama however. I’ll have to check them out.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Anda, Yes, there are a lot of advantages to staying in an apartment or room versus a hotel, and there are a lot of websites like Airbnb and VRBO out there. We still use Airbnb but have not had as great of experiences with it as we have had in the past so like to have lots of options 😉 If you check our Roomorama, I’d love to hear how you find it! You may also enjoy Homeaway (similar to Airbnb), Tripadvisor’s Vacation Rentals (huge number of properties), and Homestay (for hosted experiences). Best, Jessica
Tomas Post author
I didn’t know that there is so many similar websites to AirBnB. Great list post, thanks for it!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Tomas, Yes, there are so many other websites like AirBnB you can check out and add to your bookmark for lodging. Some are definitely geared to a specific region (e.g., Asia, Europe, UK) whereas others are definitely more geared to a certain type of traveler (e.g., family, luxury, business) or those looking for a certain stay experience (e.g., hosted homestays). Best, Jessica