Just as there's no one destination that's right for every traveler, there’s no single vacation rental site that every traveler should use. Your specific goals, tastes and budget all influence your vacation planning, and the site you use should cater to them. That's why we've curated an in-no-particular-order rundown of the best vacation rental sites to help you identify which resource is right for your plans, including: Let’s get booking, shall we?1. Vrbo
Best rental site for group travelers
Vrbo was the first website to bring vacation rentals by owners to the public — that's actually what "Vrbo" stands for. Its rental offerings focus on the United States, with hosts managing private properties. Further, Vrbo only lists private units, so travelers won't be able to book shared spaces. Due to its limited listings, Vrbo makes it easy for families to sift through options to find the perfect rental that can house everyone. | Pros | Cons |
| Easy for groups to find accommodationsStraightforward booking costs | Lack of international optionsInconsistent quality control |
2. Airbnb
Best rental site for variety
Airbnb followed Vrbo's lead by giving private owners a platform to rent their properties directly to travelers. Airbnb set itself apart from its competitors by allowing hosts to list everything from single-family houses to spare rooms.The variety in listings has no doubt aided the company's success, making them one of the largest vacation rental companies in the world. They operate internationally, with over 6 million listings. They also let hosts list properties for free, only taking a percentage of the booking price. | Pros | Cons |
| Affordable for solo travelersMillions of rental listingsInternational presence | Inconsistent quality controlScam listings |
3. FlipKey
Best rental site for destination guidance
FlipKey makes this list of the best vacation rental sites due to its balanced approach to vacation rentals. It takes the middle ground between Airbnb and Vrbo, offering only private vacation rentals, while expanding its reach overseas to nearly 200 countries. Its total number of listings is still a far cry from competing with Airbnb, but it does have one competitive edge: Flipkey is owned by Tripadvisor, giving it deep insights into travelers' experiences. Guests who book on FlipKey get more than just a rental — they get actionable tips to make planning their trips easier. | Pros | Cons |
| User reviews from TripadvisorInternational presence | Inconsistent quality controlOnly rents whole properties |
4. Booking.com
Best rental site for hotel loyalists
Booking.com began as a site to find deals exclusively on stays at hotels. Seeing the rise in demand for short-term vacation rentals, they threw their hat into the ring and now have more than 28 million properties listed. By specializing in hotel rooms and vacation rentals, travelers can easily compare the available options in the area to ensure they;re getting the best deal for their money. Even if hotels aren't right for your vacation plans, the site provides the search feature to find only vacation rental options. | Pros | Cons |
| International presenceMillions of rental listingsIncludes hotel options | Inconsistent quality control |
5. Agoda
Best rental site for travel throughout Asia
Agoda, the largest online travel agency in Asia, is owned by Booking Holdings, the parent company of Booking.com and other brands (Priceline and Kayak, for example), giving it a boost in credibility and benefiting from its deep resources. While it specializes in Asian travel, Agoda also operates in Europe and North America. It offers a range of accommodations, from hotels to private residences, making it a viable option for nearly every traveler. While most travelers looking for vacation rentals are focused on the short term, Agoda also has options for long stays exceeding seven days. | Pros | Cons |
| International presenceMillions of rental listingsFrequent booking discounts | Inconsistent quality control |
6. Plum Guide
Best rental site for quality assurance
Many vacation rental sites focus on giving their users the most options possible to increase their chances of finding a rental. Plum Guide takes the opposite approach by putting quality above quantity. Plum Guide uses extremely selective criteria in their approval process, with their team individually judging every property. Only around 3% of rentals pass. On top of this attention to detail, their team is available around the clock to assist their guests, so you won't be stuck waiting for a resolution in the rare event that an issue arises. | Pros | Cons |
| High quality standardsPrice matching | Low inventoryHigh prices |
7. HomeToGo
Best rental site for centralizing searches
If you're tired of jumping around to multiple rental platforms in search of the best deal, you might want to start using HomeToGo. This platform acts similarly to a search engine, collecting millions of listings from the best vacation rental sites to save you time and, in the end, money. Its search functions operate similarly to what you'll find on sites like Vrbo and Airbnb. Travelers can filter results based on prices, amenities, ratings and more. Whether you're looking to stay in a houseboat or a castle, HomeToGo might be your best bet for success. | Pros | Cons |
| Searches multiple rental sitesAppeals to all types of travelers | Reliant on third-party rental sites |
8. Casamundo
Best rental site for privacy-conscious travelers
Casamundo specializes in providing holiday rentals across the United States and Europe. It lists over 700,000 properties, including traditional apartments and unique accommodations such as windmills and treehouses. Casamundo has positioned itself as an online travel agency by recruiting prominent vacation home providers and centralizing their listings for the benefit of Casamundo users. What makes it one of the best vacation rental sites is their transparent privacy policy regarding all customer data. Casamundo is open about how they collect user data, how long they save it and what they use it for. Furthermore, users can opt to book over the phone and speak to a Casamundo representative directly. | Pros | Cons |
| Best price guaranteeInternational presenceTransparent privacy policy | Inconsistent quality control |
9. Tripadvisor Vacation Rentals
Best rental site for refunded travel
Tripadvisor is a vacation planning powerhouse that originally provided user reviews of businesses, attractions and accommodations. Tripadvisor has now branched out into being a vacation rental website as well.The platform operates in over 200 countries and promises a full refund if the rental property was falsely advertised or if the guest was prevented from accessing it. In addition to their broad variety of listings, Tripadvisor also allows for some accommodations to be booked directly with the owner. There's a payment protection guarantee for added peace of mind. | Pros | Cons |
| Large database of user reviewsInternational presencePayment protection | Inconsistent quality control |
10. HolidayLettings
Best rental site for unique lodging
HolidayLettings is another website that solely offers privately owned vacation rentals. Still, they offer a variety of options including mountain cabins, apartments and villas. This variety ensures travelers can find a space with the right balance of amenities and affordability.Just like FlipKey, it's also owned by Tripadvisor, so it benefits from the platform's large amount of customer reviews and travel guidance. They have a slightly larger inventory of listings than their sister site, with 700,000 rentals located around the world. | Pros | Cons |
| User reviews from TripadvisorInternational presence | Inconsistent quality control |
11. Tripping.com
Best rental site for price comparisons
Tripping.com is another vacation rental website that serves as a search engine for listings across different platforms. Visitors to the site benefit from a range of properties, so it’s great if you're undecided on whether to book a hotel or a private space. Its precise filtering makes it easy to find the perfect rental from over 12 million listings. Since it pulls results from other platforms, you can easily compare prices to get the best deal. | Pros | Cons |
| Searches multiple rental sitesAppeals to all types of travelers | Reliant on third-party rental sites |
12. Homestay.com
Best rental site for house swaps
Homestay.com makes the list of best vacation rental sites thanks to their unique approach to offering vacation experiences. Users have the option to rent private accommodations, but they can also choose to swap homes with a host. The house exchange can take place at the same time, or the host can stay at the guest's property at a later date.Some hosts even operate on a barter basis, allowing guests to stay in exchange for work performed around the property. Homestay.com has over 63,000 rooms in over 176 countries. | Pros | Cons |
| Affordable travel accommodationsPrivate room options | Must let other travelers into your homeRelies on cooperation with other travelers |
13. Atraveo
Best rental site for trusted customer reviews
Atraveo is a vacation rental site that primarily operates in Europe. It has more than 300,000 holiday homes and apartments. Atraveo provides verified customer reviews, so you can trust the information you're getting is honest and accurate. Atraveo also offers secure booking, where the renter pays Atraveo, who then settles with the host. This added security cuts out the scam listings found on less reputable sites.| Pros | Cons |
| Secure bookingVerified customer reviews | Mostly isolated to Europe |
14. Onefinestay
Best rental site for luxury stays
Onefinestay sets itself apart from other platforms on this list by placing its focus on luxury vacation rentals. It has a reported 5,000 listings in 50 global destinations. Staying true to its luxury goals, every property is professionally managed so visitors can avoid unreliable hosts. Onefinestay is owned by hospitality company Accor, who also owns Fairmont and Raffles. This expertise adds to the experience with features like professional housekeeping, round-the-clock service and being welcomed in person upon arrival. There's even the option to personalize your stay with perks like a private driver or chef. | Pros | Cons |
| High quality standardsLuxury experience | Limited inventoryExpensive rates |
15. Sonder
Best rental site for app-based services
Sonder is another platform that's trying to improve the vacation rental experience. It boasts hotel-quality amenities in personalized environments. Guests can control the details of their stay via a convenient app, requesting things like late checkouts or fresh towels. The app also provides information about the rental, complete with a guide to the surrounding area. Sonder operates in 40 cities around North America and Europe, although its primary focus is in the United States. An added benefit of the service is that it offers both short- and long-term stays. | Pros | Cons |
| Optional long-term staysProfessional managementHigh quality standards | Limited international listings |
16. 9flats
Best rental site for affordable European travel
9flats has listings in over 6 million locations collected from other travel sites, although its primary focus is Europe. Like Airbnb, it also gives the option to rent a private room in an apartment. The properties are all privately managed, leading to more affordable rates. While 9flats isn't on the same tier as some of the luxury brands, it does offer some great perks. Guests can enlist the help of their hosts for tips on local entertainment, with some even being willing to act as unofficial tour guides. All hosts are carefully evaluated for added safety. | Pros | Cons |
| Lists shared spacesAssistance from hosts | Mostly isolated to Europe |
17. Love Home Swap
Best rental site for family-friendly vacations
As the name implies, Love Home Swap is another platform that gives homeowners the opportunity to trade places with others in over 100 countries. Like Homestay.com, homeowners can swap homes at the same time, or opt to receive points that can be used on a future vacation. The service offers a free trial, after which homeowners will need to pay a membership fee. Before the house swap takes place, both owners can agree to certain terms, like cleaning and pet sitting, to ensure each person's space is respected. | Pros | Cons |
| Affordable travel accommodations | Membership feesMust let other travelers into your homeRelies on cooperation with other travelers |
18. Getaway
Best rental site for travelers seeking rest and relaxation
Getaway targets the type of traveler who prioritizes rest and relaxation over sightseeing during their vacations. Getaway is an expanding platform that provides tiny cabins in the Eastern and Central regions of the United States, although there are some locations on the West Coast. The cabins are fitted for bare essentials, with a mini kitchen, fire pit and grill grate. The service intentionally spurns technology, providing no Wi-Fi to guests. There is a landline in every cabin to compensate for spotty cell reception in case of emergencies. | Pros | Cons |
| Safe glamping experienceDriveable from major cities | Regional presence Minimal luxuries |
19. Interhome
Best rental site for in-person service
Interhome was founded in 1965, and they successfully leverage their decades of experience to remain one of the best vacation rental websites around today. The business takes pride in its customer service, being available 24/7 to the guests that stay in their approximately 40,000 holiday homes and apartments.Interhome and its partners maintain a local presence, executing key handovers and resolving issues on-site. Their team even performs a quality check of every property prior to the guests' arrival so that nothing's left to chance. | Pros | Cons |
| High quality standardsIn-person service | Limited inventory
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20. Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
Best rental site for hotel-tier experiences
Rounding out our list of the best vacation rental sites is another household name that has extended their services to the rental industry. Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy offers the same premium level of hospitality guests have come to expect from their hotels, only now in the comfort of a home.Marriott enlists the help of professional property managers to ensure the rental is held to their high standards. Rooms come with the premium linens, Wi-Fi and bathroom amenities that are standard in hotel rooms. By renting through Homes and Villas, guests receive increased privacy and living space.| Pros | Cons |
| High quality standardsRewards program | Limited inventory |
How to ditch vacation rental sites altogether
The sites on this list each have their strengths in contributing to vacation planning, but they're all limited to single trips. You'll need to start over from square one for your next vacation.If you have a destination you return to year after year, or multiple times a year, it might be time to buy property there.
Vacation home ownership has multiple benefits over repeated rentals:- Gaining equity in the property
- Avoiding the rising costs of rentals
- Enabling more frequent vacations
- Simplifying vacation planning
Owning a vacation home does come with added responsibilities, so you'll want to thoroughly research your options before making a decision. Guests have more options now than ever before in where they can book their accommodations. This list is a collection of the best vacation rental sites on the internet to help make your search a little easier. Now that you have a better understanding of your options, you can proceed with your plans with more confidence and, hopefully, more fulfillment.Best vacation rental sites FAQ
What are some common short-term rental options?
Airbnb is one of the largest vacation rental websites in the industry, but it’s not the only option. Hosts and guests alike can benefit from using specialty sites like Homestay.com, Sonder and Plum Guide.
What is the maximum stay allowed on Airbnb?
Airbnb allows hosts to list long-term stays, although the majority of hosts restrict stays to 28 days or less. Hosts tend to avoid long-term tenants due to complications that can arise with the renter, since some local laws provide the renter with greater entitlements to the property.
Do vacation rental sites charge fees?
Vacation rental fees are how the platforms make money for their services. How fees are applied vary, with some platforms only charging the host and some charging both hosts and renters for the transaction.
