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VRBO Hotels Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 3.9 / 5 (Very good)
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Part of the HomeAway family, VRBO is an online marketplace that provides listings for entire properties available for rent around the world. The site lets users filter search results by price, location, property type, features, etc., and offers comprehensive payment protection against fraud, phishing, and misrepresentation. VRBO holds an 8.3 out of 10 (Great) score with Trustpilot.com.

How is VRBO rated?

Breakdown

4.3/5
Customer Experience
4.0/5
Search Options
4.0/5
Value
3.3/5
Additional Services

Overall Rating: 3.9 / 5 (Very good)

VRBO is an excellent alternative to hotel chains and aggregator sites. Their approach is more straightforward than that of similar services and allows homeowners to list full properties as classifieds while facilitating communication between homeowners and short-term renters. The company's website features a clean, minimalist design and is truly easy to navigate. Since they allow users to sign in through their Google or Facebook accounts, signing up and booking a rental is also as simple as can be. Overall, VRBO is an excellent site to find a well-cataloged and minutely described variety of attractive rental properties from around the world.

VRBO Customer Experience

Customer Experience - 4.3 / 5

VRBO lets travelers make immediate, secure credit card payments and accepts all major credit cards as well as eChecks (only available in the U.S.). They also allow property owners to choose their own cancellation and refund policies, which can range from very lenient to very strict. Their website is easy to navigate and pleasing to the eye, yet frequently asked questions are very limited and mostly address homeowner concerns as opposed to guest and traveler inquiries. Since the business is funded by their annual and per-listing fees, support and account management services are also reserved for property owners. The company has received mixed customer feedback on the Better Business Bureau's website, yet holds a positive 8.3 (great) Trustpilot score.

Payment Options

  • Mastercard
  • Visa
  • Discover
  • American Express
  • Debit Card with Visa or MC logo

Customer Support

  • FAQs
  • 24/7 Support
  • Online Account Management
Ease of Use
Yes
Mobile App
Yes
Cancellation Policy
Property owners choose between different types of cancelation policies, which can be as relaxed as a 100% money back guarantee or as stringent as no money back.

Customer Reviews

BBB Rating
C+
Trust Pilot Rating
8.3 out of 10

Transparency

  • Guest Reviews
  • Guest Rankings

VRBO Search Options

Search Options - 4 / 5

Upon entering VRBO's site, users will see a search bar where they can type in their location of interest, the date and duration of the trip, and how many guests will be making use of the accommodations. The service will then let them filter search results by property, location, features, price, number of rooms, handicapped accessibility, and more. Listings include everything from villas to mobile homes and can be as cheap as the more affordable hotels or as expensive as a luxury property in the heart of a city.

Amenities

  • Air Conditioning
  • Heating / Fireplace
  • Kid Friendly
  • Satellite or Cable TV
  • Pool
  • Beach
  • Free Wifi or High-Speed Internet
  • Golfing
  • Pets Accepted
  • Smoking Allowed
Display Less
2 More

Type of Property

  • Cottage
  • Caravan Park
  • Home/Apartment
  • Condo
  • Private Vacation Home
  • Bed & Breakfast
  • Villa
  • Townhouse

Sorting Criteria

  • Price
  • Location
  • Popularity
  • Star Rating
Regional Specialization
No
Accessibility
In-room accessibility

VRBO Value

Value - 4 / 5

VRBO is a membership-based service for property owners, so they do not charge users for signing up or creating a profile. They don't provide special offers or a price match guarantee themselves, and don't have a rewards program, but do feature special offers from partner companies like Expedia. The company now charges a service fee that is only refundable in cases where the property owner guarantees a 100% refund.
Discounts
Mobile-Exclusive Deals
Price Match
No

VRBO Additional Services

Additional Services - 3.3 / 5

As a "classifieds" website, VRBO does not extend any additional services. Their site only offers detailed information about the properties they list, including all of its amenities, nearby attractions, possible leisure activities in the vicinity, and ratings and reviews from previous guests.
Flight Booking
No
Car Rental
No
Train or Bus Tickets
No

Company Profile

Full Name
VRBO Hotels
Company Website
Headquarters
1011 W. Fifth Street, Suite 300, Austin, TX, 78703

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Top Rated
Our Partner
  • In business since 1996
  • Discount and loyalty program
  • Search for hotels by type of experience
  • Book cruises and vacation rentals
  • Over 590,000 properties available
  • Earn double points when booking with the Expedia app
  • Customer support available 24/7