Beyond Airbnb: The Best Websites to Maximize Your Holiday Rental’s Exposure and Bookings

Once you have your descriptions documented, and your photos and pricing ready, it’s time to list your property for rental online. With so many holiday rental websites available, each offering different pricing structures, it’s important to understand where and how to list your property to get the best results.

The Shift to Success-Based Pricing

Over the past few years, all the major holiday rental websites have transitioned to success-based pricing models, also known as ‘pay per booking’. This model has become the industry standard as there is no upfront fee for the owner, reducing financial risk. Instead, the owner pays a percentage fee when a guest books. Websites such as Airbnb and Stayz (VRBO) also charge the guest a service fee in addition to the owner fee. Owner fees typically range from 3% to 15% of the total booking amount.

Some owners may be hesitant to list on websites that charge higher fees, but this can be a costly mistake. The key is to get bookings, regardless of the fees charged by the platform. Once your property is fully booked, you can reduce the number of websites you’re listed on to save on fees, but initially, take as many bookings as possible to gain momentum.

Watch Out for Scam Websites

With new websites regularly popping up, it’s important to be cautious. Some fraudulent websites copy listings from legitimate platforms to appear established and often disappear after collecting money from both hosts and guests. To avoid scams, check the website’s About page for information on the management team and research the website’s reputation online.

The Big Three: Airbnb, Booking.com, and Stayz (VRBO)

When listing your property, make sure to include it on the Big Three rental websites. These platforms are used globally, and listing on all three will help you reach different types of guests in various regions. It’s also important to diversify your listings to spread the risk and avoid over-reliance on a single platform.

An Owner Says…

“During the Coronavirus pandemic, Airbnb decided to refund guests in full without our consent. Booking.com left the refunds at our discretion. If we had only been on Airbnb, our bookings would have been reduced to almost nothing.”

Here’s a brief overview of the Big Three:

• Airbnb: The undisputed leader in the holiday rental market, Airbnb is popular for both entire home rentals and single rooms. Its strong global presence, particularly in major cities, appeals to international travellers, couples, and budget-conscious guests, but it is becoming increasingly mainstream.
• Booking.com: Initially focused on hotels, Booking.com is now the second-largest player in the holiday rental industry. It lists properties on partner websites such as Agoda, Kayak, Priceline.com, TripAdvisor, and Trivago, expanding your property’s reach.
• Stayz (VRBO): Owned by Expedia, Stayz has seen declining popularity and now represents less than 15% of the market. Your Stayz listing is also linked to VRBO, Hotels.com, Orbitz, Travelocity, and Wotif, increasing your global exposure.

All of these websites offer calendar sync features, making it easy to avoid double bookings by automatically updating availability across platforms.

National-Based Websites

While the Big Three may bring you global guests, national websites can often be more effective, especially for domestic bookings. If they offer a pay-per-booking model, there’s no harm in testing a few. If a particular website isn’t bringing in bookings, you can always de-list from it.

An Owner Says…

“After delisting from a website, we later found our property still appearing in Google search results as available through that website. When clicked, the link directed users to competitor properties. Make sure you request that all property details are deleted from their system and any affiliated partner websites.”

Niche Websites

If your property appeals to a specific niche, such as being pet-friendly, you may want to explore niche websites. These platforms cater to specific audiences and can increase your visibility to the right kind of guests.

Tourism Bodies

Local tourism organisations can also be a valuable resource. Many offer free listing services that propagate your property details to multiple websites. Although they may not receive as much traffic as commercial operators like Airbnb or Booking.com, they are still worth considering, especially since they typically don’t charge for listings.

Some tourism websites even integrate with booking software, allowing guests to book directly through your website or provide a link to your property on a commercial platform like Airbnb or Stayz (VRBO) if you don’t have your own website.

Final Thoughts

When deciding where to list your property, it’s best to start with a broad range of websites, including the Big Three, national websites, and niche platforms that suit your property’s unique appeal. Over time, you can refine your strategy based on which platforms bring in the most bookings and offer the best return on investment.

By diversifying your listings and staying cautious of scam websites, you’ll set yourself up for success in the competitive holiday rental market.