Don't be one of the more than 50% of Americans who leave their vacation days unused each year. Use that paid time off (PTO) to enjoy some rest and relaxation with your family, friends, or even by yourself.
If you're ready to take advantage of your PTO, you need to know where to look. If you know where you want to go, and you want to plan the trip yourself, we've got you covered with the best vacation rental websites.
Read on for our list of websites where you should start your vacation search.
Vrbo
Vacation rental by owner, or Vrbo, is a site where you can list your property whether you are using a property management company or handling the renting and maintenance of your property yourself. Vrbo only includes listings for private homes, so unlike Airbnb, you won't be sharing a property with anyone.
Vrbo has over 2 million listings of vacation properties all over the world and more are being added each day. One con is that Vrbo may have higher fees than some of the other sites.
Airbnb
Like Vrbo, Airbnb allows you to list your property on your own, or a property management company can list it for you. Unlike Vrbo, you have to filter out shared properties. Some of them may be rooms in a larger home, apartments that are attached to a home or above a garage, or even trailers or RVs.
You may have to do more filtering with Airbnb, but you can find short and long-term rentals and the customer support is great. The cancelation policies can be confusing, though, as there are different tiers. Be sure you are clear on the cancellation policy before you book anything.
Booking.com
Booking.com pulls together everything from hotels to private vacation rentals. If you aren't sure what type of accommodations you want, this is a great way to start your search. It's also a great way to compare prices and figure out what will work best for your budget and your needs.
Like Vrbo and Airbnb, you'll find plenty of reviews, lists of amenities, pictures, and overviews of the property. You may also find a lot of fees, though. While Booking.com doesn't charge guests a service fee, there are other fees, including cleaning fees, service fees, and resort fees that may go directly to the property.
Property Management Websites
One overlooked source of finding vacation rentals are the property management websites in the destination you want to visit. If you are planning to visit south Florida, such as Venice, Sarasota, or Lakewood Ranch, you might check out the listings on Gulf Coast Property Management's site.
The benefit of using a property management site is that you can often avoid many of the fees that larger companies, such as Vrbo or Airbnb, require. You also are more likely to get a local contact that can help you with any issues you may have with the property.
Check Out the Best Vacation Rental Websites
Before you make your decision on accommodations, take a look at the best vacation rental websites available to ensure you are choosing a property that is right for you. Taking a vacation should be everything you want it to be, so don't settle for anything less.
If you're ready to start searching and your plans will bring you to south Florida, get in touch with us today to learn more about our property listings. We have both long-term and vacation rentals.
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