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America is ready to travel: According to a recent study released by AirDNA, which tracks the performance data of ten million AirBNB and Vrbo listings, demand for short term rentals is up 18% in October from the same period in 2019. And bookings are already soaring for the upcoming holidays. The demand for short-term rentals over Thanksgiving is 38% higher than it was in 2019, and 85% higher than 2020. The lesson: If you’re dreaming of a trip, you may want to book now — you can pursue vacation site Vrbo’s more than two million listings here — but, there’s no reason to overpay. Here we share six pro tips for landing a sweet vacation home, without spending too much.
Consider a new listing
In general, many newer listings on sites like Airbnb and Vrbo may have lower prices, to entice renters. On Vrbo, for example, new hosts offer discounts, which are searchable through a filter, to boost visibility on their listing, says Alison Kwong, a senior public relations manager at Vrbo, who adds that “travelers can filter for homes that offer discounts for longer stays” as well. If you’re worried about a new listing not having any reviews, communicate directly with the host and ask for live videos of spaces, photographs and more. For its part, Vrbo offers a Book with Confidence Guarantee, which protects renters from last minute cancellations or fraudulent listings; Airbnb has a refund policy.
Book your travel further in advance than you’d think …
Generally, the weeks after Labor Day are slower in the short-term rental industry, but that was not the case this year, notes Kwong. “This year has been an anomaly because we’re still seeing high demand for Vrbo vacation homes well into the off-season this fall compared to typical years,” she says. People were already booking houses for over Christmas in July, and demand for vacation homes in December is 15% higher than it was in 2019. As a result, if you want to secure a deal, book well in advance to ensure that you have as