HomeAway

I couldn't agree more with the previous NEGATIVE REVIEWS! Not only are they greedy but they lack decent customer service... wonder how they would feel if A company to whom they had paid good money, consistently kept them waiting on hold for up to 30 minutes just to finally tell them "this line is no longer available due to customer call volume!" Their representatives are lacking in knowledge about the system and often can't locate the customer's information! However, in case you don't believe it is all about greed, then try calling their number for the people who want to book a reservation. It's amazing how fast they answer that call, no waiting period, no hold time! With so many more vacation rental companies now in the market, that offer 100 times better customer service at half the price... here's betting they won't be around for very much longer!

You can see our video review here which we took here of the premises and the building work and the incessant noise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myQMTD8p7CU

HomeAway are scammers, who deny any responsibility or liability for the properties on their website. Our holiday rental had 2 construction sites, one right next door and the other diagonally opposite. No warning about this. In addition, the church bells were immediately above us and chimed incessantly upon the hour every hour, day and night. No mention of the church bell either. No aircon, so it was either suffocate in the stifling heat or be kept awake by church bells all night. We booked for 10 nights but only stayed 3 due to lack of sleep. Homeaway deny any responsibility even though they take fees and commissions. They say the contract is between the property owner and the renter. So bottom line, anyone can put up a shack on their site, call it a vacation rental, and scam people out of money.

We booked on HA months in advance and paid for a month in FL. Four days before arrival, we got notice the unit was not available due to water damage, and were being transferred to another unit, same resort. I verified situation and learned this was a lie, that other renters were in unit. There was NO damage! The second unit was much less desirable, had no WiFi internet or phone service, even for 911 calls. HA will not post my review about unscrupulous rental agent who lied, they are impossible to contact, their customer service is atrocious. Plan to file complaint with Osceola County authorities and contact local newspaper. There should be a class action against HA. Just horrid.

We stayed at 173 White Tail Circle in Hawley PA. The listiing said it can sleep 14. That is false. It had 3 very small bedrooms, and 2 awful bathrooms which could maybe accommodate 6 people if that. The house was in an awful condition. We were forbidden to turn the air conditioning on in 90 degree weather. The doors and windows were falling apart. There were no mesh screen doors to keep the bugs out. The owner of this house should not be allowed to rent this property as advertised. We have had excellent experience with homeaway but this left such a bad taste that unless homeaway penalizes the owner for ruining my weekend, I will not be utilizing this site and definitely not recommend it to friends.

We've been renting our French gites through Holiday Rentals (now Home Away) for the past 8 years, with fantastic results… until this year. Just one booking, the rest are all through Holiday Lettings. I'm not sure what has happened; a greedy new policy trying to tempt you to pay more for better search results hasn't helped. And judging from this page, a great many dissatisfied renters and owners. Feels like I've wasted a big chunk of our advertising budget, and I won't be looking to renew. Shame, after such a good service for so many years.

Better off getting a hotel! The owner canceled and would not return my money. Said the company was defrauding his account. After trying to get my money back via credit card fraud, 20+ calls, 3 different case numbers, 20+ emails, providing copies of everything from my license to responses from my credit card company, I'm now using their money back guarantee which I was told today still hasn't been approved (5 days later). Did I mention if approved, I will get my $2100. 00 back in 2 to 4 more weeks via a check in that mail? Unbelievable! Customer service options to get another home isn't available, and a lack of controls in place to ensure customers are refunded in a timely manner! Stay Away!

We have holidayed in Villas on Majorca for years. This Villa Catalina in Cala D'or'was the worst. No one to meet us. An out of date brochure which meant we could only get a taxi after 45 miinutes on the phone trying different companies. The electrics desperately needed to be updated. They are overloaded and if you switch on the coffee machine the dishwasher doesn't work. My daughter spent a good part of her week calling the agency who responded quickly but in effect, we were acting as project managers for a rundown villa that should not be charging the amount that they are.

We considered raising our rental rates last month and decided against it. How is it possible that Homeaway can mandate a new fee be added to my rental business with no real disclosure? They are a subscription model business and have just manipulated their subscribers to triple dip profits. Property owners built their business and their past success is largely due to the value of renting directly from an owner. I already take 24/7 guest calls and have 5 star ratings. My guests don't need to pay a 3rd party to protect them against me!

I am an owner and used VRBO for one year with excellent results until it implemented new policies and search algorithms. It is no longer a site focused on renting but focused on money only. They are now charging extra fees per rental. The searching is much more difficult due to the wide area they give even though you give a particular city or lake. No phone # or email for renter or owner for renter to ask questions they may have. Since Expedia has changed the whole format my rental inquiries have dropped significantly. They claimed all these changes would bring more inquiries but this has not been case for me or apparently many others.

I have used home away and vrbo for years, always a great experience. This year I booked months in advance for our family of ten. The trip was cancelled by the owner 65 days before our stay, which is acceptable with home away, after 45 days prior we would have been taken care of. I have rented another place thats 3 hours farther from the airport because everyone has already made international flights. I am so disappointed with their customer care, no satisfied guaranteed if canceled outside of 45 days. Buyer Beware

I'm using it - I'd rather not but the alternatives aren't any better.
I've used other similar sites - like others, there are some hidden charges - which are revealed only after the booking and payment is completed (I'm an owner). They try to hide behind the small print but after complaining I managed to get my money back - they are still playing these tricks (what's the excuse?).
My general view is that websites like these should be controlled and tested more closely by a specialized watchdog.

I can see why Home Away isn't responding! They are ripping us off and don't care at all! We have listed w/VRBO for many years, 1st a home in MN, and now a place in AZ. We loved VRBO. But since HA took over, all we've seen is higher prices, added fees and no better service or benefits.

It's time for a new company to rise up and listen to us. -They will have an instant customer base! All they need to do is appeal to the HA users and we'll switch.

Brian Sharples has his head in the clouds! Telling us that renters won't mind the fee! Well, I'm also a renter when we travel and I DO mind! I'll be looking for alternative ways to find property.
-Angry Home Away user for many years

I agree with the other reviewer. I have been a Homeaway owner for almost 10 years. The Brian Sharples of this world should listen to it's customer base and quit copying the other corrupt companies in America. Stand up and do right by your Owners who helped build your company. Double dipping is so unethical. It's obvious that Expedia is looking to recoup its $3B as fast as possible. I for one will not give you anymore of my business. There are plenty of others that understand what subscription is all about. You business model will pay the ultimate price.

We had a terrible experience with one of their owners they hook you up with. I won't get into detail about owner but I needed home away to help resolve dispute with owner. I tried calling to file a complaint through their system but got sent to call center in India. Person did not understand English. Called again same thing. Did a little research to get US phone number in Texas called multiple times could never get a live person even the oprerator. So went back and filed complaint through their email system. Got answer back from them that basically said to bad we can't help you all we do is charge you a service fee and bill property owner to put you two together and that's it, too bad. Don't deal with this outfit all they want is your money.

I am a home owner and list my property on HomeAway (formerly aka OwnersDirect). In the contract is says that payment will be made the day after the guests arrive. Late last year they were paying later and later; I now get paid more then a week after the guests arrive.
I was trying to refund a guest their security deposit but was repeatedly getting error messages. Since they don't answer emails I had several online chats with a customer service agent. They keep telling me it is a technical issue and their technical department will solve it asap.

On top on their stupendous charges (commission, booking fees, payment fees and vat), their service, also to home owners, is mind boggling.
I have closed my account with them.