VRBOReviews 1,999

100% refundable policy doesn't work -- I cancelled before the date, but VRBO made me jump through many ridiculous hoops rather than just refunding the money as Airbnb does. I still have not received any of the 100% the refund to which I am entitled and have spent the better part of two hours so far on phone. I will not book through VRBO again. VRBO permits owner to advertise 100% refundable, but then gives the owner the option of not approving the refund! Most other rentals have been fine, maybe because I did not cancel but this policy sucks.

Our $2000 pre paid reservation is now showing as 'removed by owner' with less than a week before we travel. VRBO offer NO support or assistance, just 'call us if you can't get in'. So we have to fly for 3 hours (I am insulin dependent and need a fridge, which is why we used VRBO), then worry about not getting into a paid for property. No response from the property manager and VRBO have a) hung up on me twice b) told me there is nothing they can do. What a DISGRACE

I stayed in a condo in Wildwood, NJ FOR A wedding. The condo owner mentioned a good leak that had been fixed. It was not fixed, and I found myself cleaning up a flood when it rained on the first night. The owner initially offered me on night back then withdrew the offer for no reason. I contacted VRBO and the offered zero assistance. I was forced to contact me credit card company to fight the charges. Luckily I kept all the correspondence and was awarded a refund. But, VRBO has a 14 day policy to leave a review, and they said that since I was unable to complete the review within that time frame I am no longer allowed.

They make you choose between getting your money back and leaving a review... shameful business practices. I escalated this to the resolution team and nothing. I guess that is why they have so many 1 star reviews.

Hi,

I recently had placed 2 of my properties on the site. They have to accept your application to give you payments, shortly after they accepted! I thought I was all set. The company holds your funds for 30 days which is INSANE but ok, I thought after 30 days they will release it. My pay out was suppose to happen on the 29th of October, RENT IS DUE THE FIRST. I didn't receive an e-mail ALL day. I called to later find out I had to submit my ID to show that this was also my mailing address and it was really my property. Fine. Okay. At least I will be paid out now! Next thing you know I now need to submit a leasing agreement. Sent that. NOW, they are telling me I need a notarized letter saying it's okay to sublet the property and if I can't provide it they will hold my funds and not release them to me. I had ONE GUEST IN MY HOUSE FOR TWO WEEKS! They paid a total of 5,000 dollars and I am only getting 3,700 of this due to THEIR service fee's when they have NO service. VRBO deals with a payment company called "Yapstone". There is no number to directly deal with the underwriting team besides email which they take forever to respond too! I now have no money for rent because even after 30 days they are holding my funds and giving me BS excuses to why it can't be released! This is a HUGE scam and they will come up with anything in the book to keep large amounts of money. IF YOU ARE RUNNING A BUSINESS AND DOING RENTAL PROPERITIES DO NOT USE THIS SITE. Under ANY circumstance. Airbnb is the best, 2 days after my guests check in I get my pay out. DO NOT USE VRBO IT IS WORTHLESS

Their properties can be quite nice but the vrbo.com website and customer service are abominable, they disconnect on chat if you ask them an uncomfortable question. They send you links to manage a rental and the link never works, airbnb is far superior if there are fewer rentals.

My Wife made a reservation through this website (BIG MISTAKE)
They charged the credit card in full immediately.
They never responded to any calls from myself, my wife, or the hotel.
I cancelled through my credit card company - but now this site is alleging they provided services which they DID NOT PROVIDE (we had to stay elsewhere as the hotel was fully booked).
This site now also claims that the users have to cancel before x date at 7pm (but my wife made the reservation after 7pm that day!).
AGAIN:
NEVER EVER USE THIS SITE

VRBO has completely taken away the owners ability to communicate with potential renters before booking. It's completely ridiculous. Renting to someone without talking to them caused lots of problems. Not to mention you don't know who is going into your home. I found a website that operates like VRBO first did, it's called Florida Rentals by Owners. VRBO is very rude to the owners and not very open to suggestions just because they want money

My wife and I planned to stay at Pat Wellenbach's 1 Broad Cove apartment in West Bath for an 11-day honeymoon, but we left and went home after one sleepless night. Although the setting is beautiful, the apartment is small, is over a garage, and does not have the amenities as described. This listing came up on our HomeAway search for an air conditioned property, but there is no AC, just a small fan. The mattress is old, and Pat acknowledged guests have complained about it for years. The table for four comfortably seats no one - it is an ornamental outdoor table with no room for knees. There is a decent couch, but no other comfy seating anywhere inside. The bathroom is cramped, with a miniscule prefab shower and slanted roof that makes it hard to stand up by the sink. The listing also incorrectly describes the kitchen as "fully applianced." There is a small refrigerator and a small portable oven and microwave, but no dishwasher or even sufficient counter space to prepare food or dry dishes. The TV is an old tube style (i. E., no movie streaming) and is in a nook where it can only be watched by someone seated length-wise on the sofa.

Based on prior excellent experiences renting in coastal Maine over many years, a price point at $250/night, and our reliance on numerous references in the listing to "comforts" and other non-existent amenities, we expected a minimum standard. If the listing had been accurate, the apartment would have been perfect, but unfortunately, it was not. We travel regularly and never had an experience like this.

VRBO / Home Away is the WORST company to deal with. Dealing with their online forms doesn't always work when you are trying to book something. Many, many of our possible vacation renters have had so much trouble with them that they just out and out cancel their reservation. For property owners it is even worse. They hold the money due to the owners for months, leaving the owners unable to pay their cleaning crews and maintenance people. VRBO / Home Away is so screwed up that they cannot even keep track of the rentals and sometimes wind up booking someone for a property that is not available. Save yourself the headache and deal directly with the property managers or owners.

Renters be careful! Don't make the same mistake we made on a vacation rental property we made in BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO.
Had to cancel the reservation we had made from September 28th to September the 30th after we enter the property; the smell inside was awful, went to the bedroom to check the bed, filthy pillow cases, filthy sheets and filthy bedspread, stained and covered with dog hair everywhere, obviously the owner never bother to have the bed changed for the new renters (us). The couch/sofa bed in living room in terrible condition and also dirty.
Rental property ID *******. Owner Lisa W.
Home Away
Vrbo

I booked a B&B using this site and here's what happened. I found a place I liked and booked it or so I thought. Of course I was immediately charged to my CC. Then the B&B owner called me and explained that in fact the room was not available, they were totally booked up. She didn't know why the calendar was not working as it should. The B&B owner called customer service and told me I'd be receiving a full refund. I asked her to send me an email explaining the refund and she did. After a few days no refund appeared on my CC. I tried contacting the web site 2x and was on hold for over 20 minutes each time, no one ever answered. All I heard was music, no estimate of wait time. So I had to contest the CC charge with the CC company. While I expect a full refund via the CC company it is still pending.
BedandBreakfast.com: service=0, competence=0, NPS=0, customer experience=0
Never again.

I recently (tried) to stay at a VRBO listed property for a friend's wedding in New Hampshire. The owner cancelled the reservation the day of my arrival. She didn't even have the decency to call, text, or send an email. I turned on my phone after my flight touched down to see that my funds had been returned. I finally got in touch with her, and the reason for the cancellation was that she didn't have time to clean the place. (!) She was so rude - it was completely disheartening. I told her I would just wash the sheets because I really needed somewhere to stay, but she said no (because I might give her a bad review). It really put me in a bind. I ended up in a hotel approximately one hour away, which really limited my ability to participate in the wedding activities. VRBO did help cover expenses, which I appreciated because the hotel cost nearly double given the last second booking. However, I had mice in my room - so it wasn't the best place. The biggest bummer about VRBO, however, is that they said there was no way for me to review the property since I didn't actually stay there. Knowing that there is no way for travelers to flag experiences like this for other travelers will ensure I do not stay at a VRBO property again.

I recently stayed at a VRBO listed property in Colorado Springs. The home was/is listed as a luxury property (70 Marland Way).
The owner is 70Marland LLC, managed through Shawnee Starr, who also owns Techwise.
The home is beautiful and big, with many wonderful amenities. And while it may have been Ms. Starr's personal home at one time, clearly it was / is now used as an investment property via VRBO.
Suffice to say, we didn't get what was advertised. The home cost us over $9,000.00 to rent for three nights, so you have to understand we felt like a partial refund was in order after our not-so-luxurious stay was over.
I tired to work out our issues directly with Ms. Starr. She and her property manager only responded after the VRBO review "window" had passed, approx. Three weeks after our stay.
The VRBO customer service was not very helpful at this point. They did respond to my
Emails, but my ability to review the property was lost, a result of an unfair process the owner (Starr) knowingly used to her advantage!
Renters beware!

I have never seen such a lack of experience as I did using VRBO!
I never write reviews but this one I had to.
I am a super Airbnb host and became a VRBO host as well-the worst mistake I have ever made!
There is no communication between their employees nor they save any of the information you give them, NOR they are able to resolve any issues you have.
So unprofessional that I am still wondering who uses them.
It's a shame that everyone can call themselves a copmany these days...
These losers are a percet example. All the representatives are Philipinos and no one knows what the hell is going on. They have a payment company that they ping pong you with, every time you call, cause they don't know how to resolve anything!
I HATE VRBO/HOMEAWAY