VRBOReviews 1,999

Yes. Everything that everyone has said is true of VRBO, but there is another problem. Now their software will not work with Internet Explorer. When I called them about it they told me to just use another browser. What? Their CEO made $95,000,000 last year (the highest paid in the nation) and they can't get a web developer to fix the problem. As an owner, it is one thing to have to open another browser to see my dashboard, but potential customers might very well give up. I have not talked to anyone that has a single good thing to say about VRBO.

I joined VRBO years ago when the idea of renting houses for travel was still pretty novel. The site was great, the property owner/managers were great and would get back to you promptly, the prices and fees were reasonable - no complaints. Since then, I've mostly done hotel travel but gave Airbnb a try for longer stays, and I really loved the experience. This past week, I've been trying to plan a weekend getaway with a few friends. We collectively decided to use VRBO since that's how we found our last vacation place together (we never even looked at Airbnb). Big mistake. The calendars aren't updated, so while some listings offer the option to "insta-book", it's not really that at all. Even after entering your credit card info, you still have to wait for the property manager to confirm. After trying to book several houses, a few never even responded, and the others had no availability. One of the hosts even modified our original reservation dates and said, "Hey, we don't have your dates available so we booked you on the following weekend." What?! I mean, I'm sure they were just trying to be nice but... don't you think it's a bit odd to expect four people to change work commitments, childcare, and transportation to accommodate your never-updated calendar? Even after saying "no thanks" we got a request to pay for the wrong dates. Finally, we got so pissed off trying to contact property managers to no avail that we started our search all over again on Airbnb. Literally within an hour, we had a new place booked and confirmed - cheaper, better, and no hassle. Don't even waste your time looking at VRBO. Their fees are horrendous, there is zero customer service or accountability, and the availability calendars literally mean nothing. The platform itself seems to be stuck in a time when e-commerce was kinda new, but nothing really worked properly yet, so you basically had to get on the phone anyway to make sure your booking went through, and of course it didn't, so you had to follow with a strongly-worded handwritten letter... who has time for that? I mean, I sometimes wish I could go back to 1998, but not when I'm trying to book a vacation.

Probably because they were bought by Expedia, VRBO has changed. Now they want to make more and more money on guests AND owners. They now charge a year fee of $400 for the owners + 5 to 15% additional "booking" fee to guests.
I have been with them since 2009, and enjoyed it. This year they kicked me out. They are trying to follow the same system as AirBnB and FklipKey, and many owners are leaving. The other rental sites don't charge both the owner and guests, only the guests.
This system, started by AirBnB has increased the price of renting to guests. I didn't charge an additional 10 to 15% "booking" fee. Now, I will have too, because the three big companies (VRBO, FLIPKey and AirBnB) do it.

I've bought my wife gift cards from Bedandbreakfast.com for Christmas for the last two years. The first time things went great. This last time though we checked in and got all unpacked when the lady at the front desk told us that they would not accept our gift card. I argued that their property was listed on the b&b dot com website and that the b&b dot com logo was on theirs. To me it would go without saying that they would accept the gift card.

Apparently though there are some members of b&b dot com who do not accept b&b dot com gift cards. Upon investigation I found that this is disclosed deep in the terms and conditions of the website however the website is set up so that it's very misleading. As a result we had to leave the property we were at and scramble to find one that would take our gift card. My wife was in tears, I was so furious I was shaking, and we were ready to just turn around and head home. Finally after calling several more properties on the site who would not take the gift cards we found a place that would take the gift card where we could stay for two nights (our vacation is four nights). We spent a whole nother day trying to find a place to stay for the following two nights which we finally did but now we are waiting nervously for our refund from the first property to post to our account. If it does not by 4 pm today, we may have to cut our vacation short.

The rep at b&b dot com was very sympathetic and apologetic but really took no action to help our situation. Our vacation is pretty much ruined because of them.

Bottom line: don't bother with the gift cards. Just put cash aside for your trip and save yourself the headache.

We have been with them for several years, never had any issues at all. Since the Expedia takeover, I have had to call customer service 8 times! If you don't set up your rates for future "seasons", your rate reverts back to something ridiculous. And I have had potential renters call me out on this! But sorry, your are NOT renting our direct ocean front condo for $150 a week in 2020. Now a long time renter has informed me that my property is completely blocked for 2018-2020, but when I go into my dashboard it does not show this. Terrible! I will not be renewing either

I have stayed at B&B's around the world for more than 40 years and none have impressed me more than the Topanga Canyon Inn. Not only was the location above Topanga Canyon spectacular, but the hospitality of graciousness of our hostess, Elena Roche and her family made my wife and I feel "at home" for our entire three day stay.

The beautiful Spanish-style décor of the Inn was enhanced by paintings of the local flora by Elena who, in addition to being a lovely hostess, is a superb watercolorist.

Elena joined us for incredible breakfasts each day, engaging in wonderful conversations with us and our fellow guests, who had come from Germany, England,
Texas, and Colorado. Meeting new friends with various backgrounds and experiences is one of the joys of staying at a B&B.

On our final day when we had to depart for the airport before the normal breakfast time, Elena made sure that we would not go hungry and prepared a meal of waffles (with mixed berry compote), eggs, blueberry muffins and fresh melon. What a wonderful way to end our visit.

We look forward to coming back to the Topanga Canyon Inn whenever we return to the Los Angeles area.

I have been using VRBO for 8 years and all the things said by other owners and guests about Expedia's takeover of VRBO and HomeAway are my exact sentiments and experiences.

As an owner, I have sent questions to the VRBO site and their statement is they will not respond to everyone. I too will not be renewing my subscriptions and will go elsewhere. All of the properties are unique and all owners take pride of ownership and want the best experiences for our guests. VRBO does not really care about this. All they are interested in is forcing and bullying and pressuring owners to accept all bookings without the owner's ability to screen guests to make sure both will be getting the best experience possible.

What used to be a great mom and pop vacation rental company is now a nightmare for both vacation rental owners and travelers. I could go on and on about what a horrible company they've become since the Expedia buyout, but I see many others have addressed most of my complaints - however... they've now added one more rotten way to control owners interactions with guests and this one takes the cake! So like many owners, we get reservations from guests through our own personal website, plus other places we advertise. Now, when I go to fill in those dates as reserved on VRBO's calendar, they require the guests name, email address and other information (even those the booking was not done through their site)! Talk about trying to take total control of your vacation rental. With the required information they have no business having in the first place, they start hounding the guest to buy travelers insurance, sending them welcome information on your property (all canned messages) and then thank you letters requesting the guest download their app and book future rentals through them. Even if I go to make a change to an older reservation that happened before this calendar requirement, I have to give them the guest information to make the change. They work on the fringes of unlawfulness but with all the $ they collect from travelers and owners, they can afford to pay big bucks to high powered attorneys. I AM DONE WITH VRBO AND WILL NOT RENEW MY SUBSCRIPTIONS. There are more options showing up such as HomeEscape. I'll do a jig and celebrate the day this horrible company folds!

Since the first year of its eistance I have been with VRBO. We knew Elaine personally here in Denver. My rental number is one of the first 2000... I loved the service It was Perfect!
Slowly this service has gone into the toilet. I am ending my participation if they don't end the latest twist in the management nonsense.

The latest... all bookings, all customer contact(email and phone and any address exchanges will pass through them. Why...?
Here is why that is improper behavior. If I use an agency to draw customers to my auto dealership... that agency has no right to act as a filter... or a gate keeper.
I PAY YOU FOR THAT CUSTOMER CONTACT... THAT CONTACT BELONGS TO ME AND NO ONE ELSE... PERIOD.
They are attempting to improve their image as an exchange... the harder they try the more problems they create for everyone... Period.

On cable TV, a couple of years past, a famous economist, Ben Stein of Ferris Buhler said he tried VRBO for his condo in Aspen... Called that management a bunch of flakes...
Take heed... find some other beside VRBO/Home Away

VRBO used to be the go-to place for renting vacation homes. Sadly, that's no longer the case. They now charge us a booking fee to travel and they use language designed to scare you into thinking the person you're renting from MIGHT BE A CRIMINAL waiting to scam you. Here's a thought... if VRBO is so afraid of homeowners scamming us travelers, what does that say about their VETTING policy of homeowners? They're idiots to try to scare me into thinking I'll be scammed because that just makes them look as if they'll accept fraudulent listing.

If you want to avoid their stupid booking fees, do like we do. Find a house you like, ALWAYS read traveler reviews of course, because those will give you the real insight into the house and the owners. Then copy a uniquely worded part of the listing description and paste it into a Google search. You WILL find that same house listed elsewhere, and chances are you can deal direct with the owner AND avoid the booking fee, which is as much as 10%!

Unfortunately for us travelers, VRBO is no longer "Vacation Rental By Owner" it's more like Vacation Rental By Expedia and all they care about is money.

Expedia now owns Homeaway and VRBO, they have added a service fee which seems to be different amounts depending on their computer algorithms. Which is Mumbo Jumbo term for "screwing the customer".

Don't let them rip you off. If you are a guest search regional sites or Facebook as owners are starting their own web sites and Facebook pages for their vacation homes.

If you are clever and want to save money search by the "property name" or enter the owners name in goggle search to try to contact owner directly.

Don't let Expedia rip you off.

Our management company has been advertising on VRBO for a LONG time. They are taking away the ability for us to properly screen guests, and for guests to be able to call and ask questions prior to booking. There are thousands and thousands of complaints arising about VRBO. Has anyone out there found a solution? Is there anyone taking this on as a class-action lawsuit? Surely we have some great attorneys with listings on VRBO that would consider helping owners ban together and stop this from happening? Is there another site being developed that we can all move over to? Surely there are some media folks with listings that can expose VRBO - Nightline, 20/20?

I'd LOVE to put VRBO permanently out of business!