VRBOReviews 2,003

I complained earlier about the 2 step verification system. It no longer seems to exist, or at least I haven't had to deal with it for several weeks now. So they must be listening - partly, because I sent another complaint to them and they gave me a completely irrelevant response... always suggesting I go to FAQ when my question doesn't fit there. For some reason they attach a different photo to correspondence with clients than the one you see when you open the site (i. E. my chosen cover picture or thumbnail)! Very annoying, as the pic is a very specific one - of someone taking Spanish lessons on the patio - which is not my general message to potential guests! I have re-sent my problem to them - let's see if they listen this time!

Submitted a review to Claudia in regards to her listing. I was very truthful and honest stating pros and cons to the home that we rented. She did not like what we had to say and asked if we could reword or remove the content. Just like the other reviewers say here they will not put negative reviews.

Pros:
Location Nice
Bikes a plus

Cons:
Received a boot on our car due to incorrect tags (issure resolved, no ticket, however still a nuisance)
House took way to long to cool down. Even clicked on the heat to see if the unit was acutally working. She didn't like this... thought we left the heat on. She says "of course it would be hot". What are we stupid... NO!
Master Bed has two twins so you sink in the middle. Not comfortable
Carpets need to be Cleaned
Need outdoor clothes line to hang suits and towels etc.
Grill did not work.

No more VRBO for us knowing how the comments are used.

I had a negative experience at a property booked through VRBO and then submitted a negative review. VRBO didn't publish it. They sent me an email saying my review "wasn't relevant to the property." Really? My inference is that they won't publish negative reviews. I'll never again use VRBO to book a vacation property because I strongly suspect I'm not getting unvarnished reviews.

In my particular situation, my wife and I rented a cottage in Comox, BC (Red Roof Cottage) which was represented to have wifi. This was very important for us because I use wifi extensively. When we arrived I noticed that the wifi signal was "poor" as indicated on both my phone and laptop, and I couldn't access wifi on either one. My wife was able to access the signal about half the time on her iPad Air. It turns out that the owners have a router located in their residence located 100+ feet away from the rental cottage. I tried to report this via a review, to no avail. Buyer beware!

I had gone online to look through rentals and logged on through my facebook. Some time ago I had updated my facebook account and switched to a new email address. Apparently this email was never updated through VRBO (why I don't know since the accounts are linked). I found a rental I liked, and rented the home. Afterwards I went back in to pay my deposit. I logged on through facebook and I went to my account and it said to send an email for verification purposes. I had an email sent, checked my email after some time and nothing. Called VRBO to see where the email had gone so that I could log on and pay my deposit. They informed me that my account had my old inactive email. I asked where I could update my contact information and they informed me that you cannot update your account information. So I asked them to update my contact information... they said they cannot do it either. They said I would have to make a new account... so all the homes I had saved for upcoming vacations ect would be gone. I also had no way to pay my account unless I called them and paid over the phone and they could send me a forwarded email to my address.
In this day and age there's a website out there that does not allow you to update your own contact information? It's appalling to me. Now to keep my rental and to save my vacation I had to call them and be on the phone for 20 minutes to pay a deposit and then I have to call again to pay a balance... 40 minutes of my life because they cant get their stuff together... I'm looking elsewhere when searching for rental properties now.

Buyer beware! VRBO will gladly take your payment, security deposit, and their own fee. When it comes to providing any help though, you're on your own. I'm not sure what the fee is for, or why they pay customer service reps. I paid a hefty security deposit for a rental, and have yet to receive it back after a MONTH. I've been emailing VRBO, and getting no response. Finally I called, and they said they have NO TIME LIMIT on the refund. And they can't do anything, except email the owner. Basically, they can do nothing to retrieve your deposit. Sounds like a great website for scammers. Rent out a property, charge insane amounts for security deposit, then invest that money, skim the interest off for yourself, and consider returning the renter's security deposit (or not).

My reason for booking through VRBO instead of directly through homeowners (which would be cheaper) is to protect against fraud. That is absolutely not the case. After submitting proof of a fraudulent property, VRBO did not go to bat for me whats so ever. So what is the point in paying the additional money? They don't even warn about he property. Its still listed with no alerts. I have spent thousands of dollar through them. Never again!

We have used VRBO for years and booked many rentals through them. But in the last few years we've had some bad experiences. Winter 2015, we paid a month's rent for a Chico, CA 2 bedroom house with kitchen. Upon arrival we were put in a 1 bedroom (terrible soft bed) with no kitchen with the promise that on the following morning we'd be shown a place we could move into in a few days. Turns out the manager, Joyce, has a number of rentals and her pages show a combination of photos from different properties, so you don't see what you're actually going to get. The other place we were shown was also of low quality. The manager did refund our money but we were left with no place to stay. Ended up in a hotel for a few days while we searched.

Went to Mill Valley to another VRBO rental, only to find there were 5 flights of stairs to get into the apartment. That was not disclosed anywhere on the website and again we couldn't stay there.

THERE ARE NO PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS, only for owners. You can file a claim when you get home, but you're stuck while you're travelling. From now on, we'll try to rent through local property management companies who have local representatives.

Rented a place from Jack Cross for the 4th of July weekend. What a nice surprise! The place was spotless! Rather small but enough for 3 of us and we didn't miss a living room or kitchen. Jack Cross is such a fun guy and he went out of his way to see that we had a good time! He was always available if we needed anything. Spent most of our time either on the deck, in the spa, or in Eureka Springs, thanks to Jack! Had a marvelous time and would recommend his place anytime! Pat B.

I've travelled all over the world using a number of different online accommodation booking sites. VRBO is by far the worst I've used. They list at one price, but when you click on it there's another price. Then when you go to reserve, it isn't guaranteed so you have to wait up to 24 hours (sometimes more) to hear back. I've wasted three or four days trying to book and then finding out my booking was refused due to no space. Why list places as having availability if they don't? Another place got back to me and said they do have space but at $100 more than what I "reserved" at through VRBO. What a joke.

If you want to pay anyone to advertise your site - RUN from VRBO.com/Homeaway! They want to control everything including your money. If you do not cooperate they will cause you to have a migrate from HELL! Needless to say, I am incredibly unhappy and I had been an advertising customer of this site for 5 years. Try to get someone, anyone from customer service to help and they will beat you to death with their script. You have to leave a message for anyone above a peon to call you back after weeks of phone calls with authentic problems that they caused. It is maddening and you are paying for it as an advertiser on VRBO.com/Homeaway.com

I cannot praise the owners of Vivians View Rental on Green Lake Wisconsin high enough to convey our satisfaction with their home!. We stayed there from June29 thru 5 July. Our family, 6 adults, 3 children, enjoyed a wonderful vacation! The weather cooperated, had easy access to beaches, rental boats etc. The namesake of the property"THE VIEW" of the Lake, especially in the evening was absolutely spectacular! The house was very comfortable and roomy. We will do it again in a hearbeat!

Met with a VacationRental lister on Saturday and made a verbal agreement for the price and week of rental. Dropped the check for deposit in the mail on the following Tuesday and it was received by the renter on Friday of that week. On that same day Mr. Vezina, owner of property *******, emailed me saying I had not responded to his address email so he was returning my check, and coincidently, had rented the property for the ENTIRE SUMMER. Working with VRBO got no satisfaction, other than a statement that they were only an advertising medium, and took no responsibility for any of their listers. They provided the same response to my complaint with the BBB. Be aware of shady individuals...

Our stay at Sandy Shores, Indian Rocks Beach was perfect! My daughter and I went to Florida for a beach wedding and were able to walk down the beach to it.
The cottage was clean, comfortable and very roomy. We really hated to leave after a week. There are great restaurants right there. We really loved the Mexican one across the street.
Myrtle is the perfect hostess, so very nice.

I am so upset with VRBO! I will never use them. I have tried to book on VRBO with several places on their site in New York City. I haven't had one owner/manager email me back within 24 hr. Time period allowed by VRBO, so my request has been cancelled. Also, I kept trying from other places and came upon the Holiday Inn Express in Time Square which gave me an instant quote for the dates I posted and I was quoted $189.00 per night. Within hours of that quote, they gave me a 1 -(800) # to call and SURPRISE the $ amt. Was now double what I was quoted. This is a scam! I have never written a review before, but I had to warn others so they won't waste their time. Use Flipkey.com, stay away from VRBO

VRBO has joined the club of charging travelers extraneous charges on top of the rental price.
Insurance: 5,000. That is refundable. $99. That is not refundable. They also sell insurance in case you run into double booking. For a non-refundable $39. As a former owner of a ski Condo, I understand risk but if my onsite manager found no damage, the deposit was returned. Even car rental companies will try to sell a customer extra insurance, but it is not mandatory if the customer says they have insurance coverage. VRBO/Homeaway does not. The VRBO agent told me that the property was vacant on the week-end I wanted. I submitted a credit card. Then the owner said the property was occupied. Probably because I asked him if the $99. Insurance fee was refundable if there was no damage. No was my answer.

Then there was the time in London with our granddaughter where the manager never heard of us when we tried to check into the VRBO apt. We had rented.

Airbandb is not this risky or expensive.

Sara Williams

I rated VRBO, not the website.