Top Alternatives For Airbnb That You Should Check Out (Part 1)

For some people, traveling has become an amazing way to explore beautiful destinations around the world, to blend in with different cultures, and to enjoy unique cuisines. Airbnb, for a long time, has been a go-to option for travelers looking for a place to stay. Because of additional charges, the prices on Airbnb have gone up dramatically. Many users have also complained about the inaccuracy of the listed properties on the site. So in this article, we have compiled a list of alternatives for Airbnb in case you want to look for accommodation for your next vacation at the right prices.

With its presence in 191 countries and 81,000 cities, Airbnb offers a wide selection of accommodation for travelers. The strong point of the US-based service is how it allows you to mingle with the locals by maintaining quality hosts. All the sites listed below are just equally good. In some aspects, it even beats Airbnb. Some offer you a full refund if anything happens to your original plan so all your money won’t go to waste. Let’s check out Airbnb’s best alternatives.

1. Booking.com

Talking about booking a hotel website, you can’t miss out on Booking.com. It now allows travelers to book apartments as well as vacation rentals. The site has a neat interface together with an effective filtering process, it doesn’t take much to look for an apartment, a hotel or a vacation rental that suits your taste.

With a huge number of properties on the site, it is possible that you can find an impressive stay at an affordable price. This is what makes Airbnb become one of Airbnb’s best alternatives. If you’re a property owner, you don’t have to pay anything for your property to be listed. But keep in mind that, for every booking, the site will charge a fee.

One thing that most people don’t like about Airbnb is when you book a stay, you have to pay the full amount. You will only get a refund if it is mentioned in the booking policy by the host. But it is different with Booking.com, there are some properties on the site that don’t even ask you for upfront payment, some only ask for a small percentage.

2. Vrbo

Vrbo or Vacation Rentals by Owner has always been known as one of the best in terms of high-quality vacation properties. The company was found in 1996. Until now, it has been the first choice for many people. With over two million properties on its website, the HomeAway’s sister will help you search for properties, ranging from affordable to luxurious ones.

The difference between Vrbo and Airbnb is that it only offers vacation properties. So if you are someone who wants to have a hosted experience, Vrbo is not for you. The strong point about Vrbo is that most of its properties cover a bigger area and even have backyards. Vrbo would be an excellent choice if you travel in groups or with families.

Vrbo also has a reliable review system, so before deciding to rent a property, you can read through the pros and cons. The helpful reviews would help you get the best-suited vacation rental. There are different models applied to property owners. You can choose to pay in advance the full annual fee or list for free and then pay a fee for each booking.

3. Homestay

If your priority is to have a genuine hosted experience, this should be a great choice. “Homestay” brings you a chance to stay with a host, meet the local people, enjoy local cuisines and explore their culture. This is what makes Homestay comparable to Airbnb on the market.

Homestay offers properties in over 150 countries, so you are guaranteed to find a host home almost anywhere in the world. The website also houses a wide range of accommodation selections, even when you travel in groups, with a family or as a couple. Its smart search lets you search for the property that meets not only your requirements but also your budget. The pricing is pretty competitive. For those who want to become a host, there is no fee to put your property on the listing.

4. Agoda

Are you planning on a long trip across Asia? If your answer is yes, our recommendation is to check out “Agoda.” Similar to Airbnb and Booking.com, the website houses a huge collection of properties. Plus, there are a lot of discounts. So, it’s pretty easy to find a beautiful tourist home or a fantastic hotel at an affordable price.

The site offers an incredibly fast search system as well as a better filtering system. You can always narrow down your options and look for ones that best fits your requirements. Unlike Airbnb, free cancellation is available on Agoda. That means if you decide to change your plan, you can cancel and get your money back as long as the cancel time meets the requirements of the property owner.

The thing that people like about Agoda is that it displays clear information on the properties. For example, you can see the scores for comfort rating, overall cleanliness, location, price, etc. With these scores well-categorized, you can decide which property is the best for you. It is easy for owners to list their properties on the website. Moreover, compared to its rivals, the site charges much less.

5. Flipkey

Flipkey, with its huge catalog, is almost unbeatable. The service is from TripAdvisor, offering travelers vacation home rentals almost anywhere in the world. Type in a simple search, and you will get a list of properties with different price points. This way, you can the differences in prices and read through helpful reviews to choose the best property that meets your needs.

Flipkey is comparable to Airbnb in terms of presence in countries and the collection of properties. Moreover, each property has a clear description of several important things, from whether it is a child-friendly place or not, pets are allowed or not. If you want to change your plan, depending on the time you make a cancellation, you can get a partial to a full refund. For property owners, it doesn’t cost anything to list your place.