How do I know VRBO is safe?

Vrbo's Book with Confidence Guarantee™ protects 100% of your payment and security deposit, and most of our listings are eligible for this coverage when you book your stay through Vrbo's online checkout.



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Vrbo is generally considered safe, but that doesn't mean risks are off the table. Safety issues can happen at any form of lodging. But since Vrbo doesn't scout out individual properties, some additional risks might not be as common at a standard hotel.

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Although both VRBO and Airbnb take precautions to guarantee the protection of their visitors, Airbnb poses more potential dangers for guests simply because it allows visitors to remain in shared spaces.

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Investigate the rental company with searches that include “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” If you find negative comments, consider looking elsewhere. Make sure the address is real. Check the address using Google Map's street view. Does the property match the picture in the listing?

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Travelers should always be cautious of brand-new vacation rental listings because it's a lot more difficult to tell if it's a fake listing or not. For one, it means that there are no reviews to find out what the property and host are like.

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Vrbo's map looks a bit outdated by comparison. However, aesthetics aside, Vrbo offers far better filter and sort functionality than Airbnb. For example, Vrbo lets you filter by user reviews, including properties rated highly for cleanliness and properties rated 4 stars and above. Vrbo's filters are also more intuitive.

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While Airbnb is publicly traded and owned by a variety of shareholders, including its co-founders and venture capital firms, VRBO is a subsidiary of Expedia Group, a publicly traded company that also owns other popular travel brands.

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Primary coverage for eligible claims If you do have liability insurance for your rental, this program works with your current provider and gives you $1,000,000 in added protection for all reservations processed online through Vrbo checkout.

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VRBO reviews offer more information to potential guests. On Airbnb, guests and hosts have up to two weeks to leave a review after the guest stays. VRBO allows an entire year as a window of time for guests and hosts to review each other. These guest reviews are extremely helpful when selecting your vacation rental home!

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Vrbo, another vacation rental platform, has even stricter rules: no cameras or other surveillance devices anywhere inside a property. They are permitted in outdoor areas, if disclosed.

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About refunds Your refund is issued based on the property's cancellation policy. If you cancel your reservation and are within the window to receive a 100% refund, the service fee will be refunded to you automatically when the cancellation is confirmed. Refunds take up to 5 days to appear in your account.

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Hotels Are Actually Cheaper Than Vacation Rentals on Airbnb and Vrbo, According to a New Report. A new study says hotels are the more affordable option over Airbnbs and Vrbos — across 50 global markets.

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The cost of the service fees is typically much lower with Vrbo. Although the total price will depend on the cost of your rental, a Vrbo rental tends to be cheaper than an Airbnb rental. The cost of the listing depends on a variety of factors, including location, size and length of stay.

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Here are some tips when searching VRBO for that perfect vacation rental.
  1. Know your general itinerary first. ...
  2. Enter the actual dates you plan to stay. ...
  3. Look closely at the photos. ...
  4. Read the reviews. ...
  5. Realize many properties are not listed by the actual owner. ...
  6. Count on additional fees.


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Property not as described
  1. First, contact the host to make them aware of your concerns. ...
  2. Also, report the issue to us within 24 hours from check-in so we're aware.
  3. Write a review. ...
  4. If you are unable to reach the host during your stay, select Contact Us to contact Customer Support.


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Ask for a refund: If you need to request a refund because of the issue, there's a higher chance your Host will accept your request if you can agree on an amount first. Send a request to your Host for the refund in the Resolution Center and provide the details of the issue along with the photos or video.

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When you book a stay or when you become a Host, we may need to verify your personal information, such as your legal name, address, phone number, and other contact details. We may also ask for a photo of your government ID and a selfie. Additionally, certain Experiences require you to verify your identity.

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While Airbnb is a safe option for accommodation when traveling, there are plenty of things you can do to further protect yourself as you explore. Never give your personal contact information to a host or pay outside of the platform. Always pay and communicate through the Airbnb website or app.

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