Don't Get Blindsided: Unmasking Hidden Fees on Airbnb and VRBO

"Fee Shock"

Ever found a fantastic vacation rental deal on Airbnb or VRBO, only to see the price mysteriously jump when you go to book? You're not alone. Many travelers are surprised by the additional costs that get tacked on, often without clear upfront disclosure. These "hidden fees" can turn an attractive nightly rate into a much larger bill, leaving you feeling frustrated and wondering where all your money went.

What are these hidden fees?

When you book through platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, you're not just paying the property owner. Both companies charge their own fees for using their service, and these are often baked into the final price you see at checkout. These can include:

• Service Fees: A percentage charged by the platform for facilitating the booking. Guest Pays. Vrbo has a “dynamic” fee depending on what time, what day and the “mystery algorithm”.  In general, that fee is about 14-16%.  Airbnb charges about 15%.

• Cleaning Fees: While often set by the host, they are a mandatory part of the booking and can sometimes feel disproportionately high compared to the stay.  The fee is actually charged to the owner by the housekeeper. Owner has little control over what the housekeeper charges. 

• Occupancy Taxes: These are legitimate taxes, but how they are presented and added to the total can sometimes be unclear until the very end of the booking process.

• "Host" Fees: Sometimes hosts add their own additional fees on top of the base rate, which can also contribute to the sticker shock; fees like "Hot tub" and spa charges, additional "heating" charges, "property management charges", "Resort fees", etc.

The problem isn't necessarily the existence of these fees, but rather how they are presented – often rolled into the "total" or only appearing late in the booking process. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to compare prices accurately and can lead to a sense of being misled.

The Solution? Book Direct!

Booking directly with the property owner offers a refreshing alternative to the hidden fee headache. Here's why it's so much better:

1. Transparency from the Start: When you book direct, the pricing is typically much more straightforward. You'll see a clear breakdown of costs, and the final price you're quoted is usually the price you pay, without last-minute surprises.

2. No Middleman Fees: By cutting out Airbnb or VRBO, you eliminate their service fees entirely. This often translates to significant savings, putting more money back in your pocket for your vacation.  

3. Better Communication: Booking direct allows for a more direct line of communication with the property manager or owner. This can lead to quicker responses, more personalized service, and a better overall experience if you have questions or special requests.

4. Exclusive Deals and Flexibility: Many owners offer special discounts or packages exclusively for guests who book directly. You might also find more flexibility with check-in/check-out times or cancellation policies.

5. Local Expertise: Booking direct often means connecting with local experts who can provide invaluable recommendations for restaurants, activities, and hidden gems in the area, enhancing your trip.

Feature	Booking Platforms (Airbnb/Vrbo)	Direct Booking (Owner/Manager)
Service Fees	14 - 16% added to total	$0 (No guest service fees)
Communication	Filtered through platform app.  Lag in response times if you need an immediate answer from owner	Direct via phone, email, or text
Price	Often marked up to cover host fees - The owner also pays a commission to the booking platforms.	Usually the lowest base rate
Perks	Standard platform loyalty (if any)	Early check-in, repeat guest discounts and lower prices.

To find vacation rentals directly and avoid platform fees, start by using Google  to search for "vacation rentals" in your destination; many owners have direct websites.  If you find a property you love on a major platform like Airbnb or Vrbo, try a reverse image search of the main listing photo or search for the "unique property name" + "location" in quotes to track down the owner’s independent booking site.  Look for “crumbs” in the listings you see on Vrbo or Airbnb.  While owners are not allowed to mention ANY info that reveals the name or contact info of their rental, they often leave small hints ("breadcrumbs") in the description or pictures. Read the description thoroughly and look at all the photo’s in the listing with their captions.  Sometime you will see a phone number on a sign photo or the sign may give you the name of the rental! The picture below is in my listing photos on VRBO. A "breadcrumb".

Sign for Mountainwood Cottages

When you book with either Mountainwood Cottages or Claudia's Caboose, your total cost to stay includes the nightly rate, a housekeeping fee and taxes. That's it. The housekeeping fee is not "nightly" but on the total stay. No Hot tub or "spa" fees, no "property management" fees, NO other fees. The average savings when you book direct with us compared to booking on Abnb or Vrbo for a 2 night stay is about 75.00 for 2 nights and almost 100.00 for 3 nights!

Don't let hidden fees take the joy out of planning your next getaway. Next time you're searching for the perfect vacation rental, consider skipping the big platforms and looking for opportunities to book direct. You'll likely save money, enjoy greater transparency, and have a smoother, more personalized experience from start to finish.

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