VRBO specializes exclusively in vacation rentals with longer average stays and higher nightly rates, while Booking.com offers a diverse portfolio mixing hotels, hostels, apartments, and vacation rentals with lower average nightly prices. VRBO generated $2.7B in revenue (2023) compared to Booking's $17B, reflecting their different market focuses.
VRBO vs Booking.com — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Vacation rental platform focused on full homes, condos, and villas for multi-night stays
Global online travel agency with 42+ million properties focused on accommodation listings.
Primary Business Model. Average Nightly Rate. Annual Revenue (2023). Typical Stay Duration. Property Count. Host/Owner Communication. Cancellation Policy Flexibility
Choose VRBO if you're booking week-long family vacations, want direct owner communication, prefer full-kitchen accommodations, and don't mind higher nightly rates. Choose Booking.com if you need flexibility for short stays (1-3 nights), want standardized cancellation policies, budget options across all accommodation types, and value a massive selection with consistent user experience across property types.
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 54 turnovers | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 34% increase when paired with Airbnb | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): Extended-stay (14+ nights average) | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 2026 calendar and booking updates added (historically slower) | Booking.com: N/A
Premier/SuperHost Cancellation Requirement
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 0% cancellations (2026 Premier Host standard) | Booking.com: N/A
Premier/SuperHost Acceptance Rate Requirement
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 99% (2026 Premier Host standard) | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): ~40% lower (54 turnovers) | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 2,000,000+ | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 5-12% | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 14 days | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 4.2 stars | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): $200 | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 60%+ | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 2,100,000 | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 4.2 (180K reviews) | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 190+ countries | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): $120-$180 | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 3% | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 29 years (since 1995) | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): Traditional homes, condos, apartments | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 2-3 nights minimum | Booking.com: N/A
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): $2.7B | Booking.com: $17.08B
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 2.3M | Booking.com: 28M+
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): $250-$400 | Booking.com: $80-$150
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 3-7 nights (often required) | Booking.com: 1 night (flexible)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 0-24 hours (owner-dependent) | Booking.com: 48 hours (standardized)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 15-25% | Booking.com: 0-5%
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 3.8 stars | Booking.com: 4.4 stars
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): 92% | Booking.com: 35%
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Yes, official guarantee
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 28 Million+
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: $21 Billion
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 500+ airlines (limited)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 5-15% bundled discounts
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 4.6/5 stars
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 1-4 hours average
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 12-15% projected
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Ultra-personalized curated trips
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Excellent - upfront pricing
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Green travel options, eco-friendly filters
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 28+ million properties
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: ~20-30% of bookings
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Free
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 15-25%
Required Price Premium to Match Profitability
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 15-20% price increase needed
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Older (business/professional focus)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Lower frequency (longer stay focus)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 7+ nights (typical for business/intl)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Limited options (stricter)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 67% use both
Hosts Earning More From Multi-Platform Strategy
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Only 23% earn more listing on both
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Diverse (business/leisure mix)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Lower frequency
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Longer (extended stays)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Low (advance notice typical)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 15-20% markup needed
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 67% dual-listed
Hosts Reporting Increased Revenue From Dual-Listing
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Only 23% see higher total revenue
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: After guest checkout
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 30% offer mobile-only prices
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 1% cash back
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 300+ million users
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Advanced (2026 focus)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 43 languages
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 85% of properties
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 4.3 stars
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 220M+ total properties
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 220+ countries
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 80%+
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Double-digit growth projected
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Direct booking only
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Advanced AI-powered (2026 focus)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Direct on-platform checkout
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 24/7 comprehensive support
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 42.3 million
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 4.6 stars
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 12-15%
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Up to 12%
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 231 million
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: 2-4 hours
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Variable (0.5-2x)
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): N/A | Booking.com: Full offline access available
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) — Wikipedia
How to choose between VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) and Booking.com
Compare VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) vs Booking.com
VRBO vs Booking.com — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for VRBO vs Booking.com. Contains 83 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
VRBO vs Booking.com — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for VRBO vs Booking.com.
Which platform is cheaper for a week-long family vacation?
VRBO is typically cheaper for 7+ night stays due to weekly discounts (15-25% off), reducing nightly rates to $190-$300. Booking.com's 1-3 night optimization means longer stays accumulate service fees. For a 7-night stay, VRBO averages $1,500-$2,100 total vs Booking.com at $2,240-$4,200+ depending on property type.
Can I talk directly to the property owner before booking?
VRBO allows direct messaging with owners before and after booking, enabling custom requests and negotiations. Booking.com restricts communication to their platform messaging system and doesn't show owner contact info; you'll communicate with staff, not the property manager directly.
Which platform has better cancellation policies?
Booking.com offers standardized free cancellation up to 48 hours before arrival on most bookings. VRBO's policies are owner-controlled and highly variable; most require 30-60 day notice with non-refundable deposits, making cancellations far riskier and more expensive.
Is Booking.com better for short city weekend trips?
Yes. Booking.com's minimum 1-night stays, 28M listings across all accommodation types, lower average rates ($80-$150), and flexible 48-hour cancellation make it ideal for 2-3 night city breaks. VRBO's 3-7 night minimums and $250+ nightly rates suit week-long vacation homes, not weekend getaways.
Which platform has more luxury/premium properties?
VRBO has a stronger luxury segment with curated villas, high-end beach homes, and ski-in/ski-out condos; these properties average $400-$1,500+ per night. Booking.com offers luxury hotels and resorts but fewer exclusive villa options; its strength is across all price tiers, not luxury specialization.
How to Choose Between VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) and Booking.com
Primary Business Model: VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) has Vacation rentals only (houses, condos, villas), while Booking.com has Multi-category: hotels, hostels, B&Bs, rentals, resorts.
Average Nightly Rate: VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) has $250-$400 per night, while Booking.com has $80-$150 per night.
Annual Revenue (2023): VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) has $2.7 billion, while Booking.com has $17.08 billion.
Typical Stay Duration: VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) has 7-14+ nights (weekly rentals), while Booking.com has 1-3 nights (short-term).
Property Count: VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) has 2.3 million listings, while Booking.com has 28+ million listings.
Host/Owner Communication: VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) has Direct messaging with property owner, while Booking.com has Booking system with limited direct contact.
Consider: Cancellation Policy Flexibility
Cancellation Policy Flexibility: VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) has Highly variable, owner-controlled, often strict, while Booking.com has Standardized options (free, moderate, strict).