For professional property managers, diversifying their approach beyond traditional platforms like Airbnb is becoming increasingly crucial. While Airbnb remains a dominant force in the vacation rental market, tapping into alternative platforms can provide additional visibility and opportunities for increased occupancy and revenue. In this guide, we’ll explore 10 top-performing alternative vacation rental sites, often referred to as “Airbnb alternative,” that our clients have found success with. By distributing your listings across these platforms, you can expand your reach and attract a broader audience of travelers seeking unique accommodations. Let’s delve into these platforms and learn how to effectively advertise on them without the hassle of manual updates.
To help you expand your vacation rental marketing beyond the big OTAs, we’ve rounded up 10 top-performing alternative vacation rental sites that our clients have had success with (in no particular order).
Let’s take a look at how to start advertising on them, without having to manually update your pricing or availability!
- HomeToGo
- Holidu
- Plum Guide
- TravelStaytion
- TUI Villas
- Glamping Hub
- e-domizil
- Homelike
- Homes & Villas by Marriott International
- Nestpick & Sublet.com
The best-performing alternative vacation rental sites to get listed on in 2021
1. Google
Since Google integrated vacation rental into its travel search function in 2019, property managers have had the chance to make their listings appear directly in search results.
This is a great opportunity, considering that millions of travellers use Google to search for accommodation every day, and bookings from Google are currently commission-free.
However, Google remains an underutilised sales channel. The reason is that right now, you can only push your listings to Google through one of Google’s trusted software partners. Google also pulls listings from select OTAs – including Airbnb, Vrbo and Tripadvisor – however, this isn’t something that property managers can control.
So, to get listed on Google and reap the benefits of commission-free direct bookings, you need to work with a Google-approved software partner like the Rentals United channel manager. Depending on how many rentals you manage, travellers will be redirected from Google to a
Book Direct page or your own website
to complete the booking.
To learn more, read our blog post on how to list your vacation rental on Google or download our step-by-step guide.
- How much commission does Google charge? None. Advertising on Google is currently free.
- Do you need to create ads? No, Rentals United creates the ads for you.
- Are there any restrictions? No.
Related: 20 New Listing Sites Coming Soon to Rentals United
Related: The Top Listing Sites for Beach & Ski Vacation Rentals
Related: The Top 5 Camping & Glamping Websites to List Your Outdoor Properties
2. HomeToGo
HomeToGo is a Berlin-based metasearch engine for vacation rentals. This alternative vacation rental site allows travellers to compare more than 18 million listings from over 1,000 providers across 200 countries. They have a strong presence in the US.
The main benefits of HomeToGo for property managers are its immense reach, diverse length-of-stay options and immediate payout. In short, HomeToGo gives you the power of an OTA with the control of a direct booking.
By getting listed on HomeToGo via Rentals United, you can sync your rates, availability, bookings, photos and property info.
To find out why metasearch engines have been so popular with travellers lately, read our article on the rise of vacation rental metasearches like HomeToGo.
- How much commission does HomeToGo charge? 14%
- Do you need to create an account? No, Rentals United creates the account and the ads for you.
- Are there any restrictions? No.
3. Holidu
Holidu, based in Munich, is a metasearch engine specialised in short-term rentals. It aggregates listings from hundreds of vacation rental websites so travellers can compare over 15 million listings.
Some of their most popular destinations are USA, Italy, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Spain and Costa Rica.
By getting listed on Holidu via Rentals United, you can sync your rates, availability, bookings, photos and property info.
To learn more, read our exclusive interview with Holidu CEO Johannes Siebers.
- How much commission does Holidu charge? 15%
- Do you need to create an account? No, Rentals United creates the account and the ads for you.
- Are there any restrictions? Minimum 10 properties.
4. Plum Guide
Plum Guide is “the official selection of the world’s best vacation rentals”. It’s an alternative vacation rental site that only accepts the highest-quality homes at each price point, listing about 3% of the vacation rentals they vet.
List on top Luxury Rental Websites for high-end properties.
This level of curation gives property managers access to a new customer base (one that doesn’t shop for short-term rentals on mainstream OTAs) and guarantees an increase in high-value bookings – if their properties meet Plum Guide’s high standards.
Plum Guide is popular in several US and European markets, including the cities of Barcelona, Berlin, London, Paris, New York and Los Angeles.
Rentals United can help you fast-track your application to Plum Guide. Once you’re listed, we’ll automatically sync your pricing and availability.
For more niche channels that target a discerning audience, check out our top 10 luxury vacation rental websites.
- How much commission does Plum Guide charge? 16.5%
- Do you need to create an account? No, Rentals United creates the account and the ads for you.
- Are there any restrictions? Each property must pass the Plum Test. This is an in-person inspection by a local Plum Home Critic. To pass, your property must be clean and well-maintained, with high-quality furniture and kitchen equipment, and a stylish interior.
5. TravelStaytion
TravelStaytion offers a selection of handpicked properties around the world. Their portfolio consists of over 85,000 professionally managed properties in 600 destinations.
Consider niche sites like Asia Pacific Rentals.
The London-based alternative vacation rental site targets an audience that’s looking for quality and a value-added experience. Some of their most popular destinations are London, Rome, Paris and the Greek Islands, and they also have a strong presence in the United States.
By getting listed on TravelStaytion via Rentals United, you can sync your rates, availability, bookings, photos and property info.
- How much commission does TravelStaytion charge? 15%
- Do you need to create an account? No, Rentals United creates the account and the ads for you.
- Are there any restrictions? Only professionally managed properties.
Related: The Top 18 Luxury Vacation Rental Websites to Get Listed On
Related: The Top 10 Inclusive Vacation Rental Sites to List Your Properties On
Related: Top 40+ Niche Vacation Rental Websites
6. TUI Villas
TUI Villas is TUI’s international holiday home platform with more than 300,000 properties. Their strongest market is Germany and Germans travelling internationally, especially to seasonal destinations.
Listings posted on TUI Villas also appear on Atraveo. The TUI Villas website is available in 15 different languages.
By getting listed on TUI Villas via Rentals United, you can sync your rates, availability, bookings, photos and property info.
- How much commission does TUI Villas charge? 15-18%
- Do you need to create an account? No, Rentals United creates the account and the ads for you.
- Are there any restrictions? Minimum 5 properties.
7. Glamping Hub
Glamping Hub is the leading online platform for unique outdoor accommodations.
Also utilize Members Only OTAs.
Their portfolio consists of more than 30,000 handpicked tree houses, yurts, safari tents, tiny houses, tipis and more across the globe.
By offering unique accommodation types close to nature, Glamping Hub is responding to current travel trends and targeting a niche audience looking for outdoor getaways.
For property managers, getting listed on this alternative vacation rental site can be a great opportunity to showcase their unique properties and attract travellers who seek a luxurious camping experience.
By getting listed on Glamping hub via Rentals United, you can sync your rates, availability, photos and property info. You can work with Price per Night, Price per Guest or Length of Stay pricing.
If you manage outdoor rentals, check out our article on the best channels for listing your camping and glamping properties.
- How much commission does Glamping Hub charge? 4%
- Do you need to create an account? No, Rentals United creates the account and the ads for you.
- Are there any restrictions? To get listed on Glamping Hub, your properties must have direct access to nature.
8. e-domizil
e-domizil is a European OTA that brings property managers and travellers together quickly, directly, and efficiently.
List specific properties on Beach & Ski Rental Sites.
Founded in the early 2000s, e-domizil has revolutionised the letting of vacation rentals and has become a leading supplier in Europe. Recently acquiring Atraveo in 2020 and working in partnership with TUI Villas, e-domizil now offers over 450,000 properties located in more than 70 countries worldwide.
If you are looking to boost your vacation rental occupancy this summer, consider getting listed on e-domizil. With 15 million visitors, they provide your properties with the visibility they need to fill up fast.
By getting listed on e-domizil via Rentals United, you can sync your rates, availability, bookings, photos and property info.
- How much commission does e-domizil charge? 15%
- Do you need to create an account? No, Rentals United creates the account and the ads for you.
- Are there any restrictions? Minimum 10 properties.
9. Homelike
Homelike is the premier marketplace for high-quality long-term business apartments. The platform offers Europe’s largest selection of furnished and serviced apartments across 400 cities in 9 countries.
Their clients are companies and professionals who frequently travel, work project-based in a city or relocate and need temporary long-term stay accommodation for 30 nights or more.
Founded in 2014, Homelike believes “Long-term hotel stays are a thing of the past” for business travel. Their mission is to make business travellers feel “at home away from home” by providing them with a comfortable, fully furnished apartment.
With over 555,000 high-quality apartments, Homelike offers the most extensive portfolio of furnished properties in Europe.
By getting listed on Homelike via Rentals United, you can sync your rates, availability, bookings, photos and property info.
- How much commission does Homelike charge? 10-15%
- Do you need to create an account? No, Rentals United creates the account and the ads for you.
- Are there any restrictions? Only apartments are accepted.
10.
Homes & Villas by Marriott International
Homes & Villas by Marriott International is a curated offering of vacation rentals by one of the world’s oldest hotel chains. It brings together Marriott International’s 92 years of hospitality experience and the local expertise of select property management companies.
They guarantee that their vacation homes are serviced at the same standard that is expected from Marriott hotel rooms. Properties listed on the website are rigorously vetted before being accepted into the programme.
As the first European channel manager to connect to Homes & Villas by Marriott International, Rentals United allows property managers to apply to this exclusive platform and list their rentals quickly and effortlessly.
Your connection to Homes & Villas by Marriott International also gives you access to the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme, which has over 147+ million members globally.
- How much commission does Homes & Villas by Marriott International charge? Homes & Villas by Marriott International have a commission-based structure in three bands depending on the nightly rate of your property.
- Do you need to create an account? No, Rentals United creates the account and the ads for you.
- Are there any restrictions? A minimum of 50 properties is required to connect.
If you’d like to list your properties on Homes & Villas by Marriott International, fill in this form and we will get let you know if you’ve been accepted.
11. Nestpick
Sublet.com and Nestpick are the largest global marketplaces dedicated to furnished mid-term rentals (30+ days and above), which includes apartments and rooms, as well as co-livings, corporate housing and student residences.
These alternative platforms help travellers to find monthly furnished rentals and rooms. Nestpick / Sublet.com is available in more than 2,000 cities and has more than 2 million properties listed worldwide.
The type of properties goes from affordable rooms to luxury furnished apartments. In August 2020, Nestpick / Sublet.com sent more than 5,000 bookings to their clients, with an average length of stay of 2 months.
The typical guests using Nestpick to book an apartment include digital nomads, young professionals, business travellers and international students.
Benefits of getting listed on Nestpick/ Sublet.com include:
- The opportunity to fill your properties for longer, ensuring a higher occupancy rate at any time of the year.
- Be exposed to a strong audience in both the USA and Europe.
- The freedom to confirm your bookings so you have 100% control of your reservations.
- To have a more consistent income dedicating less time to the listings.
By getting listed on Nestpick/ Sublet.com via Rentals United, you can sync your rates, availability, bookings, photos and property info.
- Is there a minimum stay restriction? You need to set up a minimum stay of 30 nights
- How much commission does Nestpick / Sublet.com charge? Charge only 7% commission.
- Does the channel charge the client? No, they charge a downpayment and you handle the rest of the payment.
Are you ready to build a tech-based distribution strategy? Discover how our enterprise-level Channel Manager can get you more bookings.