In 2021, beach and ski destinations will be the star of the show in travel. While urban markets are still on their way to recovery, traveller interest in sunny beaches and snowy slopes has picked up in many different parts of the world. As more people look to book ski trips this season, some useful tips can be found in this article about preparing for a record-breaking booking season.
Now’s the time for vacation rental companies who manage properties in these types of markets to capture the demand and expand their distribution to websites that drive bookings.
To help you get the word out about your beach houses and ski chalets, we’ve made a list of the top websites to get listed on.
These channels can help you attract guests who are looking for exactly the type of properties you offer and boost your occupancy and revenue. They’ll be the perfect addition to your vacation rental marketing mix.
Let’s get into it:
The top 5 vacation rental websites for properties in ski destinations
1. Sportihome
Market: worldwide
Sportihome creates unique opportunities for property managers to maximise their occupancy in the low season when weather conditions are optimal by attracting sports enthusiasts.
On Sportihome’s booking platform, travellers can find vacation rentals near sports destinations worldwide, from Italy to America and beyond. When searching, sports lovers can choose between 45 different sports to practice, including skiing, surfing, paragliding, mountain biking, kiteboarding and many more.
Guests also have the option to stay with a host who practices the same sport, get tips on local spots and even go on sports activities together.
2. Inntopia
Market: US
Inntopia understands that a ski vacation is a logistical challenge. They have designed an all-in-one platform that allows the guest to easily book vacation rentals, lift tickets, ski rentals, ski lessons and more. Inntopia lets users aggregate everything a guest needs and sell it through a single interface.
As one of the most popular brands in the US for skiing, their platform solves destination travel’s complex challenges. Inntopia’s software and expert consulting improve the bottom line, and guests love it.
If you own a property in a ski region in the US, check out Inntopia. They will be coming soon to Rentals United.
3. Skihōm
Market: US
Skihōm allows guests to choose their next ski vacation by city, ski event or ski area. Currently, Skihōm has inventory across 5,800+ ski areas worldwide and properties are carefully curated to be in close vicinity of slopes.
Not only does Skihōm offer vacation rentals, but after booking, guests can ship their equipment to the destination via Ship Skis (a trusted partner) so that they don’t have to travel with all their ski gear. They can also buy lift tickets and shop for the latest winter gear – all via the Skihōm platform.
If you have vacation rentals in any ski destinations across the US, getting listed on Skihōm via Rentals United will allow you to target those niches.
4. Ski.com
Market: US
Ski.com has been in the ski-travel industry for 48 years and is the largest provider of Ski homes, vacation rentals, and mountain cabins in North America.
They are known for their cutting edge technology and high-quality inventory. Ski.com expects quality from all their listings and they do this by making sure that every home rental and property management company they work with has been extensively vetted by their Vacation Rental Patrol (Ski.com’s expertly trained operations team).
Ski.com is an excellent channel for any vacation rental property managers looking to advertise their ski rentals in Northern US destinations. They have a high-traffic website that will give your properties fantastic exposure and visibility to travellers.
5. Interchalet
Market: Europe
Interchalet is an expert in winter destinations, with more than 40,000-listings across Europe. Their portfolio consists of simple chalets to luxury villas, includes family-run holiday complexes and more.
Having been in the business for more than 45 years, customers trust and know that Interchalet will deliver. Guests can also book summer holidays with their southern Europe listings; however, the Alpine region where people go skiing and snowboarding in the winter months is incredibly lucrative.
Interchalet prides itself on its close and personal cooperation with property managers/owners. Property managers enjoy the extensive sales network Interchalet offers with over 7,000 travel agencies across connected Germany, Austria, the Benelux countries and Switzerland.
The top 6 vacation rental websites for beach houses and seaside villas
1. Top Villas
Market: US, Caribbean, Europe, Asia
Top Villas is one of the world’s leading luxury vacation rental websites. The company is an expert in beach destinations, with more than 4,000 listings in the US, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Their portfolio consists of beachfront mansions, sea-view villas, exclusive beach resorts and more.
Properties listed on Top Villas have tags such as ‘crystal-clear seas’, ‘pristine beaches’, ‘palm-fringed beaches’, ‘powder-white beaches’ and ‘vibrant marine life’, ‘scenic bays’, ‘superb swimming and snorkelling’ to help travellers find their perfect beach holiday.
Top Villas has more than 20 years of experience in the villa rental industry and specialises in ultra-luxury rentals. They allow property managers to approve as many booking requests as they like and turn down the ones that don’t suit them. This way, Top Villas lets you maintain total control whether you list on their website exclusively or not.
Listing on Top Villas can also give you plenty of visibility. Their website attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors per month, and they have a large email list and social media following. They can get your properties in front of the high-net-worth individuals you want to attract.
Compare top general Alternative Sites.
Stay tuned – soon you’ll be able to list and manage your properties on Top Villas via the Rentals United Channel Manager.
2. Florida Rentals
Market: Florida
Florida Rentals is on a mission to help travellers book the best beach rentals in Florida at the lowest prices. With a real passion for the Sunshine State, Florida Rentals specialises in popular destinations like Davenport, Kissimmee, Orlando, Key West, Cape Coral, Marco Island and more. They have beach properties to suit every need, whether it’s for family trips, couple’s getaways or large group reunions.
For property managers, Florida Rentals charges a low annual fee instead of a commission per booking. They give you access to last-minute guests, let you upload unlimited photos to showcase your property and allow you to set any cancellation policy you like.
If you want to list your Florida beach rentals on a flexible website that offers a whole host of benefits to property managers, Florida Rentals is your best bet.
Need an easy way to manage your listing on Florida Rentals and multiple other channels? See how to list your properties on Florida Rentals via Rentals United.
3. Villa Finder
Market: Asia, Europe
Villa Finder is the market-leading website for beachfront and luxury villas in the Asia-Pacific region. With more than 2,000 handpicked villas in 14 countries, they offer a wide range of options for travellers to choose from.
Besides popular destinations in Asia such as Koh Samui and Phuket in Thailand and Bali in Indonesia, Villa Finder also offers beach rentals in European countries like Spain, Italy and France.
Property managers who list on Villa Finder can get access to a well-established marketing channel that allows them to increase their profits. What’s more, Villa Finder offers competitive prices and top-of-the-line concierge services that keep guests coming back.
High-end rentals on Top Luxury Rental Sites.
List your properties on Villa Finder in a few easy steps and keep your availability up-to-date with the Rentals United channel manager.
4. Oliver’s Travels
Market: Europe
Olivers Travels offers only extraordinary home rentals. Their beach villas, just like the rest of their portfolio, are unique to the last detail. They are very selective about the properties they list and only accept about 2% of the rentals reviewed by their experts.
Guests looking for beach holidays in Spain, the South of France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, or the rest of Europe can find beachfront villas as well as properties located no more than a 15-minute walk from the beach. Next to their sunny destinations, Oliver’s Travels also offers ski chalets in ski paradises like Chamonix, Meribel, Val d’Isere and more.
Property managers who list on Oliver’s Travel will benefit from a marketing partner who’s been in the industry for 15 years, a state-of-the art website that provides extensive visibility, as well as a top-of-the-line concierge service that guests love.
You will soon be able to list and manage your properties on Oliver’s Travels via the Rentals United Channel Manager. Stay tuned!
5. Locasun
Market: Europe
Locasun is a leading online travel agency in Europe, with a strong presence in France. The company has been in the market since 2001. Over the last 19 years, they have built a large portfolio of more than 120,000 rentals in Europe.
Locasun prides themselves on their gorgeous seaside rentals. Guests looking for a sunny holiday in France, Spain, Croatia, Italy or other European destinations can use the website’s advanced search filters to find their perfect holiday. Besides their unmissable beach rentals, Locasun also offers vacation rentals in mountain regions, from the Alps to the Pyrenees.
Locasun is a great channel for any vacation rental property managers looking to advertise their beach rentals in European destinations. Their high-traffic website gives your properties excellent visibility and lots of exposure to travellers.
Consider niche options like Asia Pacific Sites.
List and manage your properties on Locasun efficiently with the Rental United channel manager.
6. BeachHouse
Market: US, Worldwide
BeachHouse offers a wide range of exclusive beach rental properties around the world. From extravagant oceanfront villas to intimate beach-side cottages, the website’s offering encompasses rentals for every occasion.
They have a selection of pet-friendly beach rentals, as well as properties ideal for family vacations and couple’s getaways along both the East and the West Coast of the US.
BeachHouse offers a number of benefits for property managers. Since there are no monthly fees or commissions, they allow you to increase your bookings while paying less. For an annual fee, you can choose from three different types of ads. Property managers with multiple rentals can save money with their discounted multi-ad packages.
Unlike the big OTAs, BeachHouse allows property managers to communicate with guests directly on their own terms. They also give you full control over who rents your properties.
Need an advanced channel manager to advertise your ski and beach rentals and keep your availability up-to-date across multiple channels? Talk to us!
Also list on Members Only OTAs.