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The only downside is that this level of service and experience doesn’t come cheap. When I searched listings in NYC, I saw many more Manhattan properties than on other sites (which primarily had Brooklyn listings) and nightly rates averaged around $500. There were a few Brooklyn listings for around $300/night, but also many Manhattan listings for $1,000 and up. However, cleaning is included in the nightly rate, and there are no hidden fees added to your total upon booking. Since Airbnb’s founding in 2008, short-term rentals have become a popular alternative to hotels for travelers who want to save money and enjoy a more original, less touristy experience. Today’s short-term rental market is diverse with large and smaller companies offering many options to travelers.
VRBO
However, prices are in euros, so whatever you see will be more expensive in American dollars. When you fill out the reservation request form, you’re told that “taxes and fees” are included in the total, but you have to click on “show details” to see the exact breakdown. As you move your mouse over each listing, the corresponding dot on the map lights up. This is helpful since many listing titles don’t mention a particular neighborhood. Created in the wake of Airbnb’s success, these short-term rental sites offer more luxury and personalized service than the competition. You can also search for pet-friendly rentals and enjoy the convenience of seeing a listing’s location on the map as you hover over it.
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Matthews looking to regulate short-term rentals - WCNC.com
Matthews looking to regulate short-term rentals.
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Like OneFineStay, Wimdu offers the assurance of verified properties and owners. However, it’s unclear if all properties are checked or just some of them. Overall, the websites of these next three short-term rental sites are visually similar, but they vary in terms of average price, extra fees, property selection, and target audience.
Wimdu
Travelers who want a hotel’s level of service plus the unique experience of staying in someone’s home will enjoy OneFineStay. The higher nightly rates won’t be worth it every time you travel, but could be fun for a special occasion. VRBO calls itself “the most popular vacation rental site in the US” as well as a place to search for short-term rentals. When I browsed properties in NYC I saw some of the same listings as on HomeAway, but in general VRBO has lower nightly rates.
Indeed, the gorgeous listing photos seem to have been taken straight out of The New York Times’ real estate section. OneFineStay also provides concierge services you would find at a hotel. They offer services such as a personal greeting upon arrival, fresh linens and toiletries, and 24/7 support.
However, the nightly rates on listings I browsed in NYC and Rehoboth Beach, DE, weren’t significantly cheaper than HomeAway and VRBO. I did notice there were fewer NYC listings, suggesting this site is geared more toward beach houses and country getaways than short-term urban rentals. Many listings have a longer minimum stay threshold of five or seven nights.
New options for niche experiences
With hand-picked listings in international cities, OneFineStay offers a luxurious twist on the short-term rental business model. The company promises that all properties have been personally inspected by a staffer to ensure they are “well-designed,” “well-located,” and owner-occupied. The only downside to this site is that there are so many options, it can feel overwhelming.
Airbnb Alternatives: How Other Short-Term Rental Sites Compare
But if you love getting the best deal, Booking.com is a great way to compare all the types of lodging. Airbnb also has an edge over some of its competitors in offering “experiences” and restaurant booking through its site. However, I’m looking forward to trying Wimdu on my next trip to Europe. Plus, I think I’d enjoy the OneFineStay experience on a future special getaway.
You can pay for additional services including airport transfers, childcare, and grocery delivery. As with HomeAway and VRBO, it’s easy to size up the location as you browse listings. You pay half of the total upfront and the second half prior to your arrival.
This makes it easy to scan a large number of listings and decide which ones to click on based on price and rating. Nightly rates are more in line with HomeAway and VRBO, ranging from $135 to close to $1,000. And like these sites, extra fees are added to the total, although it’s harder to see what you’re paying for (cleaning fee, tax, and booking fee). VRBO’s additional fees vary more than any other site I reviewed except for VacationRentals.com. One listing I reviewed didn’t have a cleaning fee but it did ask for a refundable $400 damage deposit.
Many of the listing photos look like generic rentals rather than someone’s home. For one sample listing I looked at, there was a $150 cleaning fee and a $140 service fee. Depending on the nightly rate, this could be the equivalent of paying for one or two additional nights.
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