| I have compiled a list of some of the most | | | | past 5 years. They also offer the only industry |
| popular vacation rental websites according to | | | | index available to vacation rental industry insiders. |
| Alexa traffic, reader response, and expert | | | | Here's rooting for the little guy! |
| industry analysis. While the vacation rental industry | | | | CyberRentals - This is another HomeAway-owned |
| varies tremendously between simple listing sites | | | | company and falls along the same lines as the |
| to more robust vacation rental reservation | | | | others. CyberRentals provides yet another |
| services, this list is meant to provide a quick look | | | | avenue for rental owners to list their property |
| into this rapidly growing industry and to provide | | | | and to manage inventory. A clean website which |
| readers a basis for future research into this | | | | follows the same patterns and guidelines as their |
| industry. Please note that this list is not in any | | | | predecessors. |
| particular order and is meant merely as a guide. | | | | AlwaysOnVacation - AlwaysOnVacation is a listing |
| Vacation Rentals By Owner - Perhaps one of the | | | | service that offers a broad array of vacation |
| best know originators of the online vacation rental | | | | rental listings. They offer owners an advertising |
| listing industry, Vacation Rentals By Owner has a | | | | guarantee stating that "if you do not receive a 10 |
| huge database of private owner rental listings. | | | | times return on your investment during the first |
| Now owed by the behemoth mega-company, | | | | 12 months of your initial subscription, we will |
| HomeAway.com, this is one of their many | | | | extend your subscription an additional 6 months |
| property rental brand websites. While best-known | | | | free of charge!" Although this is another listing site, |
| and extremely popular, the website is not without | | | | it does have decent customer support both online |
| its faults. Constant criticism over listing security | | | | and telephone. |
| and property legitimacy are the primary | | | | Zonder - Zonder is an interesting twist on the |
| complaints against this industry leader. | | | | vacation rental industry. Currently a partner with |
| HomeAway - We couldn't mention a few of the | | | | Orbitz, the long-serving hotel and flight reservation |
| most popular vacation rental websites without | | | | website, Zonder appears to be a solid option for |
| mentioning the parent company that owns them | | | | vacation renters. Visitors are able to book online |
| now can we? Based upon their information listed | | | | as well as contact owners who don't offer online |
| in Crunch Base, "The HomeAway portfolio of | | | | booking. It will be interesting to see how long the |
| sites includes HomeAway.com, Vacation Rentals | | | | two-tiered business approach will work, as many |
| By Owner and in the United States; | | | | argue that it will only cause confusion as the |
| HomeAway.co.uk and OwnersDirect.co.uk in the | | | | industry gains popularity, but for now Zonder's |
| United Kingdom; HomeAway.de in Germany; | | | | future is looking strong. |
| Abritel.fr and in France; HomeAway.es in Spain; | | | | VacationRentals411 - A large, simple website that |
| and br in Brazil. The company's portfolio also | | | | offers individual property rentals from owners |
| includes HomeAwayRealEstate.com, which offers | | | | worldwide. Not quite as visually impressive as |
| unique real estate information that highlights a | | | | some of the other sites mentioned it still is a |
| vacation home's rental income potential and | | | | good place to begin you vacation rental research. |
| destination-specific characteristics. In addition, | | | | FlipKey - One of the newest additions to the |
| HomeAway operates BedandBreakfast.com, a | | | | online vacation rental industry vacation rental |
| global site dedicated to finding bed-and-breakfast | | | | website that has popped up on the web, FlipKey |
| properties, which provides travelers with another | | | | offers a nice user interface and the power of |
| source for unique lodging alternatives to chain | | | | being part of the Trip Advisor marketing team. |
| hotels." Whatever is to be said about the future | | | | FlipKey has quickly asserted itself as an emerging |
| of the vacation industry it's a safe bet that | | | | industry leaders and appears to be gaining some |
| HomeAway will be in the middle of it. | | | | major leverage on the industry. |
| Rentalo - This is a decent vacation rental listing | | | | VacationRentals - Another one of HomeAway's |
| site much aligned in the same way as the other | | | | popular off-spring, commonly places first on most |
| basic listing services. Rentalo has a respectable | | | | leading search engines for the keyword terms, |
| reputation and currently offer listings worldwide. | | | | "vacation rentals". Fundamentally the same |
| They also rank favorably in search engine results | | | | assumption as Vacation Rentals By Owner, this |
| for vacation rental homes. | | | | website is a strapping advertising site for individual |
| Vacation-Renter, Inc. - We call this one the little | | | | property owners and property managers. |
| engine that could. Extremely out-gunned on almost | | | | Although this list cannot do the entire vacation |
| all levels, Vacation-Renter, Inc. has opted for a | | | | rental industry complete justice, it does provide |
| guerilla-style approach when trying to attack the | | | | an interesting mix of size and type of company |
| vacation rental market. They do this by offering | | | | currently active in today's market. While it does |
| market-specific websites aimed at achieving high | | | | appear that certain companies clearly hold an |
| Google rankings and international markets. While | | | | advantage when it comes to investment dollars |
| they don't have nearly the inventory or operating | | | | and sheer size, there are a few quality sites that |
| capital behind them as the others do, they do | | | | offer a different approach to marketing |
| offer online booking and live telephone reservation | | | | short-term rentals. Wherever you decide to |
| support with their market-specific websites and | | | | travel, try doing some initial research on some of |
| appear to have been growing steadily over the | | | | these websites and see for yourself. |