| We have compiled a list of the ten most popular | | | | an additional 6 months free of charge!" Although |
| vacation rental websites according to Alexa | | | | yet another listing site amongst thousands of |
| traffic, reader response, and expert industry | | | | listings sites, AlwaysOnVacation does have a |
| analysis. While the vacation rental industry varies | | | | rather large database of property listings. |
| tremendously between simple listing sites to more | | | | 6) Zonder |
| robust vacation rental reservation services, this | | | | Zonder is an interesting twist on the vacation |
| list is meant to provide a quick look into this | | | | rental industry. Currently a partner with Orbitz, |
| rapidly growing industry and to provide readers a | | | | the long-serving hotel and flight reservation |
| basis for future research into this industry. Please | | | | website, Zonder appears to be a solid option for |
| note that this list is not in any particular order and | | | | vacation renters. Visitors are able to book online |
| is meant merely as a guide. | | | | as well as contact owners who don't offer online |
| 1) Vacation Rentals By Owner | | | | booking. It will be interesting to see how long the |
| Perhaps one of the best know originators of the | | | | two-tiered business approach will work, as many |
| online vacation rental listing industry, Vacation | | | | argue that it will only cause confusion as the |
| Rentals By Owner has a huge database of private | | | | industry gains popularity, but for now Zonder's |
| owner rental listings. Now owed by the behemoth | | | | future is looking strong. |
| mega-company, HomeAway.com, this is one of | | | | 7) Vacation-Renter, Inc. |
| their many property rental brand websites. While | | | | We call this one the little engine that could. |
| best-known and extremely popular, the website is | | | | Extremely out-gunned on almost all levels, |
| not without its faults. Constant criticism over | | | | Vacation-Renter, Inc. has opted for a guerilla-style |
| listing security and property legitimacy are the | | | | approach when trying to attack the vacation |
| primary complaints against this industry leader. | | | | rental market. They do this by offering |
| 2) VacationRentals | | | | market-specific websites aimed at achieving high |
| Another one of HomeAway's popular off-spring, | | | | Google rankings and international markets. While |
| usually places first on most major search engines | | | | they don't have nearly the inventory or operating |
| for the Holy Grail of keyword terms, "vacation | | | | capital behind them as the others do, they do |
| rentals". Basically the same premise as Vacation | | | | offer online booking and live telephone reservation |
| Rentals By Owner, this website is a robust | | | | support with their market-specific websites and |
| advertising site for individual property owners and | | | | appear to have been growing steadily over the |
| property managers. | | | | past 5 years. They also offer the only industry |
| 3) CyberRentals | | | | index available to vacation rental industry insiders. |
| Why stop now? Yes you are right, yet another | | | | Here's rooting for the little guy! |
| HomeAway spin-off. Again the same premise as | | | | 8) Rentalo |
| both CyberRentals and Vacation Rentals By | | | | is a popular listing site based upon the |
| Owner, CyberRentals provides yet another | | | | pay-per-advertisement listing system. Just like the |
| avenue for rental owners to list their property | | | | HomeAway family of websites, Rentalo is a |
| and to manage inventory. A clean website which | | | | simple advertising website. They have a good |
| follows the same patterns and guidelines as their | | | | reputation and currently offer listings throughout |
| predecessors. | | | | the world. |
| 4) HomeAway | | | | 9) FlipKey |
| We couldn't mention a few of the most popular | | | | One of the more recent vacation rental websites |
| vacation rental websites without mentioning the | | | | that have hit the web, FlipKey offers a great user |
| parent company that owns them now can we? | | | | interface and the power of being part of the Trip |
| Based upon their information listed in Crunch Base, | | | | Advisor marketing machine. Probably one the |
| "The HomeAway portfolio of sites includes | | | | cleanest and most visually appealing advertising |
| HomeAway.com, Vacation Rentals By Owner and | | | | sites, FlipKey has hit the ground running and |
| in the United States; HomeAway.co.uk and | | | | appears to be gaining some serious leverage on |
| OwnersDirect.co.uk in the United Kingdom; | | | | the industry. |
| HomeAway.de in Germany; Abritel.fr and in | | | | 10) VacationRentals411 |
| France; HomeAway.es in Spain; and br in Brazil. | | | | One of a few of the larger websites that is not |
| The company's portfolio also includes | | | | currently owed by HomeAway, |
| HomeAwayRealEstate.com, which offers unique | | | | VacationRentals411 is another advertising site that |
| real estate information that highlights a vacation | | | | offers vacation rentals world-wide. Not quite as |
| home's rental income potential and | | | | visually appealing as some of the other sites |
| destination-specific characteristics. In addition, | | | | mentioned it still offers decent owner online |
| HomeAway operates BedandBreakfast.com, a | | | | support and an extensive inventory. This website |
| global site dedicated to finding bed-and-breakfast | | | | is a good place to search for quality vacation |
| properties, which provides travelers with another | | | | listings. |
| source for unique lodging alternatives to chain | | | | Although this list cannot do the entire vacation |
| hotels." Whatever is to be said about the future | | | | rental industry complete justice, it does provide |
| of the vacation industry it's a safe bet that | | | | an interesting mix of size and type of company |
| HomeAway will be at the center of it. | | | | currently active in today's market. While it does |
| 5) AlwaysOnVacation | | | | appear that certain companies clearly hold an |
| AlwaysOnVacation is a listing service that offers | | | | advantage when it comes to investment dollars |
| click-thru payments for rentals. They offer | | | | and sheer size, there are a few quality sites that |
| owners an advertising guarantee stating that "if | | | | offer a different approach to marketing |
| you do not receive a 10 times return on your | | | | short-term rentals. Wherever you decide to |
| investment during the first 12 months of your | | | | travel, try doing some initial research on some of |
| initial subscription, we will extend your subscription | | | | these websites and see for yourself. |