Sites like Airbnb - all the better alternatives

        For mobile friendly version, go to sites like Airbnb

I started hosting and travelling with Airbnb 4 years ago, but after a while I figured out it was worthwile to check out similar and alternative websites to Airbnb.

As a host, more free marketing gives me more guests and more money.  As a traveler I can choose from a wider range of properties. On this site I'm trying to give a brief overview of the better alternatives to Airbnb I've tried. 

See also: 10 better alternatives to Airbnb

On this site you'll find information on the following sites like Airbnb:

 - Flipkey

 - VRBO

 - Roomorama

 - Wimdu

 - OneFineStay

 - Holidaylettings

 - Hotelscombined

Sites like Airbnb #1 Flipkey by Tripadvisor

The first site I'd like to recommend is Flipkey by Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor is the worlds largest travel site with millions of users. If you're a host you can put your property on their vacation rental section and reach millions of users. If you're a traveler you can browse 1000's of vacation rental homes and read reviews and feedack from previous travelers.

You'll find a wide range of houses, flats and rooms for every taste and budget. There is a guarantee for guests and hosts, meaning they will always help you find an alternative if your chosen vacation rental is not available or if someone cancels their booking. 

If you're the owner of a vacation rental or if you have an Airbnb you can register your property for free by following this simple guide: How to list your airbnb on Tripadvisor

The first time I traveled with Flipkey my reservation was canceled 3 days before our trip due to a water leakage in the home of the host. However, it was never a problem to get in touch with the Flipkey customer service and they arranged an even better accommodation in the same area. 

Sites like Airbnb #2 Wimdu

Wimdu is an European alternative to Airbnb with it's base in Germany. However, the guests and hosts are from all over the world and anyone can put their holiday homes on the website for free. Wimdu claims to check the quality of the properties listed and to be 50% cheaper than hotels. Like Airbnb, you can contact hosts directly via the website and ask questions before you book an apartment or a holiday house. 

I've used Wimdu a couple of years now, mostly as a host, and especially the first year I got quite many bookings through Wimdu. The only thing about wimdu that worries me a little is the lack of reachable customer service. The only way to get in contact with the customer support is through a web form and you never know how long time it will take before they get back to you. It's a little conserning if you're having an emergency. Apart from that, the site works well and I've received quite many bookings through Wimdu. 

One good thing about Wimdu is the translations of the website into most languages. 

To try Wimdu, go to www.wimdu.com

Sites like Airbnb #3 Roomorama

Roomorama is another site like Airbnb. In addittion to a wide range of huts, holiday properties, flats and rooms the site offers special perks to travelers. User frindly site, easy to get in contact with customer service and many properties available. As a host I didnt have too many bookings from Roomorama in 2015, but it's definately a good site to be listed on. 

Read more about Roomorama here

Websites like Airbnb #4 OneFineStay

OneFineStay is an alternative to Airbnb with a uniquely personal touch.  The rental properties that you can search for and book on OneFineStay are hand-picked by the site's staff, and you will never have to share a space; you'll always have the place to yourself!  Plus, OneFineStay offers advice direct from locals in popular tourist areas on the best local attractions, from restaurants to specialty shops, from bars and nightclubs to interesting landmarks. 

One thing to note about OneFineStay is that, since the properties it lists are ones that the site's staff have personally stayed at and enjoyed, you can only book places in London, Paris, Los Angeles, and New York City.  The trade-off is that you'll be booking a quality rental property whose owner has personally earned the trust of the people who run OneFineStay.

Other sites like Airbnb:

Hotelscombined Apartment rentals. Hotelscombined is a hotel site, but by using filters you can get only "apartments" or "holiday houses" available in the area. 

9 flats is another European site like Airbnb.

Homeaway is one of the bigger competitors to Airbnb in the US

VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner). Owned by Homeaway, it offers over 800 000 listings of properties for rent across 100 countries worldwid. 

Do you know any other sites like Airbnb not mentioned above? Send us a message by using our contact form and we'll list them here. 

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