Diamond on the Emerald Coast

December 8, 2017

Diamond Condo Rental

Where to look for Vacation Rentals without service fees

SERVICE FEES?????

Nobody wants to pay more for a vacation rental, so how do guest find vacation rentals that do not have added fees?

The vacation rental industry has been changing in the last few years.  VRBO/Homeaway was purchased by Expedia, and Expedia has changed their policy adding a “SERVICE FEE”.  Expedia has tried their best to convince Owners that Guest do not mind paying 10%+ more money for vacation rentals and that Owners do not need to communicate with Guest, but Owners know better and are expanding their marketing to help Guest find Owners directly.

HOW??

1.  WEB SITES, owners are creating their own web sites with direct contact information so that the Guest can call the Owner directly.  The owners are “Branding” or naming their vacation rentals to help Guest find them easier.  For example “Diamond on the Emerald Coast” can be found at wwwDiamondOnTheEmeraldCoast.com.   The web sites have information, pictures, contact forms, phone numbers, calendars, and so much more.
2. Vacation Rental web site listings, without service fees.   Owners are tired of the service fees and a few have branched out and developed Vacation Rental Web sites.                      (disclosure I have been following closely to create a pet friendly   web site www.petfriendly.houfy.com).                                                                          www.houfy.com                                                                  www.vacationrentalbyowner.net                                                                 www.vacationsoup.com                                                                                                   www.ecbyo.com                                                                                                             www.homeescape.com                                                                                                      www.tripz.com                                                                                                                   You can find more vacation rental web sites in my face book group Vacation Rental 101.   https://www.facebook.com/groups/247745789089323/
3. FACE BOOK there are a large number of vacation rental groups for specific locations as well as USA and Global.   Use the search box to search for locations.  Join the groups, Search post and post what you are looking for be as specific as possible Location, Dates, number of guest.     **********Be careful of scammers.  Always ask owner for a link to their web site, face book page, or vacation rental listing without a service fee.  NEVER respond to a personal message that does not have a link. If it looks too good to be true, it probable is.  If ever in doubt message an admin.                                                             One pet peeve of mine is when a GUEST is searching outside the box for a vacation rental without service fees and an Owner links them back to VRBO/Homeaway or AirBnb.  This just tells me that the owner is too lazy to set up an outside source for Guest to book directly and the Owner did not care that guest have to pay 10% + more.              Searching for a affordable vacation rental does require a little more work, but Owners are catching on and expanding their marketing techniques and Guest are finding the Owners.  Booking directly with an Owner, who knows the vacation rental better than the Owner themselves?????   Certainly not VRBO/Homeaway or Air BnB.       Happy Searching!!!!!

September 20, 2016

Olivia