AirBnB vs. HomeAway

I'm sure all of you have heard of AirBnB and some of you may know HomeAway/VRBO. These websites offer options to booking a hotel room that are generally cheaper, more unique and more personal. You can rent a spot on a couch or a chateau.

Overall, AirBnB seems the better option for solo or coupled travelers to big cities who are on a budget and don't mind sharing a condo or townhouse with the homeowner or other travelers. There are many options for private accommodations on AirBnB, but the savings are not as significant. A million years ago I shared a "flat" in London with 3 other travelers and saved a bunch of money. I pretty much just slept and showered there so "the others" didn't bug me.

AirBnB gets a lot of press (good and bad) and they have done a great job creating awareness of the whole vacation rental industry. In reaction to the bad press, they have developed a whole battery of safeguards that protect both the guest and the homeowner. Reservations and online payments are easy and the review system works both ways – both the homeowner and guest get reviewed.

HomeAway is geared more to families or groups of friends looking to rent a single-family home in a resort area, although there are great number of condos and homes available in big cities. Guests and homeowners are usually older than AirBnB users and the accommodations are generally more expensive. But for the money, you get a lot more space (multiple bedrooms/baths, plus kitchen and living areas) and privacy. Online reservations and payments are also easy and there are reviews for each property (homeowners don't review guests). HomeAway also has safeguards for both the guest and homeowner and they are constantly improving the guest experience.

There is a lot of debate in the comments sections of articles about AirBnB and HomeAway and which one is better. The bigger differences are on the owner-side about things like fee percentages and payment timing. A slight difference for the guests on HomeAway is that you can be put in direct contact with the homeowner before you actually book, allowing you to ask more questions and get a better read on the homeowner. AirBnB's system allows for anonymous e-mailing between both parties. Both sites have lovers and haters that boil down personal experiences and preferences. And just like Yelp reviews, you have to use your best judgement to determine if the property is right for you.

There are a few other sites that do vacation rentals, but these are the two biggest for their respective categories. Here is a link to an article that gives a nice comparison.

Oh, and if you need a weekend out of the city before, during or after the holidays, I happen to know of two:

The Hollywoods, South Haven, MI
The Prairie Wood, South Haven, MI