What Happened?
Airbnb, started only in 2008, quickly overtook VRBO as the largest short-term rental marketplace in the world. The benefits of using Airbnb far outweigh those of VRBO; it's no wonder they've grown so quickly!
Airbnb is the world's largest short-term rental marketplace.
Airbnb is the world's largest short-term rental marketplace.
With over 2 million listings in over 191 countries and more than 400,000 properties available for booking at any given time, Airbnb has become a major player in the hospitality industry.
Founded by Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk, Airbnb was founded in San Francisco, California on August 23rd 2008. The company operates as an online intermediary for people to rent out their homes or apartments to guests for a fee or charge them money for lodging.
Airbnb has become a way of life for many travelers.
Airbnb has become a way of life for many travelers. People have grown accustomed to staying in homes, not hotels. It's cheaper, more authentic and offers you the opportunity to live like a local while on vacation.
The average cost per night of an Airbnb booking is $104 compared with $122 at a hotel according to TripAdvisor's 2018 Hotel Price Index report. If you're traveling with friends or family and can split the cost three ways, that can make all the difference in affordability!
Airbnbs are becoming a popular alternative for those who'd rather not stay in hotels.
Airbnbs are becoming a popular alternative for those who'd rather not stay in hotels. Airbnbs are cheaper, more authentic experiences that can let you live like a local in someone's home.
Airbnb is also making it easier and cheaper to travel by offering tours, activities and excursions that usually cost extra when staying at a hotel or resort.
Airbnb has better technology than VRBO.
AirBnB has better technology than VRBO.
Airbnb allows Hosts to split income by property among multiple people, allowing for professional management to enter the industry. AirBnB is easier to use, with better user interface design than VRBO. AirBnB is often cheaper than AirBnB, with many short term rental property managers applying a markup to VRBO reservations, as opposed to AirBnB. Airbnb has also been able to tap into a younger urban crowd that has very different needs from those of their parents and grandparents (the typical VRBO customer).
Airbnb is like an online replacement for booking beds at a hostel.
Airbnb is like an online replacement for booking beds at a hostel. You can choose a room in someone's home, with a private bathroom, or with shared bathroom and kitchen. Whereas VRBO is typically thought of as a platform for vacation home rentals, not urban STR apartments. These days Airbnb is more popular than VRBO by far (see table below).
Source: Inside Airbnb data
Airbnbs allow you to access more locations than VRBO
Airbnbs are available in homes all over the world, from New York to Paris, Rome to Tokyo and more. If you're looking for a romantic getaway or a place where you can bring your family on vacation, Airbnb has you covered. In fact, the company has over 2 million listings in 191 countries worldwide.
Airbnbs offer something that VRBOs don't: access to more locations. With Airbnbs, there are plenty of areas that are not listed as available on VRBOs but may be available through Airbnb because they're not considered "vacation destinations."
Airbnbs are often located closer to your desired location than VRBO or hotels, saving you time on travel.
Airbnbs are often located closer to your desired location than VRBO properties (and hotels), saving you time on travel.
Many VRBO properties are located in neighborhoods or rural areas that require driving, public transportation or taxi service to get to your destination. This can add up when you're traveling with a group of people who may not be able to walk long distances between their rooms and the main area they want to visit.
The benefits of using airbnb far outweigh those of VRBO; it's no wonder they've grown so quickly!
AirBnB has become the preferred option for many travelers because they offer more amenities and affordability than hotels. They also tend to be more comfortable and convenient.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many reasons why Airbnb has surpassed VRBO in popularity. While they both offer similar services, each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. Airbnb is superior in many ways: it has better technology, provides more locations than VRBO does, allows users access to more properties at once and even saves time on travel by bringing them closer together
However, it’s important to note that this doesn't mean VRBO is useless—it still has some great features! For example, if you're looking for more privacy or luxury (or if you just want something different from an apartment), then VRBO may be right up your alley rather than staying with friends or family members who live nearby.
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