5 Best Airbnb Alternatives in 2024
Vacation can be an enjoyable experience, but only if you plan it properly. There are users out there who plan well in advance to make sure there are no last minute complications to their schedule. One service that has practically changed the way we travel or take vacations is Airbnb. By offering a wide selection of classy and cost effective properties for the users by fellow users, Airbnb is quickly becoming the go-to option for any vacationer, no matter where they’re traveling in the world.
However, it would be foolhardy not to look at a few of the alternative services out there, that could find you an even better deal. So we’re going to talk about five of the best Airbnb alternatives that are available in 2024. The search was exhaustive, suggesting that Airbnb doesn’t really have too much competition, but these will surely give the service a run for its money.
So let’s have a look.
5 Best Airbnb Alternatives in 2024
HomeToGo
Rated as one of the world’s largest search engine for vacation rentals, HomeToGo is paired with multiple services like Booking.com as well as VRBO, giving you the best that the experts in this field have to offer. The best part is that you can search for vacation rentals or a proper hotel using the service, giving you the liberty to pick the best out there. The expansive search engine means there are thousands of properties listed on HomeToGo, making it one of the best alternatives for Airbnb available today.
It also comes with a Airbnb comparison tool, giving you the best idea of the price differential between services. Since most of online bookings take place on mobile apps, HomeToGo is also available on the Google Play Store as a free download. Be sure to check it out. If you’re a property owner, you can choose to list your own property on HomeToGo, letting you earn some money in the process.
Flipkey
This service is highly recommended given that it gives users a closer feel of an Airbnb style platform, but with more flexibility. What makes Flipkey great is the fact that it’s owned by TripAdvisor, thus providing users with a ton of reviews and other pointers for the properties they’re checking out. The ability to get real reviews from people who have actually stayed in such properties makes this a game changer in my book. Other platforms have reviews too, but having TripAdvisor on your side is a massive advantage for any vacation rentals service.
The service is ideally recommended for group bookings to travel destinations, as you can end up saving a lot of money. Most properties listed on this platform are large spaces, which make it ideal for larger groups. Flipkey doesn’t have an Android app, so you’re limited to making bookings on your computer or mobile browser. Much like any app on this list, Flipkey has a large number of properties across the world, making it well suited for a surprise vacation for you and the entire family.
Booking.com
Booking.com probably needs no introduction as it is one of the most popular hotels app in the world. It comes with an extensive list of properties and a recently launched “Apartments” section, which promises to offer the homely vibe of a regular house, while providing restaurant like amenities and facilities. Apartments are available all over the world via Booking.com, so all you have to do is select the city you want to travel to, select the tentative dates, and filter the results using the Apartment filter and you’ll get the best selection of apartments available for the mentioned dates.
It also goes without saying that Booking.com price matches on some properties, giving you the ability to get the cheapest price on the internet. And yes, Booking.com has mobile apps on both major platforms, allowing you to check listings and make changes to your reservations on the go. It’s a free app on the Google Play Store.
VRBO
VRBO is an excellent alternative to Airbnb and is considered a sister site to HomeAway, which is yet another popular vacation rentals service. VRBO stands for Vacation Rentals By Owners, which is putting it quite accurately. This is why VRBO is quite similar to Airbnb in terms of features as well as operations. With over 2 million house rentals from around the world, VRBO’s site is expanding pretty quickly. This is also pretty similar to Flipkey in that it offers larger rental spaces meant for bigger families.
You can filter your results based on the kind of property you want, including condos, cabins, villas, and apartments. Given the amount of choice you have here per property type, your vacation wishlist will undoubtedly expand with the inclusion of VRBO properties. With this service, users are expected to get only the right reviews given that the company doesn’t allow owners to delete poor reviews, thus keeping it fair and balanced for everybody.
VRBO also has a mobile app which you can download from the Google Play Store. It’s free to download.
TurnKey
TurnKey is a U.S. only app as of now, which means its area of service is quite limited. But if you’re looking to vacation within the U.S. (we know there are plenty of places to visit), TurnKey perhaps offers the best alternative for every traveler. For starters, the service completely does away with keys, offering users a door code, giving you the freedom to leave the room at your own time. This, however, is only available on TurnKey’s own properties, so you might have some trouble finding a property with this feature in many parts of the U.S.
TurnKey promises that each room will be cleaned professionally, and guests will receive complimentary Wi-Fi and hotel style linens. It’s important to note that the Turnkey app has a bunch of other exciting features on board, which gives you the ability to checkout local attractions around your property and do more. The TurnKey app is a free download on the Play Store.