Save on service fees by booking direct on Houfy.

These directions are for planning purposes only. You may find that construction projects, traffic, weather, or other events may cause conditions to differ from the map results, and you should plan your route accordingly. You must obey all signs or notices regarding your route.

As a security deposit alternative, houfyProtect, an upfront nonrefundable low cost property damage protection policy for just $5 per night, is taken at time of booking.

This host has not verified their email and or phone number on Houfy.

This host has verified their email and or phone number on Houfy.

This host verified their email and phone number on Houfy.

Houfy lets you contact and book direct with hosts. The host has provided the following links to give you more information.

This host responds to {response_rate}% of inquiries {response_time}.

A professional captain will navigate the boat for you.

Wonderful Houfy hosts are recognized as the best hosts in hospitality. The wonderful Houfy program rewards Houfy's top-rated and most experienced hosts.

As a vacation rental owner, you must decide where to list your properties. Most hosts jump on prominent platforms with massive user bases, like Airbnb, to gain visibility. As a result, they limit their potential reach and pay double the amount of fees.

However, as the short-term rental industry evolves, owners need to break free from being the co-hosts and start building their own brands. This is their chance to do business on their terms, skip the middleman, and minimize the fees. The word for direct booking!

To give you a clearer picture, we'll analyze the pros and cons of Airbnb vs. direct bookings in this guide. We'll discuss payment plans, cancellation policies, customer communication, and special bonuses. So grab your favorite coffee, and let's dive in.

Airbnb is a giant platform with over 7 million listings and 4 million hosts worldwide. It counts over one billion guest stays to date, so it's hard to ignore it even if you want to.

However, although the platform started as an affordable solution for adventurous travelers, it has now become a pricey, commercialized, and unregulated mess. Here are its pros and cons:

Property management channel manager

Airbnb vs. Direct booking website for rental property

Vacation rental business to accept online bookings

Airbnb property management

A direct booking website is the key for property owners wanting to create an elevated brand experience. It helps them tap into hidden revenue, grow their audience, and better control their hospitality business.

Direct booking websites for property managers

Accept direct bookings via your own website rental property.

Get positive reviews on your existing website to secure more bookings

Use Houfy's website builder to create your vacation rental website

Property management website builder

Houfy's Example for Direct Booking Short-term Rental

If you want to develop your own brand as a property owner, 

 is THE marketplace for vacation rentals and real estate properties. By connecting properties directly with guests, Houfy makes finding, renting, or selling vacation homes easy.

And the best part? Houfy is FREE so that guests can pay less for the same home. In return, property owners get a direct relationship with buyers, their own direct booking website, and instant quotes. Airbnb and VRBO simply can't compete!

Houfy verifies its hosts and offers Lite and Premium Plans for those looking to take their rental business to the next level. Finally, the platform offers last-minute specials, such as highlighting or showing your listings at the top of search results. 

Airbnb Vs. Houfy: How to Avoid Short-term Rental Fees

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