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.

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“Booking direct” means booking your vacation directly with the owner of the property rather than through a rental company or through OTA (“Online Travel Agency”) booking sites like VRBO, Booking.com, or Airbnb.

Vacations can be expensive! If you are like me, you are always searching for the best price. Did you know some vacation rentals cost 15-20% more depending on the website you use, adding hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars to the cost of your stay?

*You will always get the best price when you book direct with the owner – 

no service fees or commission added on for the middle man

When you book through OTA websites like Airbnb, VRBO or Booking.com, you 

 pay extra fees. These websites also charge the property owners a substantial commission on the rental amount. Owners will to pass these fees on to travelers in terms of a higher nightly rate. So 

regardless of who they are “charging” the fee, YOU, the guest is PAYING all of the fees!

FYI, here is a breakdown of the fees charged by some of the OTAs:

 (not just the nightly rate) across websites - AFTER you enter your dates.

Here are 2 examples of price comparisons - same property, same dates, booked on different platforms. (Houfy is the equivalent of booking direct because no booking fees are charged.)

2. Better communication...and direct with owner of property.

OTAs insist that, “for your safety”, all communication between Owners/Hosts and Guests be done through their site . How does talking to me, the person you are actually renting from, directly make you less safe?? It doesn’t. The OTAs do this for one reason: to make sure they don’t lose any of their cut of the booking.

What this policy does do is keep you, the Guest, and me, the Host, an arm’s length apart. But 

 when renting Oa vacation property! It is important for the Guest and the Host to develop a trusting relationship so that your experience can be as personalized as possible and so you KNOW will be dealing with a real person throughout the entire experience.

When you book direct, the Host is able to call, text, or email you directly with any questions, recommendations, and explanations - and vice versa.

Many owners of direct booking sites offer 

 on their own website or social media accounts! Speaking directly with the owner guarantees you the best possible rental price, access to 

special offers and/or last minute cancellations deals

. (Look for a place to sign up for notifications of special deals or discounts.)

When you book direct and are a good guest, you develop a relationship with the owner that makes you a member of their vacation rental family. When you have this relationship, you know exactly what kind of experience you can expect the next time you book this same property. Owners love repeat guests and often give you discounts when you come back again.

Not all properties have direct websites, but many do! And it is always worth it to save the money!

Join Houfy's free book direct market network

. Owners never pay fees or commissions. And travelers never pay service fees.

 (or other online maps) and filter by “lodging”.

dedicated to vacation rentals by owners, fee-free or VRBO/Airbnb alternatives. 

Search for “(your desination)”, “vacation rentals” or “book direct”. 

(for example. “Hilton Head book direct”) 

 the OTA paid ads to direct book websites.

If you find a specific property you like on an OTA site, do some research to find out if an owner does direct bookings:

Many owners list on multiple OTA platforms, book direct sites, and have their own website as well. Sometimes travelers will message hosts through popular booking platforms asking if they have a book direct site. But...these sites

 forbid hosts to tell you how to book directly. 

After all, the platforms earn revenue based on commissions.

Identify the property name (from the OTA listing)

The easiest way to search is by finding the vacation rental's property name. Hosts  and guests often refer to the property by a specific name such as “HHI Tide 21” or “A 	Touch of Luxury Log Cabin”

To check out a great place to stay in Hilton Head this season, go to 

Why and How to Book your Vacation Rental Direct with Owner

By now, you have probably heard the term, “Book direct” when looking for a place to stay for your vacation. But, like most travelers, you may have questions about what it is, why you should consider it, and how to do it safely.

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Family Friendly Villa at oceanside resort. Perfect for families with kids! Beach Equipment provided! Huge Pool, Tennis, Pickleball, & Playground.

HHI TIDE 21 at Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Resort

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After coming back to Hilton Head year after year for our family vacations with our three children, we decided to buy our own vacation home in January 2020. We manage our own property because we want to provide a personal relationship with our Guests and create an experience that they will want to return to year after year!

We are available by phone, text, and email for all Guest questions, concerns, and issues. We live in Columbia, SC, but we have wonderful local on-island contacts, including an outstanding cleaning service and handyman that are available  when needed.

Why and How to Book your Vacation Rental Direct with Owner

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