Do NOT book through HomeAway or VRBO!!!
Dec 17, 2017, 1:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 5
Do NOT book through HomeAway or VRBO!!!
Do NOT rent through HomeAway, VRBO or Expedia!!! If you are a renter, you have no rights. You might think that buy prepaying the booking in full that you are guaranteed the rental, but the homeowner can cancel your booking at any time with no consequences at all. That means you can be canceled right up until check in.
Their so-called, "rebooking team" is a joke. You can't call them. You go through the regular help line and are told you will get a call back, "in a couple of days." Even if your rental is less than a week away, you have to wait until they get through their backlog of canceled renters (it's already been almost four days for me). You will be offered whatever properties meet your needs as long as they are slightly higher or slightly lower than what you originally booked. If the rate is higher, you will have to pay for the entire rental and then submit a request for refund for the overage.
You have no rights as the renter and you can't leave bad reviews about the homeowner. They won't post reviews that mention bad business practices of the homeowners, only posts about the physical property itself. If you mention you were ripped off or that the owner kept your deposit, you aren't allowed to mention that in the review. Renters have no way of knowing that they might be sending money to a fraudulent or unreliable owner.
Rent through a local vacation rental or through any company. Do NOT use HomeAway, VRBO or Expedia.
Their so-called, "rebooking team" is a joke. You can't call them. You go through the regular help line and are told you will get a call back, "in a couple of days." Even if your rental is less than a week away, you have to wait until they get through their backlog of canceled renters (it's already been almost four days for me). You will be offered whatever properties meet your needs as long as they are slightly higher or slightly lower than what you originally booked. If the rate is higher, you will have to pay for the entire rental and then submit a request for refund for the overage.
You have no rights as the renter and you can't leave bad reviews about the homeowner. They won't post reviews that mention bad business practices of the homeowners, only posts about the physical property itself. If you mention you were ripped off or that the owner kept your deposit, you aren't allowed to mention that in the review. Renters have no way of knowing that they might be sending money to a fraudulent or unreliable owner.
Rent through a local vacation rental or through any company. Do NOT use HomeAway, VRBO or Expedia.
Dec 24, 2017, 1:19 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
Sorry that you've had problems. I did a significant amount of research before renting with VRBO for the first time and had no issues, but it's definitely a YMMV/caveat emperor type deal.
That said, I'd probably use Airbnb in the US since they'd possibly be easier to deal with it there were problems. I'd have used them overseas too if it weren't for the mandatory 3% fee and currency conversion.
That said, I'd probably use Airbnb in the US since they'd possibly be easier to deal with it there were problems. I'd have used them overseas too if it weren't for the mandatory 3% fee and currency conversion.
Jan 13, 2018, 8:20 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: AS MVP, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 191
That sounds like a brutal situation you experienced! I’ve used VRBO many times and never had an issue. We have about 16 guys going down to a property in Phoenix for a friends bachelor party in February so fingers crossed everything goes smooth. We would have a heck of a time rebooking to a comparable property.
Oct 19, 2018, 12:08 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,224
I have to say that I've found VRBO very easy to deal with - I get someone to speak to, and who is sensible and helpful. By contrast, it's very difficult even to find a phone number with AirBnB, and responses to emails seem to be made by computer - they miss the point altogether and appear to be just chunks of text randomly stuck together.
