If you’re like most people, you’re probably planning a vacation sometime this summer. And whether you’re going to the beach or the mountains, the city or the country, one thing is for sure: you’ll want to have some extra space to relax in. That’s where vacation rentals come in.

Airbnb and VRBO are two of the most popular vacation rental websites, and they’re seeing a nearly 50 percent increase in demand for rentals this summer compared to last.

So if you’re looking for some extra space on your next trip, be sure to check out these websites!

Best Vacation Rental Websites

To help you sort through the choices, I compared more than a dozen top vacation rental sites to determine which provide the greatest variety of accessible items, use filters, descriptive listings, and fair pricing without excessive costs. There is no best destination home rental site; instead, each has advantages and disadvantages to suit various sorts of visitors.

What Are Vacation Rentals?

A vacation rental is a furnished apartment, house, or professionally managed resort-condominium complex that is available for short-term or extended stays. Rentals are often found in popular tourist destinations and provide more space and privacy than traditional hotel rooms.

Vacation rentals have been around for centuries, but the rise of online booking sites has made them more popular than ever. More than half of all American travelers say they would consider staying in a vacation rental, according to a report by Phocuswright, a travel industry research firm.

The Benefits of Vacation Rentals

There are several reasons why you might want to consider a vacation rental on your next trip:

• Privacy: Hotels can be great, but there’s something to be said for having your own space on vacation. When you stay in a vacation rental, you can come and go as you please without worrying about disturbing other guests or being disturbed yourself.
• Cost: Vacation rentals are often more affordable than staying in a hotel, especially if you’re traveling with a group. You can split the cost of the rental among your friends or family members, which can save everyone money.
• Location: Staying in a vacation rental gives you the opportunity to stay in a specific location that may not have many (or any) hotels. This is perfect if you want to be close to nature or experience a different side of the city you’re visiting.

If you’re considering a vacation rental for your next trip, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Our Favorite Vacation Rental Sites

Here are the best vacation rental websites to help you get started:

1 Airbnb – Best For Extensive Options

Airbnb is a company that connects people looking to rent out their homes with people looking for places to stay. It’s a commerce site where homeowners offer their houses as vacation rentals directly to guests.

The thing that makes Airbnb so distinctive is that you may spend the night in anything from a bedroom in someone’s house to a treehouse in Brazil. (No, seriously—according to the business, it has over 3,000 Airbnb castles and 1,400 tree houses currently available.)

2 VRBO – Best For Luxury And Spacious Rentals

VRBO is a platform for vacation home rentals. Instead of going through a realtor or other intermediaries, travelers deal directly with the homeowners. Unlike Airbnb, Vrbo does not feature any shared spaces, so you won’t find anybody else’s food in the fridge or clothing in the closet.

This is a fantastic alternative for family gatherings since none of the vacation homes are used exclusively, allowing everyone to spread out instead of cramming into a hotel room. It’s also ideal for groups looking to stay together in a common area.

3 Third Home Rentals – Best For Unique Luxury Rentals

Third Home is a luxury vacation rental platform that connects homeowners with travelers. It has over 13,000 members in its network and offers access to over 25,000 luxury homes in 100 countries.

Membership starts at $2000 per year which gives you 50 nights of free lodging at any home in the network as well as discounts on stays beyond that. You can also book last-minute stays and get concierge services when you’re traveling.

4 Onefinestay – Best For Upscale Vacation Rentals

Onefinestay is an upscale vacation rental platform that offers access to over 10000 homes in popular destinations around the world. Its inventory includes apartments, houses, villas, and more.

The beauty of it is that after the family has arrived, they don’t have to worry about anything. The company will handle anything from packing supplies to meal preparation and child care. Homes are spacious enough to accommodate everyone in the family, from the youngsters to the grandparents.

Onefinestay also provides concierge services and 24/hour customer support. You can book your stay on Onefinestay’s website or through its mobile app.

5 Vacasa – Best For North and Central States in the U.S.

Vacasa, the largest vacation rental platform in North America, is a property management firm that manages homeowners’ properties.

It owns and manages 35,000 houses spread across 34 states as well as various holiday spots such as Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and Canada. Vacasa-managed homes are linked to Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo so they may be listed.

6 Sonder – Best For Modern Apartement Rentals

Sonder is a vacation rental platform that offers modern apartments in popular cities around the world. It has over 10000 properties in its network and offers a variety of amenities such as 24/hour concierge, housekeeping, and Wi-Fi.

Sonder also has a partnership with Airbnb so you can book your stay on either platform.

7 Plum Guide – Best For High-End Rentals

Plum Guide is a vacation rental platform that offers high-end rentals in popular cities around the world. All of the homes on Plum Guide are handpicked by a team of experts who visit and vet each property.

The house inspectors at ‘Plum Guide,’ for example, follow a more than 150-point test to compile its definitive collection of houses. As a result, the company provides a curated selection of the top 3% of rentals in a location. Surprisingly, though, despite the rigorous choice procedure, there are several budget choices available.

Plum Guide currently has properties in London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco.

8 Evolve – Best For Folks With Pets

If you’re planning on vacationing with your furry best friend, you’ll want to check out Evolve. This vacation rental website, Evolve is dedicated to making travel easy and comfortable for pet owners. With more than 140,000 properties in over 11,000 cities around the world, you’re sure to find a rental that suits both your needs and your pet’s.

9 Welcome Beyond – Best For Beautifully Design Stay

Welcome Beyond is a vacation rental website that offers beautiful, design-forward rentals in some of the most popular travel destinations around the world. With properties in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, and more, Welcome Beyond has something for everyone.

This website offers lovely personal touches, such as inspiration for the property and features that the owner finds so special. Apartments, homes, and villas are among the rentals available, as are out-of-the-box stays in yurts, lodges, and even private islands.

10 TurnKey – Best For United States Rentals

TurnKey is best for vacation rental homes in the United States. The company offers 24/seven customer support and has a strict cleaning protocol that it requires all of its properties to follow. TurnKey also offers a damage protection plan to help cover any accidental damages that occur during your stay.

To make sure each rental is up to par, TurnKey sends a professional photographer to take photos and create a virtual tour of the space. Guests can then use the filters on the website to find their perfect rental based on their desired location, number of bedrooms, price range, and more.

11 TripAdvisor Rentals – Best For Wide Variety of Stay

TripAdvisor is best known as a hotel review site, but the company also has a vacation rental arm called TripAdvisor Rentals. The website offers more than six million rentals in over 200 countries. Guests can read reviews of rental properties before booking, and they can also leave reviews after their stay.

12 Agoda – Best For Last-Minute Bookings

If you’re looking for a last-minute vacation rental, Agoda is a good option. The website offers same-day bookings at more than two million properties in over 200 countries. You can search for apartments, villas, condos, and more. Plus, Agoda offers 24/seven customer support.

Agoda offers rentals throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. For globetrotters looking for a home in one of these regions, Agoda has apartments to rent.

As you can see, there are a number of different websites that offer vacation rentals in a variety of locations around the world. And with so many options available, it’s easy to find the perfect rental for your next vacation.

So what are you waiting for? Start planning your dream vacation today!