VRBOReviews 2,004

VRBO is very deceptive. I booked a condo 9 months in advance, knowing I could cancel and be refunded 100% if I did so 60 days in advance of my stay. Well, 6 months from my planned stay I tried to cancel, and booked another condo through their site because I needed more rooms. I am out 412.00, the full down payment. When I called to discuss this, they state that the owner had in her policy that she would keep 250.00 (in small print), even though the main page stated 100% refundable. What idiot would agree to losing money. I would book a hotel in which you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance. I will never trust this site again and will tell everyone I know not to book with them, I would ask you all to do the same and eventually they'll get the message. VERY dissappointed.

We rented a property through VRBO, and while it was fine to begin with, the real trouble came when the owner accused us of damages we did not inflict. It turns out the damage deposit is at the complete mercy of the home owner, and there is literally nothing you can do as a consumer.

While VRBO claims you can dispute these issues, in practice they ignore emails, phone calls, and side with the home owner -- even in the absence of any proof, and a sterling 5 star reputation from other property owners in the past.

We will never be use this service again.

Canceled a reservation within days of making it and MONTHS before the trip. Well within the stated 100% refund policy. Owner kept saying he did not have any finds to refund and did not cancel the reservation and VRBO said it is not their responsibility to refund monies. Basically, VRBO facilitates theft. If you have a honest owner, you are fine. But if an owner wants to take your money and run... you are SOL and VRBO does not give a crap. BEWARE>

This company absolutely has the worst policies and poorest customer service of any site like this. Interestingly, they are all over you when it comes time to pay the annual fees or commissions on rentals.

For instance, if you have a life and can not reply to any and all inquiries within a 24 hour period, they will hide your listing from all searches and they will not tell you that they have done so. Yet, they will still be more than happy to bill you for the annual listing fee despite the fact that your listing has been hidden by them.

Don't bother to try and get anywhere by calling them as an owner to voice your displeasure with their policy. You'll be connected to a call center somewhere in Asia, with someone who speaks modest English, will repeatedly and automatically state "I understand" and "you make a good point" but will not do anything to resolve your complaint and will not be able to direct you to any other level of customer service. But hey, they "understand".

I have used this site for 4 years and this policy change is for their benefit. They want their customers (wait, I thought I was your customer. You're only getting a percentage for listing MY property) to have a positive experience. Frankly, I am not in the rental property business. This is for limited use when the property is not being used. Most of us have real jobs, take vacations, have holiday celebration, etc. Sorry VRBO (and your Homeaway) if it takes 30 hours to respond to an inquiry 5 months in the future.

If you own a rental property, don't list it here. This company is the epitome of a rip off

When I joined last October I was told the only fees was the $499. Now I am hit with credit card fees, fees for the return of damages fees, fees to my renters for return of their security. None of these fees are in their terms and conditions. They have cost me renters who are locked in and ones who said that they will not rent with me if I am on VRBO again. I have to honor the renters for this season but weeks that are not rented, I am blocking as I will not do any new business with these crooks. We as owners do not have any say in what they are doing. I want the ability to return the security deposit, but VRBO says I do not have the right. I am so angry that I want to show what is happening to a lawyer and see if what they are doing is legal? I think the consumer protection agency would be interested in their fraudulent business practices. Any takers on the class action lawsuit? My email *******@optonline.net

Wow, what has happened to vrbo? I used to use this site regularly to book trips whether business or pleasure. In just doing a search right now, the only thing that came up was hotels. I don't use vrbo to want to book at a hotel, that's when I use Priceline. And, not only that, but the fees (e.g., cleaning fees, damage fees) that are being charged, which I imagine is the doing from the homeowner has become outrageous to the point that more often than not, I end up using Priceline and just booking a hotel for much cheaper. What a shame. I use to love vrbo and always told friends about it. Now, I see no point in using it. It's been ruined by greedy homeowners and whoever owns vrbo. I can understand damage fee, however, it should be returned when I leave. I have never damaged any properties, including my own home or apartments where I've lived. It's wrong for a damage fee to not be returned out of greed. And the cleaning fee is b. S. too.

We had a big problem with the home we rented (no tv, wifi or phone as advertised) and bebo confirmed that wehad a legitimate complaint, took our info, assigned us case number and then nothing. When I contacted them to find out the status, they told me thatit was between the homeowner and me. So, the whole case number thing and their "guarantee" is a fraud. The homeowner was a fraud and vrbo was a fraud. If your house has no issues, then you're fine but it's a gamble. We will never use vrbo again.

My recent experience with VRBO is shameful.
After I reserved a condo on the site for my 40th bday and contacted them after the reservation seemed confusing and I didn't get a confirmation they assured me it was all set. I even corresponded with the owner who explained we were good to go and would give me check in details... fast forward my reservation is now cancelled... no one is taking responsibility and passing the buck on a major booking error. No help, nothing... just happy birthday... lol... DON"T USE THIS COMPANY... Air B n B all the way, they care about their business and aren't shady as F.

When first started VRBO was actually a site where vacation renters could find vacation rentals BY OWNER. Unfortunately the business / site should be "vacation rentals by home away". Since the acquisition of VRBO, Home Away/Expedia has now decided to get into the vacation rental business, without the services traditional vacation rental services provide (ie. Sterling Resorts) Lost key? Locked out? No cable? - who to call? Certainly not VRBO. Your last resort is the owner. (you must pray is local). Yet VRBO is now charging rental fees on top of what you had negotiated with the owner. Bottom line - More costly, less service.

Additionally, they are getting into the Pay Pal business. Charging for mandatory payment options.

So you have to ask yourself, after negotiating a price with an owner, what are the new rental fees getting you?
Aside from another pay option, ZERO benefits.

HomeAway, VRBO, Vacation Rental By Owner all owned by the same company. They have changed their business model so many times I as a property owner can't keep up. They once turned away all business from my property because of a "glitch" I lost $40,000 in rentals and they couldn't care less. Now they charge both the property owner and the renter insane fee's, you can't get anyone on the phone that speaks english or knows what's going on. HORRIBLE COMPANY. USE AirBnb instead.

VRBO saved my vacation! I have used VRBO for many years and many vacations with no hassles or problems. I do recognize that they now collect fees that are added to the cost of the rentals. I recently discovered the benefit of these fees and the value of the guarantee! Recently I rented an expensive apartment in Miami because of the beautiful pool area and the proximity to downtown. Upon checking in the owner informed me the pol area was closed for renovation, however there was a pool on the 50 floor I could use. The pool on the 50 floor was seriously lacking any enjoyment! This was the main reason I selected this unit. I called the owner to ask for a refund since I was only in the unit about an hour. He refused to help so I called the VRBO help line. They investigated my claim, agreed with me and found and paid for my stay in a comparable hotel suite with a beautiful pool area. If not for VBRO I would not have enjoyed my vacation or gotten my monies worth! Many thanks VRBO.

Since Expedia bought VRBO they are charging the renter ridiculously high fees to book a property on their site. They also then charge the home owner another 3% just to transfer money into their account. The fee has risen to over $500 (up from $300) just to list a property on their site. This is corporate greed at its worst.
I sincerely hope that another company starts a vacation property rental site that is honest and has integrity. What they are doing to the renters and home owners is high way robbery! Disgusted by their greed.

Bed bugs or were they fleas? Check Consumer affairs on VRBO!
Your experience:
Martie was wonderful and assisted us in everyway possible and really listened to our needs. She is the reason for two stars. The issue is the master bed room, I have been bitten over 40 times and my daughter was bitten over 30 times herself. Lice or bed bugs? Doctor mentioned bed bugs.

After contacting VRBO I was disappointed that they didn't take my complaint seriously. They stated I have to deal with the owner? But, its your website! They have limited resources on investigating if my claims are true or the resources to check proof of practice if they have bed bugs or lice have the issues been rectified.

During this trip my wife was screaming wolf before we got there ( because she is always itchy). I was itchy, but figured them talking about it was making me itch. I got home and shaved the portion of my stomach that reveled several bites real close to one another, days later bites kept appearing, doctor stated normal for bed bug bites to appear at a later time.

Good Luck people