Do you always want the best price for your vacation rental? 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?

Many owners list on multiple platforms, book direct sites, and have their own website as well. Travelers often message hosts through popular booking platforms asking if they have a book direct site. But there's just one problem with this...

The major platforms forbid hosts to tell you how to book directly. After all, the platforms earn revenue based on commissions.

So how do you find the best rate if you aren't already shopping on a book direct site like Houfy.com?

Identify the property name

The easiest way to search is by finding the vacation rental's property name. Property managers, hosts, and guests often refer to the property by a specific name.

1. Look near the title or headline.
2. If it's not obvious, see if it's mentioned in the listing description and/or reviews.

Google search the property name

1. If the name is a common phrase, use quotation marks before and after the search term entered.
2. Quotation marks tell Google you want to see results with this exact phrase.
3. Enter the property name along with city to narrow down your search.
4. If you don't know the exact city, just enter the general area.

Search on social media

1. Enter the property name, property owner, or property manager's name into Houfy's book direct market network.
2. Search facebook for the vacation rental's business page.
3. Search Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter

Use the description text

1. Hosts often use the same text wording on multiple sites.
2. Copy and paste several text chunks from the listing description.
3. The more unique the text the easier to find it in a search
4. Test both ways: with, and without quotation marks

Do a property image search 

Owners typically use the same photos on multiple sites. Use Google image search. Results can really be mixed, as google often returns "similar" images. But it's still worth a try–especially if you've already tried the other methods. Right click in the image and select from the options:

1. Right click on image
2. Select "Copy image address"
3. Paste the address into the Google image search tool

1. Right click on image
2. Select "Save image as.." and save to your computer
3. Upload the image file to Google Images

1. Right click on image
2. Select "Search image with Google Lens"

Final tip

Always compare the total reservation cost across websites. Some sites reflect the rate increase only after you enter dates and try to book. Others will have a separate line item called "service fee."

Some sites add 12-20% with no breakdown of the nightly rate and added commission. This is why it's so important to compare totals versus nightly rates.

Also, be sure to read the fine print of any price guarantees. These often contain exclusions making it difficult for travelers to qualify.

But why waste time studying the fine print of a guarantee when you can just book direct with the owner or manager?

Join Houfy's free book direct market network. Owners never pay fees or commissions. And travelers never pay service fees. Share this post so your friends and family book direct for their next vacation.

The 11 worst mistakes travelers make when booking a vacation rental

1) Not Booking Enough Bedrooms Just because a place sleeps 10, doesn't mean it comfortably sleeps your group of 10. Early risers ready to make coffee and breakfast, won't appreciate tiptoeing around teens sprawled out on the couch. And If young ones must sleep in the living room, the adults can't hang out after at 8 p.m.

https://www.houfy.com

11 Worst Mistakes Travelers Make When Booking a Vacation Rental