EVERYBODY WHO BOOKS DIRECTLY WITH US GET'S 15% OFF!! JUST USE COUPON CODE:
beach2018
So, here is the long reason we do this...
I used to be the biggest fan of ALL those listing sites, like VRBO, Airbnb, etc... They allowed my wife and I to ADVERTISE to guests from around the world! People were able to find our properties, we delivered a great experience - and people loved it. Life was good.
Then, in December of 2015, Expedia bought Homeaway and it's 50 vacation rental websites, including VRBO.
Since then, Expedia has been monkeying with a previously great platform. Most notably are the additional fees. However, it is the lack of interest in owners or their guests, that is the real reason I am boycotting the online travel booking industry.
As a corporate entity, Expedia's charter is to continue to make more and more money. They achieve this by enabling more "transactions". The more transactions - the more money. Basically, Expedia (and all the large travel sites) is a wholesaler of hotel rooms, plane seats, cruise cabins, etc...
This may work well for Marriott, which is trying to book a total of 1.2 million rooms every day - but it does not work well for a family with a few well cared for vacation rentals delivering a highly customized experience.
Then there are the additional fees to guests and owners...
Guests booking through these site can now expect to pay a new random 9% "booking fee" - just because they think they can. They are also squeeze the owners for more fees than we can count.
Perhaps more importantly, however, these large travel sites also restrict owners ability to connect with their guests. For instance, if a guest has a family emergency and I (as an owner) want to provide them a refund or cancel their booking - I can no longer do that. Owners and guests now have to make a plea to the ginormous travel site to get a refund, etc... (good luck with that).
It would be another thing if all these extra fees and oversight delivered a better experience or greater value. However, they simply do not.
So, I would encourage you; if you find a vacation rental on one of these large travel sites, do some homework and try to get in touch with owners directly. It will save you money and provide a better experience.
In closing, you won't be able to book this property on any other website. For going direct with us, we will provide you 15% off! (just use coupon listed above!
Thank you.
Dave (& Stacy)
beach2018
So, here is the long reason we do this...
I used to be the biggest fan of ALL those listing sites, like VRBO, Airbnb, etc... They allowed my wife and I to ADVERTISE to guests from around the world! People were able to find our properties, we delivered a great experience - and people loved it. Life was good.
Then, in December of 2015, Expedia bought Homeaway and it's 50 vacation rental websites, including VRBO.
Since then, Expedia has been monkeying with a previously great platform. Most notably are the additional fees. However, it is the lack of interest in owners or their guests, that is the real reason I am boycotting the online travel booking industry.
As a corporate entity, Expedia's charter is to continue to make more and more money. They achieve this by enabling more "transactions". The more transactions - the more money. Basically, Expedia (and all the large travel sites) is a wholesaler of hotel rooms, plane seats, cruise cabins, etc...
This may work well for Marriott, which is trying to book a total of 1.2 million rooms every day - but it does not work well for a family with a few well cared for vacation rentals delivering a highly customized experience.
Then there are the additional fees to guests and owners...
Guests booking through these site can now expect to pay a new random 9% "booking fee" - just because they think they can. They are also squeeze the owners for more fees than we can count.
Perhaps more importantly, however, these large travel sites also restrict owners ability to connect with their guests. For instance, if a guest has a family emergency and I (as an owner) want to provide them a refund or cancel their booking - I can no longer do that. Owners and guests now have to make a plea to the ginormous travel site to get a refund, etc... (good luck with that).
It would be another thing if all these extra fees and oversight delivered a better experience or greater value. However, they simply do not.
So, I would encourage you; if you find a vacation rental on one of these large travel sites, do some homework and try to get in touch with owners directly. It will save you money and provide a better experience.
In closing, you won't be able to book this property on any other website. For going direct with us, we will provide you 15% off! (just use coupon listed above!
Thank you.
Dave (& Stacy)