I compared Airbnb, Getaway, VRBO, and Hipcamp to help you decide which one to choose for your next vacation!
Travel is slowly coming back and people are already starting to plan their next vacations. A deciding factor is always accommodation: where can I find the best place to stay?
Most people already know Airbnb, but is there an alternative? What is the best accommodation for a relaxing getaway away from our busy lives?
I want to make sure my readers know the best options out there. So I went through four lodging options from four popular companies (Airbnb, Getaway, VRBO, and Hipcamp) to find our favorite. This is what I found:
Key similarities:
- All four services allow you to book rental accommodation online
- All four services provide images and reviews of the accommodation offered.
Key differences:
- Airbnb, VRBO and Hipcamp are third party booking platforms and do not own the accommodation.
- Getaway allows you to book Getaways own cabins
- Airbnb and VRBO allow you to book a variety of different rentals
- With Getaway, reservation payments are fully refundable up to 15 days prior to reservation, which is not the case with all rentals on the other sites.
- Airbnb, VRBO, and Hipcamp charge you service and cleaning fees prior to departure, which can dramatically increase the cost of your trip.
- All services and cleaning fees are included with Getaway in one, clear price
Getaway overview
Get away It has all the great parts of the camp, but with the added convenience of its cozy, secluded cabins hidden in the trees. Before booking I emailed their team and they couldn’t have been more helpful.
They quickly assured me that they had improved their cleaning procedures and that there are 50 to 150 feet between the booths. Check-ins are completely contactless and the cabins are only a two-hour drive from the city.
It’s the perfect place for a tech detox. There is no wifi in the cabins, just a landline. There are tons of nature trails near the cabins, plus a cell phone safe to store your phones during the trip! So you can go on nature walks, toast by the campfire, have a barbecue, play cards, and just enjoy your beautiful surroundings!
Airbnb overview
I think we are all familiar with Airbnb and at this stage we have probably all used it to book a rental. Airbnb offers many different options and is a global company, so no matter where you travel, you can find a rental.
My experience so far with Airbnb rentals has been fair. Since the rentals are owned by individuals, it is difficult to know what you are going to get. While they offer pictures and reviews of each rental, there is no way of knowing if what you see is what you will get.
The worst thing about Airbnb is its exorbitant “service” fees, which are roughly 20 percent above the total cost (not to mention cleaning fees).
VRBO overview
VRBO is very similar to Airbnb. It is a global company that specializes in condos, cabins, lake rentals and beach houses, but also offers apartments in the city.
When you go to book, you will notice that VRBO seems to have fewer options overall than Airbnb. But you still have the same service and cleaning fees, which add up to about 20 percent of the rental cost.
Considering that VRBO only offers a fraction of the bookable rentals that Airbnb offers, hopefully this will be reflected in a more affordable service fee, but that’s not the case.
Hipcamp overview
Hipcamp is specifically for camping rentals. It is another reservation service that offers third-party rentals for people who want to stay in nature. You can search for campsites, RVs, tents, teepees, and more.
I found this site to be too niche for us as it is aimed at avid campers who want to have fun in nature. If you are not you, you do not need to use this site.
Again, Hipcamp also has a “service” fee, around 12 percent. It’s not as bad as Airbnb and VRBO, but it’s still pretty significant.
Final thoughts
All services have their merits, but if I had to choose one, I would recommend it Get away because it is the best of both worlds: comfort and nature. Hipcamp offers camping rentals, and Airbnb and VRBO offer houses and apartments, and Getaway has the best parts of camping without having to rush!
Getaway cabins come with everything you need: freshly made beds, air conditioning and heating, a private bathroom with a toilet and hot shower, a deck of cards, and a selection of books. The kitchen includes a two-burner stove, mini-fridge, and cooking basics like a pot and pan, kettle, bottle opener, and essentials like olive oil, salt, and pepper. Also, the large window with beautiful views of nature.
If you book with Getaway, you are not booking with a third party, so there are no hidden “service” fees when you check out. We find this kind of irony given the incredible customer service we experience with Getaway.
Me Get away trip was wonderful. If we need anything after this last year, it’s more fresh air and less screen time. We spent the days hiking and enjoying the panoramic views of the mountains. The nights were all about chatting and eating around the campfire, while gazing at the stars in the night sky.
Getaway is the remedy we all need right now, so if you are booking a vacation, book with Getaway.
Plan your spring adventure with Getaway!
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