The 7 Best OTAs for Vacation Rentals

Getting bookings for your vacation rental isn’t just about offering a beautiful space. It’s about showing up where travelers are searching. And that means being on the right OTAs.

OTAs are now the first stop for millions planning everything from weekend getaways to extended stays. The vacation rental market is growing. In fact, the global travel and tourism industry is expected to reach $691 billion by 2026, with vacation rentals alone projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.7 percent and hit $843 billion by 2027.

The demand is there. The challenge is getting seen.

This blog breaks down the seven best OTAs for vacation rentals, what makes each one unique and how to build a smart listing strategy that drives more bookings with less friction.

What is an OTA?

An Online Travel Agency (OTA) is a web-based platform that connects travelers with various travel services, including accommodations, flights and car rentals.

For vacation rental owners, OTAs act as intermediaries, showcasing properties to potential guests and facilitating the booking process. In return, these platforms typically charge a commission or fee for each eligible booking made through their site.

These sites have grown into one stop shop resources for travelers to secure everything from hotels and flights to cozy cabins, beach vacations or even hidden gems in places like the Outer Banks.

Why List Your Vacation Rental on Multiple OTAs?

Diversifying your property's presence across multiple OTAs can significantly impact your rental's success. Here are some compelling reasons to consider:

Increased visibility

Each OTA has its own user base. By listing on multiple platforms, you tap into diverse audiences, increasing the chances of securing reservations.

Convenience for guests

Many visitors have preferred platforms they trust. Being present on various OTAs ensures you're accessible to guests regardless of their reservation preferences. This adds to the convenience of the rental experience.

Global reach

Some OTAs have a strong international presence, allowing you to attract visitors from around the world, expanding your market reach.

Streamlined operations

OTAs often handle payment processing, provide standardized cancellation policies and offer customer support, simplifying the management process for hosts.

Enhanced credibility

Accumulating positive reviews across multiple platforms can bolster your property's reputation, making it more appealing to potential guests.

Revenue diversification

By not putting all your eggs in one basket, you protect your income stream from algorithm or policy changes on a single platform.

What to Look for in a Vacation Rental Platform

Before signing up with an OTA, ask yourself the following:

• How much traffic does this platform get monthly?

• What’s the commission fee structure? Are there hidden fees?

• Is it geared toward hotels or vacation rentals?

• Does it allow flexible cancellation policies?

• Will I be competing with similar properties in my area?

• Does it support multi-property management tools?

• Is it compatible with my property type — villa, apartment, cabin or condo?

• What kind of guests typically use the platform?

• How are taxes and total price displayed to guests?

Top 7 OTAs for Vacation Rentals

Based on industry insights and platform features, here are seven leading OTAs to consider for listing your vacation rental:

1. Airbnb

Airbnb is a giant in the short-term rental world and one of the best platforms to list your property. If you're getting into vacation rentals, this is the place to start!

With listings in over 220 countries and more than a billion guests hosted, Airbnb has completely reshaped the industry since its launch in 2007. It put a spotlight on shared spaces, guest reviews and unique stays, making the experience just as important as the rental itself.

As one of the most recognized OTAs, Airbnb gives your property incredible exposure. It also comes with a suite of tools and services to help you manage your listing efficiently. Plus, as a host, you get access to valuable perks that make running a short-term rental smoother and more profitable.

Key features:

• Global reach and an established reputation among travelers. (i.e. The website receives approximately 90 million visits monthly by unique global visitors)

• Listing is free of charge.

• A customized search allowing travelers to filter based on date, location, price, type and amenities.

• Airbnb regularly enhances its platform with new features to improve the host and guest experience.

• Airbnb AirCover offers damage protection and a $1 million host guarantee insurance policy.

• Airbnb handles tax collection and remittance in select locations.

• Multiple cancellation and refund policies.

• 24/7 customer support

• Mobile friendly app

Fees:

With the split-fee option, hosts will pay around 3% or 14-16% with the host-only option.

Website: www.airbnb.com

2. Vrbo

Vrbo is a pioneer in the short-term rental market, offering homeowners a platform to showcase their properties to travelers worldwide. With a presence in 100+ countries, it connects hosts with a broad audience of potential guests looking for unique stays.

Beyond homeowners, Vrbo also caters to property managers, providing tools to streamline reservations and operations. Guests who reserve through Vrbo can purchase travel insurance, adding an extra layer of security to their trips. As part of one of the world’s largest travel companies, Vrbo is widely trusted by both hosts and travelers.

The platform features over 2 million listings across 190 countries, including homes, condos, and even unique stays like castles and treehouses. With a strong foothold in the U.S. market, Vrbo is particularly popular in beach destinations and leisure-focused getaways. The site attracts around 20 million visitors per month, making it a powerful platform for reaching prospective renters.

Key features:

• Listing is free.

• Only entire properties can be listed, ensuring a private and exclusive experience for guests.

• For extra protection, look for the "Verified Traveler" badge whenever you receive a reservation.

• Customize your listing to fit your hosting style — set your own rules, pricing and availability on your terms.

• Vrbo offers 24/7 online support to hosts worldwide.

• To simplify listing and management, Vrbo provides innovative features like virtual tours and AI-powered virtual assistants.

• Your personal information stays secure with advanced fraud protection technology.

• Liability Insurance coverage of $1M for each property, per year — free of charge.

Fees:

• A two-way choice

• You can pay an annual fee per property of $499

• You can list for free and pay a fee per booking 5% per booking + 3% credit card processing fee

Website: www.vrbo.com

3. Booking.com

Headquartered in Amsterdam, Booking.com is one of the largest and most established OTAs, offering everything from bed and breakfasts to self-catering apartments and vacation rentals.

With over 28 million listings across more than 130,000 destinations in 228 countries, it’s a powerful platform for boosting your market reach and driving more bookings.

Booking.com attracts around 350 million visitors each month, making it an excellent sales channel for hosts looking to expand their visibility.

Key features:

• Listing is free of charge.

• You can list any type of property on the platform.

• Easily import details from existing listings to save time when creating a new one.

• The platform offers an intuitive interface with instant booking capabilities.

• Step-by-step guidance is provided, covering how the platform works, best practices and important things to watch out for.

• Advanced filtering and search options tailor results to the guest’s preferences, allowing hosts to target specific audiences.

• Booking.com employs excellent marketing strategies to help increase visibility.

• No commissions are charged if a guest doesn’t show up and you can charge the full amount for no-shows.

Fees:

A fixed host fee of 15% on completed bookings, upon guest check-in. If a guest cancels a booking, no fee is charged.

Website: www.booking.com

4. Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor Rentals is a go-to platform for vacation rental managers and owners looking to list everything from private rooms to luxury villas.

As the world’s largest travel site, Tripadvisor boasts over 988 million reviews and 463 million monthly users, making it a trusted resource for individuals seeking accommodations — and a powerful tool for getting your rental booked.

Beyond rentals, Tripadvisor is a hub for travel advice, reviews on hotels, restaurants and attractions, plus a lively forum where travelers swap tips and stories. It also offers booking services for hotels, flights and vacation packages, making it a comprehensive travel planning platform.

Key features:

• Listing your property is completely free.

• Your listing is automatically translated into 26 languages and shown on 26 Tripadvisor websites.

• The Instant Book feature provides a seamless booking experience while boosting your acceptance rate and search ranking, making it easier for potential renters to finalize their stay.

• Listing Strength is a built-in tool that helps optimize your listing to attract more bookings.

• Tripadvisor’s Certificate of Excellence is a recognized mark of quality in the travel industry — earning it is a great way to show travelers your rental is top-notch.

Fees:

A 3% host fee is charged per booking. This commission is based on the host's total rent, including any required and optional fees specified for the property.

Website: www.tripadvisor.com

5. Homes & Villas by Marriott International

Marriott is one of the most trusted names in hospitality and now it’s making waves in the vacation rental space with Homes & Villas by Marriott International. This premium platform partners with top-tier vacation rental management companies to offer luxury villas, homes and condos that blend the comforts of a hotel stay with the perks of a private home.

Listing your vacation rental on Homes & Villas gives you access to a massive audience of potential guests. Every property is carefully vetted to meet Marriott’s high standards for quality, design and service.

From sleek penthouses and waterfront villas to sprawling mansions and cozy cottages, these homes are designed for upscale travelers, often featuring private pools, outdoor fire pits and open lawn areas — perfect for larger groups.

Marriott’s powerful marketing, loyalty programs, and travel partnerships also give your rental a serious edge in a competitive market. With Marriott Bonvoy’s website pulling in an average of 100,000 visitors per month, your property will be in front of a high-intent audience ready to book their next stay.

Key features:

• Marriott's extensive distribution network puts your properties in front of a global audience.

• Every property is carefully selected to maintain a curated, high-quality portfolio.

• Perfect for premium property owners offering unique stays with top-tier amenities.

• Marriott Bonvoy attracts an exclusive clientele, typically leading to high-quality guests.

• Professional property management services include 24/7 cleaning, maintenance and customer support.

• Utilize Marriott's distribution and marketing channels to increase occupancy and revenue.

• You can participate in Marriott's loyalty program or set your own rates and availability.

• Guests enjoy flexible payment options, including credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Marriott gift cards, making booking seamless.

• Bonvoy points integration, allowing visitors to earn rewards while staying at your property.

How to list your vacation rental on Marriott

1. Visit Marriott's website and create a business account.

2. Once you've created your account, you can log in and click on "Partner with Us" on the main menu.

3. On the Partner with Us page, you'll see a link for "List Your Property." Click on that link and follow the instructions to create a property profile.

4. Fill out the property profile form with all of your vacation rental information, including photos, amenities and rates.

5. Once you've completed the profile, click the "Submit" button.

6. Marriott will review your rental profile, and if it meets their requirements, they will approve it and list your rental on their website.

Fees

• The standard commission is 15%.

• Marriott Homes & Villas charges a commission on the nightly rates and cleaning fees minus taxes.

Website: www.homes-and-villas.marriott.com

6. Hopper

Hopper is North America's top travel app, with 75 million users and generating $5.9 billion in bookings in 2023.

It’s your go-to platform for booking flights, hotels, rental cars and vacation homes, all in a mobile-only experience that’s perfect for travelers on the move. With offices in Montreal and Boston, Hopper uses AI to predict price drops for flights and accommodations, helping users score the best deals.

Hopper Homes is the app's vacation rental feature, allowing travelers to search for properties based on location, number of bedrooms and bathrooms and amenities like outdoor space and parking.

For property managers, Hopper connects you to fresh demographics, especially mobile-first Gen Y/Z travelers. The app keeps users engaged with AI-powered notifications that suggest the best times to book and offer smart trip planning advice.

Plus, Hopper’s fintech features are a great advantage for boosting conversions. The app predicts travel prices with 95% accuracy, alerts users when to book and includes a “Price Freeze” feature to lock in rates. And for added flexibility, Hopper dynamically adjusts cancellation fees for non-refundable bookings.

Key features:

• Tap into one of the fastest-growing travel apps, with 75 million users on board

• Strong social media presence

• Benefit from a smart marketing strategy that keeps customers coming back

Fees:

Hopper charges a 14% host fee for bookings made through a PMS or Channel Manager, while non-integrated hosts pay a 3% fee, with guests covering up to 12% of the booking cost.

Website: www.hopper.com

7. Google Travel

Google Vacation Rentals is the latest addition to Google's travel search tools, making it easier than ever for travelers to find short-term rentals.

Millions of people use Google’s travel search engine daily and in response to that demand, Google rolled out Vacation Rentals, integrating short-term rental listings into its travel search. Whether travelers are looking for a cozy cabin or a spacious vacation home, Google’s search features help them find the best options, compare listings and book directly through partner sites.

Listing your vacation rental on Google Travel is a smart move for your business. It puts your property in front of a massive audience already searching for places to stay. Potential guests can find your rental using keywords and filters, check out prices and reviews and compare it with other listings — all in one place.

Plus, with Google’s enormous traffic, you’ll have a much better chance of increasing your bookings.

Fees:

Commission-free

Website: www.google.com/travel

How to Maximize Your Property’s Success on OTAs

Getting listed is just step one. To stand out and stay competitive, you need to manage your listings strategically.

Use a channel manager

If you're on more than one platform (and you should be), a channel manager like Hostaway keeps things running smoothly. It syncs your calendars, updates rates across platforms and centralizes messages — so you don’t double book or spend your weekend glued to five different apps.

Make your listing look good

Photos sell. Use natural light and clean, inviting angles. Show off what makes your place special —whether it’s a beachfront patio, mountain view or cool little reading nook.

And keep your description clear: number of rooms, guest capacity, key amenities, nearby restaurants and local spots worth exploring. Keep it honest, but appealing.

Sync your pricing & policies

Avoid confusing guests with mismatched nightly rates, hidden fees or inconsistent refund rules. Use dynamic pricing tools to adjust rates for seasonality or last-minute gaps.

Be transparent with the total price. And make sure your cancellation policy is clear and fair — guests pay attention to that.

Deliver a seamless guest experience

This is what gets you the 5-star reviews. Guests want simple check-in, seamless entry, a clean space and no surprises.

Stock the essentials, leave a quick welcome note and throw in a local tip or two (like the best coffee shop or hiking trail nearby). These small touches are what turn a stay into a story.

Build trust through reviews

Ask for reviews and respond to them. Thank happy guests and handle complaints calmly and professionally.

Reviews are social proof. They build your reputation and improve your visibility in search rankings.

How to Choose the Right OTA Strategy for Your Business

Listing your vacation rental on every platform isn’t always practical or profitable. Instead, develop an OTA strategy that fits your goals, property type and and how much time you can realistically manage.

1. Know your ideal guest

Are you offering a downtown apartment targeting digital nomads? Or a multi-bedroom Outer Banks vacation home catering to families? Use this insight to align with OTAs that specialize in your niche.

2. Evaluate platform performance

Track where your bookings come from. Look at metrics like:

• Average nightly rate

• Conversion rate (views vs. bookings)

• Cancellation rate

• Competitiveness in overall pricing

• Guest reviews & behavior

This data helps you focus on what works and cut what doesn’t.

3. Test & learn

Change your headline. Swap out your photos. Try different cancellation policies. Small tweaks can have a big impact. OTAs reward active listings, so keep experimenting.

4. Balance Direct and OTA bookings

Use OTAs to acquire new guests, then encourage repeat guests to book directly through your site. Offer perks like lower prices, early check-in or full refund options.

Diversify, Optimize and Scale

The vacation rental industry is growing fast and OTAs are essential to staying competitive. But smart growth isn’t about listing everywhere — it’s about choosing the right vacation rental platforms that match your audience, managing listings efficiently and delivering a consistently excellent rental experience.

Guests are searching for easy access, clear pricing, responsive hosts and accommodations that inspire their next adventure. Whether they’re planning a family trip, solo escape or romantic getaway, your goal is to be the best option they see across every site.

So list wisely. Optimize relentlessly. And make your property the kind of place travelers don’t just visit —they come back to.

Your next reservation could be just a search away.

FAQS

1. Do I need to list my rental on every OTA?

Not necessarily. While being on multiple platforms can increase visibility, it’s more effective to focus on the ones that align best with your target audience and property type. Start with a few key OTAs, monitor performance and scale strategically from there.

2. Are OTA fees really worth it?

In most cases, yes. The exposure and reservation volume OTAs offer typically justify their commission fees. Just be sure to factor those fees into your pricing so your margins remain healthy.

3. What exactly does a channel manager do and do I need one?

A channel manager is a software tool that syncs your availability, rates and messages across multiple OTAs. If you're listing on more than one platform, it helps avoid double bookings, saves time and streamlines operations. It’s a smart investment once you’re managing more than one or two listings.

4. Can I still encourage direct bookings while using OTAs?

Definitely. OTAs are great for attracting new visitors. From there, you can build loyalty by offering incentives like early check-in or better rates for people who reserve directly with you in the future.

5. What should I do if I receive a negative review?

Stay calm and respond professionally. A thoughtful reply shows future visitors you take feedback seriously and care about the experience. Occasional criticism is normal — what matters most is how you handle it.