14 Alternatives to Airbnb for Every Type of Vacation Home Hunter

Undoubtedly, Airbnb has become a vital resource for vacation rentals for travelers across the globe (including us!), but it’s far from the only option. Depending on your vacation home preferences, there are plenty of alternative choices available.

We’ve compiled our preferred list of vacation rental companies that we turn to whether we have specific requirements regarding amenities or design style, or simply want more options for a popular destination or travel period (shoutout to last-minute holiday planners—we see you, we are you). Here are 14 of the top Airbnb alternatives for finding vacation rentals.

1. Vrbo

Long before Airbnb existed, there was Vrbo (pronounced ver-bo, a name that comes from its original title, Vacation Rentals by Owner), a platform for vacation homes that began in 1995. Vrbo excels in the variety and quantity of its listings, boasting over 2 million homes worldwide. It’s uncommon for the site to lack availability in sought-after vacation spots during peak seasons (perfect for all those last-minute planners out there). The range of options spans from budget-friendly, simple homes to extravagant stays, such as the Scandinavian-inspired modern farmhouse, featured at the beginning of this article, located in the picturesque hills of California’s Ojai Valley.

Vrbo focuses on accommodating families by exclusively listing entire homes—no shared spaces allowed. Thanks to the site’s long-standing presence, you’ll find a wealth of user reviews for many properties, helping you make informed booking choices. Additionally, as part of the Expedia Group, Vrbo benefits from robust technology support, ensuring a smooth booking experience that includes straightforward options for changes and cancellations.

2. Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy

In 2019, one of the most prominent hotel brands entered the vacation rental scene with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy. This venture has resulted in a vast and thoughtfully curated selection of properties that cater to travelers who appreciate the consistent cleanliness and service found in hotels but desire the space and distinctive amenities of vacation rentals. Professional home management companies ensure the upkeep and operation of the homes, guaranteeing they are cleaned to high standards and come equipped with essential amenities such as Wi-Fi, in-home washers, premium bed linens and towels, and complimentary toiletries.

The collection boasts over 140,000 upscale homes across the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and beyond, featuring a diverse range from beach condos to expansive English estates, Caribbean villas, and even Frank Sinatra’s midcentury retreat in Palm Springs, as shown above. Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy also offers a selection of “Curated Collections,” which group homes into categories like Homes with Pools, Drive Worthy Gems, and Mountainside Destinations.

Beyond the properties themselves, one of the key advantages of the Homes & Villas offering is that Marriott Bonvoy loyalty members can earn and redeem points while staying at these vacation homes.

3. Boutique Homes

This home rental site prioritizes architecture, allowing you to search for properties by design style, including midcentury modern, Bauhaus, and brutalist. You can also explore houses designed by notable architects. Each home is filled with design elements you'll desire for your own space: for example, the modernist Casacosta in the Canary Islands features a Man Ray mirror, paintings by Joan Miró, and oversized chicken photographs by Koen Vanmechelen. New entries on the platform include Camp Double Oak, a biophilic glass cabin inspired by Bauhaus, designed by architect Anthony Weber in the Pocono Mountains, and Palais Hassoun, a pink Indo-Moorish palace set among palm and olive trees in Marrakech.

4. Kid & Coe

“For a holiday to truly be relaxing, the kids need to be content,” said Caitlin Ramsdale, managing director of Kid & Coe, sharing the booking platform’s travel philosophy. Any parent or guardian can attest to this fact. Kid & Coe focuses on ensuring the happiness of children (and their parents) by providing over 1,000 private homes, home swaps, and thoughtfully curated hotel listings designed with families in mind (including the London home featured above).

The close-knit team (comprising parents themselves) meticulously curates stylish and comfortable properties, equipped with essentials such as cribs, highchairs, toys, books, and swing sets. The site offers filters to help families search for specific amenities suitable for various ages and stages, such as bathtubs, pool gates, bed rails, stair gates, and game consoles. Each property comes with detailed notes (like, “the stairs are steep, so young children should be supervised”), and some homes even offer additional perks, including optional babysitting, nanny services, or personal chefs available upon request.

5. Oasis Private Collection

The Oasis model combines all the best aspects of hotels—plush towels and linens, name-brand toiletries, and lightning-fast Wi-Fi—with stylish, modern home rentals across nine countries in North America, South America, and Western Europe. Worried about missing the convenience of a hotel concierge? Each guest is paired with a “guest experience specialist,” a local expert available 24/7 to assist with check-in and check-out, arrange airport transfers, offer restaurant suggestions, or stock your fridge or minibar upon request. Additional perks include access to local gyms, spas, and exclusive clubs.

6. Welcome Beyond

Finding homes more visually stunning than those in Welcome Beyond’s collection is a challenge; they offer over 400 unique, design-focused residences (including boutique hotels, yurts, treehouses, lodges, and private islands) across nearly 50 countries. While most properties are located in Europe, you can also find a selection in the United States and others spread throughout South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Despite their striking designs, the pricing and services available cater to a diverse range of preferences and budgets. Some properties offer the option of a private chef, butler, personal mixologist, or concierge to arrange private boat excursions, restaurant bookings, and other activities. These amenities transform a simple vacation rental into an unforgettable escape.

7. Cuvée

Cuvée offers a curated selection of luxurious homes and villas, including a private island in the Bahamas, located in prime destinations like Aspen, the Hamptons, Los Cabos, Lake Como, Tuscany, St. Bart’s, and even Rwanda and Tanzania. Each property is equipped with high-end amenities you would expect from grand mansions, including cinema rooms, arcade games, wine cellars, professional-grade kitchens, infinity pools, and more. Many of these homes boast stunning oceanfront locations or breathtaking views of mountains and landscapes. Notably, the Triple C Ranch (shown above) spans 250 acres in Silverthorne, Colorado, where guests can enjoy snowshoeing, fly fishing, hiking, or horseback riding. Across the collection, homes come with impressive offerings such as a local concierge team, daily housekeeping, a chef-prepared welcome reception, a premium-stocked bar, and refreshments in the pantry and fridge.

8. Noirbnb

Noirbnb was co-founded in 2015 by Stefan Grant following a negative experience with a vacation rental: neighbors called the police on him during his stay at an Airbnb in Atlanta. The platform aims to create a better and safer experience for travelers of color by uplifting and supporting their journeys. Noirbnb relaunched in November 2020 with an updated website that includes new features designed to simplify the listing process for hosts and enhance the booking experience for users.

Some of the site’s most sought-after locations include Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, Las Vegas, Seattle, Atlanta, and Negril, Jamaica. Noirbnb also offers a concierge service that creates personalized itineraries for travelers, encompassing transportation, lodging, and activities tailored to their preferences.

9. Vacasa

Vacasa is a vacation rental management service that oversees the booking process from beginning to end, ensuring that every property is thoroughly vetted and professionally cleaned between guests (housekeepers adhere to a stringent cleaning protocol after each stay, which includes sanitizing and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces). With over 44,000 homes available in locations such as Hawai‘i, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, New England, Florida, and California (including the Idyllwild cabin mentioned earlier), renters can explore properties through virtual 3-D tours to get a true sense of the layout. They can also filter searches based on interests such as ski-in/ski-out access, hot tubs, pools, pet-friendliness, biking, and kayaking. A dedicated Vacasa app allows users to access their rental information post-booking.

10. Plum Guide

Having gained popularity in London, Paris, Rome, and Milan, this U.K.-based vacation rental and home-sharing platform is now expanding into the United States. Its new collections in New York City and Los Angeles feature Tribeca art lofts, Silver Lake bungalows, and stunning mansions in the prestigious 90210 area. Before any property is listed, Plum sends a "home critic" to evaluate rentals based on various criteria, including outstanding design, responsiveness, cleanliness, and practical details such as reliable Wi-Fi and good water pressure in the shower. The evaluation process was crafted by consulting psychologists, designers, hoteliers, architects, and travelers to determine the elements of a perfect stay.

11. The Thinking Traveller

If watching the second season of HBO's The White Lotus left you dreaming of escaping to Sicily, you can start your accommodation search with this impressive collection of 320 luxurious villas scattered across the Mediterranean. Established in Sicily in 2002 and merging with a similar Greek company in 2021, The Thinking Traveller takes pride in being the "only keyholder" for its properties, ensuring that you won't find these villas listed on larger platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo.

The current selection features idyllic locations in Italy (Sicily and Puglia), France (Corsica), and across Greece, from the mainland to various island groups such as the Cyclades and Dodecanese. The villas range from grandly restored masserie (traditional southern Italian estates) to sleek architectural masterpieces with views of Greek beaches. You can also customize your search based on amenities like infinity pools, beach access, and tennis courts—or opt for in-villa chefs if you prefer to let the professionals handle the cooking.

If the thought of planning a villa getaway makes you apprehensive about missing out on relaxation, you'll be pleased to know that the Thinking Traveller offers the option to book guided experiences at many destinations. Activities include wine tastings near Mount Etna, horseback riding on the beaches of Corfu, or boating along the stunning coastline of Paxos.

12. HomeExchange

As showcased in the 2006 Nancy Meyers romantic comedy The Holiday, exchanging homes can be a life-changing adventure—and don’t underestimate the appeal of your own cozy residence! Whether it’s a suburban home with a pool or a bustling urban pied-à-terre, you likely possess a desirable (and exchangeable) property. Enter HomeExchange, a platform boasting over 150,000 members in 145 countries. For an annual fee of $220, you and your family can start trading vacations with fellow homeowners.

The variety of homes available for exchange is impressively wide-ranging, featuring a hillside retreat in northern India with Himalayan views; a rainforest treehouse located in Cairns, Australia; a historic Tuscan wine estate dating back to the 14th century; or a Moroccan penthouse that offers sweeping 360-degree views over the kasbah. You can also filter your search based on specific features such as pet-friendly options, homes with barbecue grills, family-friendly properties, and those equipped with swimming pools. Moreover, the company is a certified B Corp, committed to countering mass tourism by prioritizing the appreciation of existing resources.

13. Edgar Suites

Are you planning a visit to France? Consider staying with the boutique rental company Edgar Suites, which provides apartments in various locations including Paris, Bordeaux, Lille, and soon, Cannes. Their focus on quality, service, and reliability resembles that of a boutique hotel rather than a typical self-service rental. A dedicated 24-hour concierge is reachable via WhatsApp for assistance with everything from airport transfers to temporary luggage storage after check-out, while staff members routinely inspect each apartment to ensure all amenities are in top condition. If you’re traveling with children, they also offer kits filled with coloring books and family-friendly guides to keep the kids entertained.

In addition, these apartments are stunning—reminiscent of the kinds of places your stylish architect friend would choose. Each apartment boasts a unique design, utilizing salvaged and upcycled furniture along with decor from local artists and craftsmen. Edgar Suites either owns or leases the entire building housing their apartments, ensuring peace and quiet for you and the surrounding neighbors. Every building features an accessible apartment option, and many have fascinating histories: for instance, the Louvre building is a historic 17th-century structure located in the vicinity of the famous palace that once functioned as a museum.

All Edgar Suites’ apartments are listed on the Airbnb platform, as well as available for direct booking through their official website. Longer stays come with discounts; for reservations shorter than three nights, it's best to reach out directly for availability.

14. onefinestay

Operated by Accor Hotels, onefinestay’s carefully curated collection focuses on stunning Caribbean villas located in popular destinations such as St. Bart’s, Turks and Caicos, and St. John. With over 4,500 homes, villas, and chalets available in more than 50 locations, each property is professionally managed, ensuring a personal welcome, 24/7 customer service, and housekeeping. Guests can also enhance their stay with a variety of services, including grocery delivery, private chefs, childcare, and spa treatments.

Guests enrolled in the ALL - Accor Live Limitless loyalty program can earn and redeem points during their stays at onefinestay properties. Depending on their loyalty status, guests may enjoy special perks like tailored offers, complimentary wine upon arrival, and flexibility with early check-in or late checkout.

This article, originally published in 2020, was updated on July 22, 2024, with contributions from Nicholas DeRenzo and Jessie Beck to include the latest information.