11 Airbnb Alternatives for Every Kind of Vacation Home Seeker

A list of our favorite vacation rental companies for everything from luxurious villas and design-forward dwellings to stylish family-friendly cribs.

Exterior of Dee Dow Ranch vacation rental at sunset

The Dee Dow Ranch, available to book on Vrbo, pairs Scandinavian-inspired design with stunning views out over the Topatopa Mountains in California’s Ojai Valley.

Photo by Michelle Heimerman

There’s no denying that Airbnb has become an essential vacation rental resource for countless travelers the world over (for us too!), but it certainly isn’t the only game in town. Depending on the type of vacation home you’re looking for, there are ample alternative options to Airbnb.

We’ve put together our go-to list of vacation rental companies that we lean on whether we’re simply looking for more choices for a popular destination or travel period (hello, last-minute holiday planners—we see you, we are you) or have something very specific in mind regarding amenities or design aesthetic. These are 11 of the best Airbnb alternatives for finding vacation rentals.

1. Vrbo

  • Best for: Sheer inventory and variety
  • Book now: vrbo.com

Long before there was Airbnb, there was Vrbo (pronounced ver-bo, a name that derives from its original incarnation as Vacation Rentals by Owner), a platform for vacation homes dating back to 1995. Since then, Vrbo has grown into a massive collection of more than 2 million homes throughout the world.

Where Vrbo really thrives is in the size and scope of the inventory. It’s rare for the site to not have availability in a popular vacation destination for a popular season (clutch for all those last-minute planners out there). The search results really run the gamut from lower-priced, no-frills homes all the way to over-the-top stays, like the Scandinavian-inspired modern farmhouse, pictured at the top of this article, in the upper hills of California’s Ojai Valley.

With an eye toward catering to families, only entire homes are listed on Vrbo—no shared spaces. And given the site’s longevity, there is a solid stockpile of user reviews for many of the properties to help flesh out your booking decision.

Vrbo is owned by Expedia Group, which recently combined its HomeAway and Vrbo vacation rental brands into a single brand: Vrbo. Thus, Vrbo has the tech-backing to make for a seamless booking experience, including easy change and cancellation options.

2. Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy

The living room of Frank Sinatra’s former Palm Springs retreat, with wall of glass

Book yourself into Frank Sinatra’s former Palm Springs retreat, which is available through Homes & Villas by Marriott International.

Courtesy of Homes & Villas by Marriott International

One of the world’s most recognizable hotel companies entered the vacation rental market in 2019 with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy. The result is a large and well-curated collection of properties perfectly suited for travelers who love the consistent cleanliness and service that hotels and resorts offer but want the space and unique amenities that vacation rentals provide.

Marriott has partnered with experienced home management companies to oversee the maintenance and operations of the residences, ensuring that homes are professionally cleaned and always come with guaranteed standards, such as Wi-Fi, in-home washers, premium bed linens and towels, and provided toiletries.

The collection features more than 130,000 high-end homes in 10,000 cities throughout the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and beyond. The homes have an average nightly rate of about $500, but they range from urban and beach condos for about $150 per night all the way up to sprawling English manors and Caribbean villas that go for $20,000 per night. You can even book Frank Sinatra’s midcentury Palm Springs paradise, pictured above.

Similar to other vacation rental booking platforms, you can search by your destination and dates. But if you’re looking for some inspiration to help drive your decision, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy also has a series of “Curated Collections,” homes that are organized into such categories as:

In addition to the properties themselves, one of the biggest benefits of the Homes & Villas product is the fact that Marriott Bonvoy loyalty members can earn and redeem points when staying at the vacation homes.

3. Kid & Coe

Room for kids with bunk beds at Pierre Levée Residence in Paris

The Pierre Levée Residence in Paris offers access to the buzzy Canal St. Martin area for adults and plenty of toys and games for kids in the bunk rooms.

Courtesy of Kid & Coe

“If a holiday is going to be relaxing, the kids have to be happy,” Kid & Coe managing director Caitlin Ramsdale told AFAR about the booking platform’s travel philosophy. Any parent or caretaker knows this to be absolutely true. Kid & Coe aims to make kids (and their parents) happy by offering 1,400 private homes, home swaps, and hotel listings geared very thoughtfully to families (including the Parisian loft above).

The tight-knit team (all parents themselves) carefully selects properties that are stylish and comfortable and that come stocked with such items as cribs, highchairs, toys, books, and swing sets. The site’s filters allow families to search for specific amenities that cater to different ages and stages, such as a bathtub, pool gate, bed rails, stair gates, and game console. There are detailed notes about each residence (“the stairs are steep so young children should be supervised,” for example), and some of the homes come with additional perks that can include optional babysitter, nanny services, or personal chef services provided upon request.

4. Welcome Beyond

Exterior of pink house in Algarve, Portugal, with pool and walls with row of green cactus

Homes like this artistic abode in Algarve, Portugal, are design catalog worthy.

Courtesy of Welcome Beyond

You will be hard-pressed to find more visually stunning homes than Welcome Beyond’s collection of more than 400 design-centric and unique residences (listings also include boutique hotels, yurts, tree houses, lodges, and private islands) located in nearly 50 countries. The majority of the homes are in Europe (such as the Portugal property above), but there are also a handful in the United States, and others scattered throughout South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

While they are all extremely easy on the eyes, the pricing and services cater to a wide range of tastes and budgets. Some of the properties have the option to include a private chef, butler, personal mixologist, or concierge who can arrange private boat trips, restaurant reservations, and other activities—helping to elevate the bookings from a vacation home to a truly memorable getaway.

5. Cuvée

Interior of living room at the Mother Lode, a four-level luxury residence in Aspen, with sofas, fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows facing snowy slopes

The company’s newest listing, the Mother Lode, is a four-level luxury residence in Aspen, Colorado, with a 1,700-square-foot rooftop and views of the slopes.

Courtesy of Cuvée

  • Best for: Over-the-top luxury homes
  • Book now: cuvee.com

Cuvée is a collection of luxury homes and villas (including a private island in the Bahamas), in destinations such as Aspen, the Hamptons, Los Cabos, Lake Como, Tuscany, St. Bart’s, and even Rwanda and Tanzania. In addition to having all the bells and whistles you would expect from expansive mansions (think extras like cinema rooms, arcade games, wine cellars, professional chef kitchens, infinity pools, and more), most are ideally situated oceanfront or with epic mountain and landscape views.

Among the standout properties is the Mother Lode (pictured above), a unique four-level private residence in downtown Aspen, Colorado, complete with multiple living spaces, six bedrooms, an expansive rooftop with hot tub, a home theater, full bar, arcade games, pool table, fitness equipment, and priceless views of Aspen Mountain Ski Resort.

The homes include a concierge who can assist guests with arranging a private chef, spa services, and booking activities; daily housekeeping (upon request); welcome cocktails and hors d’oeuvres; a fully stocked bar; and refreshments and snacks stocked in the pantry and fridge.

6. Vacasa

 White interior of three-bedroom modern cabin in Idyllwild, California, with kitchen counter seating, fireplace, and large windows

Vacasa lists perfectly polished homes such as this three-bedroom modern cabin in Idyllwild, California.

Courtesy of Vacasa

  • Best for: Reliably well-appointed homes
  • Book now: vacasa.com

Vacasa is a vacation rental management company that handles bookings from start to finish, ensuring that all rentals are vetted and professionally cleaned between stays (housekeepers must follow a comprehensive cleaning procedure after every stay, including sanitizing and disinfecting high-touch areas) and that renters have a 24/7 point of contact should any issues arise.

The service consists of more than 44,000 homes in destinations like Hawai‘i, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, New England, Florida, and California (including the Idyllwild cabin above). Renters can preview rentals with virtual 3-D tours of the homes (a particularly handy feature for getting a proper grasp of the layout) and can filter by interests such as ski-in/ski-out, hot tubs, pools, dog-friendly, bikes, and kayaks, among others. A corresponding Vacasa app lets users access their vacation rental details after they book.

7. onefinestay

Long, white living/dining room in St. Martin, with wall of windows leading to pool

Soak up the sunshine in this two-bedroom St. Martin slice of paradise.

Courtesy of onefinestay

  • Best for: Caribbean villas
  • Loyalty program: ALL - Accor Live Limitless
  • Book now: onefinestay.com

If you want a stunning villa retreat in the Caribbean, look no further than onefinestay’s hand-selected collection of homes operated by Accor Hotels. The company also features gorgeous homes and apartments in such cities as New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Rome. But its villa collection, including on the Caribbean islands of St. Bart’s, Turks and Caicos, St. John, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and St. Martin (where the property above is located), is where it really stands out. There are also villas available in the Hawaiian islands, Costa Rica, Belize, Bali, Phuket (Thailand), Saint-Tropez (France), and Amalfi and Lake Como (Italy).

Onefinestay features 4,500 homes, villas, and chalets in more than 50 destinations that are professionally managed and always include a personal welcome to the home, 24/7 customer support, and housekeeping service. Guests have the option to add any number of services, including grocery deliveries, a private chef, childcare, and spa treatments. Villas are priced from as low as $500 per night.

Members of the ALL - Accor Live Limitless loyalty program can also earn and redeem reward points when staying at onefinestay homes. Depending on their ALL status level, guests can get special benefits like personalized offers, complimentary bottles of wine upon arrival, and early check-in or late checkout.

8. Noirbnb

Aerial view of several large houses on spit of land in Negril, Jamaica

Negril, Jamaica, is among Noirbnb’s most popular destinations.

Photo by Shutterstock

Noirbnb was cofounded in 2015 by Stefan Grant after he had a terrible vacation rental experience—neighbors called the police on Grant while he was staying at an Airbnb in Atlanta.

The resulting company is one that aims to provide a better and safer experience for travelers of color by celebrating and supporting them. Noirbnb relaunched in November 2020 with a freshly updated website, complete with new features that make it easier for hosts to post their listings and for users to find and book stays.

Some of the site’s most popular destinations include Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, Las Vegas, Seattle, Atlanta, and Negril, Jamaica. There is also a Noirbnb Concierge Service, which builds customized itineraries for travelers, including transportation, accommodations, and activities based on their tastes and interests.

9. The Thinking Traveller

Exterior of modern beige villa in Greece, with infinity pool and several deck chairs

The Roellia Villa, in the Greek Riviera resort town of Porto Heli, includes an infinity pool, a gym, and a basketball court.

Courtesy of the Thinking Traveller

If the second season of HBO’s The White Lotus had you fantasizing about running away to Sicily, a great place to start your lodging search is this collection of 328 (and counting) over-the-top villas scattered across the Mediterranean. Founded in Sicily in 2002 and then merged with a similar company based in the Greek Isles in 2021, the Thinking Traveller prides itself on being the “only keyholder” for each of its properties, meaning you won’t be able to rent them through any of the bigger services like Airbnb or Vrbo.

The current roster includes dreamy locations in Italy (Sicily, Puglia, and the Tuscan Islands), France (Corsica), and throughout Greece, from the mainland to many of its diverse island groups (like the Cyclades and the Dodecanese). Villas run the gamut from grand restored masserie (rural southern Italian estates) to clean-lined architectural gems overlooking Greek beaches, and you can refine your search with such amenities as infinity pools, beach access, private boat moorings, tennis courts, vegetable gardens, and even pizza ovens—or in-villa cooks if you’d rather leave it to the professionals.

If the DIY nature of a villa-based vacation makes you nervous that you’ll have to do too much planning instead of relaxing, you’ll be happy to know that the Thinking Traveller also allows you to book guided experiences in many of its destinations, including winetasting in the Valle d’Itria, riding horses on the beach on Corfu, kayaking off the turquoise coastline of Paxos, and seeing Mount Etna from above via helicopter.

10. HomeExchange

Modern living room in Paris with high ceiling, fireplace and glass doors leading to deck

HomeExchange’s network of swappable homes includes chic urban spaces like this apartment in Paris.

Courtesy of Home Exchange

  • Best for: Finding that one person’s home is another’s vacation treasure
  • Book now: homeexchange.com

As the 2006 Nancy Meyers rom-com The Holiday proved, swapping homes can be a transformative experience—and don’t assume your humble abode won’t be on other people’s wish lists! Whether you have a suburban house with a pool or an urban pied-à-terre in the heart of the action, you probably have a hot (and swappable) commodity on your hands. Enter HomeExchange, a service with more than 100,000 subscribers in 130-plus countries. For an annual membership fee of $220, you and your family can begin trading stays with other homeowners.

The library of homes on the market for a trade is surprisingly diverse, including a hillside home in northern India with views of the Himalayas; a rainforest tree house within the city limits of Cairns, Australia; a Tuscan wine estate that dates back to the 14th century; or a Moroccan penthouse with 360-degree views over the kasbah. You can also search for particular amenities or qualities, including pet-friendly homes, homes with barbecue grills, kid-friendly homes, and homes with swimming pools. Best of all, the company is a certified B Corp that is fighting back against mass tourism by, as it says, valuing what already exists.

11. Edgar Suites

Rue_du_jour-17-new.jpg

Edgar Suites rents out high-style apartments throughout Paris, including this historic 17th-century building near the Louvre.

Yohann Fontaine

Planning a trip to France? Then consider a stay with boutique rental company Edgar Suites, which rents apartments in buildings throughout Paris and Bordeaux, with properties opening in Montmartre and Le Marais in Paris (end of 2023), Lille (end of 2023), and Cannes (2024). The company has plans to expand elsewhere in Europe in the coming years.

Its commitment to quality, service, and consistency is more in line with that of a boutique hotel than a self-service apartment. A responsive, 24-hour concierge is available via WhatsApp to help with anything from arranging a driver to the airport to storing your luggage for a few hours after checkout, and staff members regularly check each apartment to make sure everything is in working order—like, say, if the dishwasher is glitchy. If you’re arriving with kids, they also provide kits with things like coloring books and family-friendly city guides to keep your little ones entertained.

Plus, these apartments are beautiful—the type of place your cool architect friend might book. Each apartment is uniquely designed, making use of salvaged and upcycled furniture as well as decor from local artisans, painters, and sculptors. Edgar Suites also owns or rents the entire building in which its apartments are located, guaranteeing that you won’t be disturbing any locals below you. Each building has an accessible apartment option. And many of the buildings themselves come with unique stories: The Louvre building, for instance, is a 17th-century historic structure in the shadow of the namesake palace that was once a museum itself.

All of Edgar Suites’ apartments are available for rent on the Airbnb platform but also directly through the company’s website. Discounts are given for longer stays; if you’re booking for fewer than three nights, contact them directly for availability.

Nicholas DeRenzo and Jessie Beck contributed reporting to this article, which was originally published in 2020 and most recently updated on October 25, 2023, to include current information.

Michelle Baran is the senior travel news editor at AFAR where she oversees breaking news, travel intel, pandemic coverage, airline, cruise, and consumer travel news. Baran joined AFAR in August 2018 after an 11-year run as a senior editor and reporter at leading travel industry newspaper Travel Weekly.
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