#BookDirect For Personal Service & No Fees •

Have you heard of the #BookDirect movement? Or seen social media images with #BookDirect on them? You probably will a lot today.

February 6th 2019 is the second annual #BookDirect movement. A day when independent vacation home owners, property managers and hotels large and small all join together to help educate travelers.

The aim is to show you how to book directly, get a better experience and save money at the same time.

It’s a win-win for all!

Why The #BookDirect Movement?

The vacation rental industry is almost unrecognizable to what it was just a few years ago. Vacation home owners used to pay listing sites like VRBO and TripAdvisor to advertise our properties. Guests would find us and voila. Job done!

But the big listing sites watched as Airbnb changed the game and charged guests a fee to book.

They realized they were missing out on a big piece of profit pie.

They followed suit and began charging guests a fee too. They stopped all direct communication between owners and guests so they wouldn’t lose that fee.

The #BookDirect movement is here to raise awareness of the other options, away from the online travel agents (OTA’s). Think Expedia, Priceline, Booking.com HomeAway, VRBO, Airbnb and TripAdvisor.

What are the Benefits of Booking Direct?

Personal Experience:

Communication: Most listing sites block direct communication. They mask phone numbers, hide email addresses. The only way to communicate is through their message center. As a Disney area vacation home owner, I want to help my guests plan the perfect vacation and make the most of every magical moment. If a guest books with me through TripAdvisor, I don’t get contact information until 60 days before arrival date. I can’t send links to my planning guide, my restaurant recommendations, my top tips or my hidden gems.
Better Homes: The listing site algorithms give you the search results THEY want you to see. They call it best match. But it’s the best match for them, the homes they have a better chance of making money on. Not the best match for you, the guest.
A lot of the best homes don’t even advertise on the big listing sites now. You could be missing out on that diamond!

Save on Fees

The fees can add a huge chunk, up to 20% on to your accommodation costs. And what’s more infuriating, many guests don’t even realize they are paying extra.

Some listings sites completely hide the fees.

I’m looking at you, TripAdvisor.

In the quote below, guests are totally unaware a booking fee of $463.28 has been added to their vacation, because they don’t see the breakdown I do on my dashboard.

They only see the total cost. The booking fee is completely hidden.

Not only that, but owners also pay a fee to the large online travel agents. Those fees can range from 3% to 25%.

How to #BookDirect Safely and Securely

Google is Your Friend

Most vacation homes have unique names, so google the actual house name. And don’t just look at the top selection that shows on page 1. Skip the search results that show TripAdvisor, HomeAway, VRBO or any large booking agent. Move down the list to bypass the big boys who have millions of dollars to dominate search results.

Use Regional or No Fee Websites

There are lots of regional and no fee listing sites where homeowners can advertise their homes, with no fees to guests and connect for direct communication.

Here’s a few of our favorites:

Florida Rental by Owners is owned and run by Florida vacation home owners
The VHR Network has a list of sites covering many US States
The VRMB Map shows vacation homes belonging to members of this top level marketing group
Houfy has lots of homes listed and also plenty of guides
Vacation Soup is a social gathering of owners sharing local expertise

Check homes on this Book Direct Map:

Do Your Homework

Once you’ve found your dream home, do some checks. Read past guest reviews. Ask the owner lots of questions, they won’t mind at all. Many vacation home owners have Facebook accounts that help guests plan. They post about great restaurants, places to visit, attractions and offer tips. It’s a great way too make sure the vacation home is genuine. Scammers won’t take the time to help visitors.

In Florida, all vacation homes must be licensed by the State of Florida. If you have any doubts, you can check that and also the property appraisers websites. See the info below to make checks.

Get A Written Agreement

Make sure you get a written agreement outlining your arrival date, departure date and total cost. This covers both parties and will outline what is expected and required of both owner and guest.

Only Use Secure Payment Methods

Use a recognized and secure method to make any payments. Never wire money or use a money transfer service without making thorough checks and cross checking owners credentials.