After circling the globe more times than my luggage wheels care to remember, I’ve become a connoisseur of vacation rentals. Hotels have their perks, sure, but sometimes you want a full kitchen, a backyard hot tub, and the joy of pretending you own a beach house in Malibu for three days. That’s where Vrbo (pronounced ver-boh, not V-R-B-O, trust me, I’ve been corrected by more than one smug rental host) has earned its spot in my travel toolkit.

Space, Privacy, and All the Quirky Charm

One of the best things about Vrbo is that the properties tend to be entire homes or apartments—no sharing a wall with a snorer or awkward lobby encounters in pajamas. I’ve stayed in mountain cabins with fireplaces, oceanside villas with hammocks, and once, a loft in Brooklyn with 17 plants and a record collection that made me feel cooler than I am. It’s ideal for families or groups who need space to sprawl out or just travelers who want to live like a local—with a dishwasher.

Solid Filtering Tools (Just Beware the Cleaning Fees)

Vrbo’s search and filtering tools are intuitive. I can easily hunt for pet-friendly places, pools, or that elusive "walkable to coffee" magic. But—small PSA to new users—the listed nightly rate is just a warm-up. The total cost often blooms once you see the cleaning, service, and "why-does-this-cost-$200" fees. Still, I appreciate how Vrbo shows you the full price before checkout—no bait-and-switch.

Communication Varies by Host (Like a Box of Chocolates)

One of Vrbo’s biggest wild cards is the host. I’ve dealt with superhosts who text restaurant recommendations before I even land, and others who go full ghost mode until checkout. That said, Vrbo makes it easy to message and usually offers solid customer support when things go sideways (though I recommend screenshotting everything just in case). Like with any peer-to-peer platform, the experience is part booking, part blind date.

A Grown-Up Alternative to Airbnb?

While Airbnb has its own flavor—more communal, sometimes more whimsical—Vrbo often feels like the more mature sibling. Most listings are geared toward vacation homes, second properties, or investment rentals, so it leans less toward couches in someone’s living room and more toward full-fledged homes. If you’re looking for stability, predictability, and fewer “surprise cats,” Vrbo’s got your back.

Conclusion

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes room to breathe, wants to wake up and make coffee in a real kitchen, or dreams of pretending you're a vineyard owner for a long weekend, Vrbo is a reliable and often delightful option. It’s not perfect—no platform is—but with a little research and realistic expectations, it can help you turn your next trip into a genuinely homey getaway.