I Use This App Instead of Airbnb for Vacation Rentals: Here’s Why

While I previously used Airbnb for almost all of my vacation rentals, I now book almost all of my trips through Booking.com. Having more flexibility in payments is nice, but I also really like the app’s initiatives and how easy it is to bring the whole trip together.

Flexible Payment Options

Whether I’m heading out of town for the weekend or planning a month-long adventure, I like to have everything confirmed as soon as possible.

However, I also prefer spacing out my payments. While Airbnb often lets you pay a chunk in advance and the rest closer to the date, I still think that Booking.com is more flexible. It’s one of the best apps to use alongside tools to plan your trip itinerary.

Booking.com allows me to pay for everything in advance if I want, but some hotels and rental apartments also let me pay closer to the date without an upfront commitment.

I’ve also been able to book multiple times and pay at the hotel, which is my preferred option for weekend city breaks.

While you often have to pay more for bookings with free cancelation, I like having the peace of mind that I can be flexible. It’s also nice to know that I don’t need to commit money upfront in case my plans change.

A Great Loyalty Plan

I go on adventures quite often and also run a travel blog. For this reason, having a loyalty plan is quite nice. In my opinion, Booking.com has the best loyalty program I’ve found in any app of its kind.

At the time of writing in December 2024, I’m at the highest level of Booking’s Genius loyalty program. One benefit of this is I often receive 20% discounts when I book. I also get priority support. Unlike some loyalty programs which require you to regain your standing each year, Booking.com lets me stay at the top level for life.

Even if you’re not on the top Genius booking tier, you’ll get some pretty nice benefits. You get a 10% discount on accommodation and rental cars at level one. When you reach the second level, you’ll qualify for free breakfast in many places. Alongside using travel apps to save money, you can make your trip more affordable when signing up for Booking.com.

Discounts on Transport

Booking your accommodation is just one part of the jigsaw puzzle of traveling. You also need to figure out how to get from place to place. This isn’t too difficult in cities where you can typically get a train or bus into town. However, it is more challenging if you visit rural locations.

When booking a vacation rental or hotel via Booking.com, I can get a discount on rental cars. I’ve also received free airport transfers. When I went to Turin during a trip to Italy in 2022, Booking.com let me book a free taxi to my hotel. Doing so saved me a lot of time and brainpower.

Even if you don’t get a free taxi, Booking.com lets you pay for one through the app. You can often get a discount compared to the normal price, though you should double-check the cost compared to taxi fares in the region you’re visiting.

It’s Easy to Find Accompanying Flights

While I normally don’t book through flight comparison websites, I like to check multiple sources to get a rough estimate of the flight times and airlines I want to book. Skyscanner is my top resource for this, though Google Flights is also pretty good. However, I like to add other options to the mix, including Booking.com.

Using the Booking.com app, I can search for direct return and one-way flights to my chosen destination. If I’m planning a bigger trip, I can also search for multi-city options.

I can set up price alerts and even get discounts compared to the standard airfare. Moreover, I can add extra baggage if I book through the app.

Booking.com is one of the best apps for vacation rentals and hotel bookings. Its pricing options are flexible, and I also like how I can plan my transport and accommodation in the same place. Where it really stands out, however, is its excellent loyalty program.