Direct Booking vs Airbnb & VRBO: Which Is the Best Way to Book?

Could YOU save 20% on your next vacation stay?

When planning a chalet vacation, the first place most travellers focus on is: "Which property should I choose?" They compare location, amenities, reviews, photos, and nightly rates before finally finding the perfect place.

After choosing where to stay, the focus changes to how to book.

The same vacation rental may be listed on Airbnb, VRBO, and the property's own website. While the property remains exactly the same, the way you reserve it can affect the total cost, flexibility, and communication. 

This article will help you understand your options, compare them fairly, and decide which booking method is best for your vacation.

Compare the Total Cost of Your Vacation Rental

Most travellers begin their search on booking platforms - Airbnb and VRBO are the biggest players. These platforms make it easy to find and compare available vacation homes.

When you've found a holiday rental you love, however, don't stop at the nightly rate. Take a close look at the total reservation cost.

While taxes are inevitable, depending on the booking platform, your final price may also include additional charges such as:

• service fees
• booking fees
• cleaning fees
• parking
• resort fees
• payment fees
• management fees

The total can be surprisingly different from the nightly rate you first saw. Though some may provide value, it may be hard to justify others. Is there a way to reduce some or all of these additional costs before deciding where to book?  Read on!

Why Consider Booking Direct?

Once you've found the right property, it's worth asking one more question: "Are third-party booking platforms my only option?"

Good news — you may have another option. Some vacation rentals also accept direct reservations. While every host is different, direct booking can offer advantages that booking platforms simply aren't designed to provide.

Saving money may be the first advantage that comes to mind. But some of the biggest benefits of booking direct have nothing to do with price.

Are you happy with the booking policies?

Third-party booking platforms require hosts to choose from their limited selection of cancellation and booking policies. 
You'll find that a direct website may have policies that better reflect the property, seasonal demand, and the type of reservation being made. That flexibility may also be beneficial to the guest.

Larger chalets are a good example. Guests planning a family reunion, group holiday or special celebration often reserve many months — or more than a year — in advance. If a guest cancels on short notice, it could mean a huge loss for the host. For that reason, cancellation policies for larger homes may be different from those of a smaller place — and booking direct may offer a fair solution.

Are your preferred dates available?

Hosts manage their calendars on whichever site you're considering. Those who accept direct reservations often extend their calendars further in advance, giving those planning well ahead the opportunity to secure preferred dates before they become widely available.

Another situation is your length of stay. While trying to work around the limitations of platform listings, you may find your potential host can offer you a shorter or longer stay than they're able to offer through third-parties.

Is this an annual trip?

Hosts love welcoming guests who are a good fit for their home. Similar to the point above, if your trip is an annual tradition, building that relationship may also provide you the opportunity to return to the property you already know and enjoy.

Do you have special requests?

Some requests don't fit neatly into a booking platform's standardized process. Special requests — from permitting pets or daytime visitors to hosting small-venue events or unique arrival arrangements — can often be arranged directly with the host.

Does your booking platform demand services to be booked through them?

Hosts may work with local businesses and can help to recommend or arrange services such as airport transportation, rentals, grocery delivery, or private chefs. Booking directly allows those conversations to happen naturally while avoiding the associated fees charged by some platforms.

Every memorable chalet stay begins with a conversation.

Although you've already provided your personal details to the booking platform, the platform doesn't share your contact information with the host before your reservation is confirmed, nor does it provide the host's direct contact information to you. 

Booking directly with the host allows you to speak with them before making your decision  A quick phone call can answer questions, clarify property details, and help you determine whether it is the right fit for your group. It also gives you the opportunity to get to know the person who knows the property best.

Get to know your host.

A good host is one of the best local resources you'll find. Whether you book directly or through a third-party platform, your host should be happy to answer questions and provide recommendations for restaurants, activities, rentals, transportation, or anything else that will help make your stay go more smoothly. In the end - the platform is simply a tool. It's your host who helps shape your experience.

PC Host Tip: Some direct booking websites represent many properties and primarily serve to take bookings. If it's important to have someone available to answer questions, offer recommendations, and help you plan your stay, ask whether that service is available before you book. 

More information to help with your decision.

Many official vacation rental websites also include information that booking sites simply don't have a place for. Detailed floor plans, room layouts, local guides, seasonal activities, FAQs, additional amenities, and other helpful resources can often be found there, making it easier to decide whether that rental home is your best choice before you book.

Lower rates.

We can't move on until we address the question we started with: "Could YOU save 20% on your next vacation stay?" One of the biggest reasons guests book directly is... to stretch their vacation budget. Here's why direct booking can reduce the total cost of your stay. 

1. Platform Fees 

Airbnb's 15.5% service fee* is now deducted from the host's payout rather than shown as a separate line item during checkout. (Throughout this article we'll assume the host has built that platform fee into their advertised nightly rates.)

VRBO continues to charge fees to both hosts and guests. Based on our own experience those combined fees average 18.7%.*

2. Save the Taxes on Platform Fees

"Nothing is certain except death and taxes" —Benjamin Franklin 

While you can't avoid paying tax on your accommodation, booking through a third-party platform also means paying tax on the platform fees themselves. Using our Pinetree Chalet Sun Peaks property as an example, with 16% in tax that increases the total cost by 2.48% through Airbnb and 2.1% through VRBO.* 

If you're doing the math, that effectively adds 17.98% to the total cost of an Airbnb reservation and 20.9% to a VRBO reservation.

PC Host Tip: Some hosts who prefer direct reservations may offer a lower rate as an incentive. Although direct booking rates may reflect costs to cover marketing and managing reservations, you will likely still save a significant amount by booking direct. Always compare the final total and overall value before deciding which option is right for you.

Special Offers.

Some hosts also offer seasonal specials, last-minute discounts, extended-stay rates, or promotional offers that are available only when booking directly. If you're comparing booking options, be sure to check whether any special offers apply before making your reservation. 

Payment options.

Third-party booking platforms require guests to use the platform's credit card payment system.

When you book directly, your host may accept a variety of payment options including credit card, bank transfer, wire transfer, e-Transfer, Wise (or similar services), cash, or cheque. 

Some of these methods have significantly lower—or even no—processing costs. Even if your preferred payment method does include a processing fee, you'll still avoid paying tax on that fee, further reducing the total cost of your reservation. 

How to Find a Vacation Rental's Official Website

Many hosts welcome direct reservations. If you've decided to explore that option, the first step is finding the property's official website — if they have one.

Does the rental home have a unique name? Plug it into an online search and look for results that contain the property name.

If the vacation rental is in a location that has a tourism office, check their website for host links and contact information.

You can also open Google Maps in the area where you are hoping to stay, and look for the property name to see whether it appears as a listed location. It often contains host information and a link to their official website.

PC Host Tip: Before making a direct reservation, verify that you're dealing with the legitimate owner or manager of the vacation property. A professional website should include clear contact information and, where applicable, licensing or registration details. If anything seems unclear, call or email the host before making a payment.

Comparing the Booking Process

Whether you book directly or through a third-party platform, your stay is ultimately provided by your host — often the property owner — who reviews, vets, and approves the booking.

Regardless of how you book, your host will need to know who will be staying at their property and will require the information needed to prepare for your arrival. You will provide guest details and payment information according to the booking process being used.

A direct booking keeps the reservation process between just you and the host. The person responsible for the property can communicate directly with you, answer questions, address requests, and make decisions without being limited by third-party processes or policies. 

When booking through a third-party platform, the platform manages the reservation process, payment collection, and aspects of the guest-host interaction according to its own policies.

There are two main differences when you're ready to book:

How the payment is handled
1. When booking through a third party, that platform collects your payment and later pays the host, keeping platform fees.
2. A direct booking payment goes directly to your host - usually with a selection of payment methods.

Booking terms
Cancellation policies, payment schedules, security deposits, and other reservation terms can vary depending on how the booking is made. Carefully compare each option before making your decision. 

Before You Press "Reserve"

The easiest way to book isn't always the best way to book.

The property you've chosen hasn't changed. The host hasn't changed. The only thing that changes is how you book.

That final decision is yours. Before you press the "Reserve" button, take a couple of minutes to compare your booking options. You may discover benefits that go well beyond a lower vacation price tag. Greater flexibility, more guest-friendly booking terms, and direct, unrestricted communication with your host can all add value to your vacation experience.

Choose the property you love. Then choose the booking option that's right for you.

If you'd like to make a direct booking at Pinetree Chalet Sun Peaks click here.

*These figures are based on our own host insight in July 2026.