Airbnb vs. Vrbo vs. HomeAway: Here's how each vacation rental service works, plus their cancellation and coronavirus policies

• As travelers tentatively begin to plan trips following shutdowns due to the novel coronavirus, many are likely to choose private lodging options over far-flung trips in order to promote social distancing.
• Companies like Airbnb and Vrbo are private vacation home rental platforms implementing new COVID-19 policies to keep travelers safe. 
• We've broken down the differences between Airbnb, HomeAway, and Vrbo by looking at search filters, booking policies, cleanliness guidelines, and updated protocols surrounding the guest experience.  
• Read more: Are Airbnbs safe? We spoke to experts, a company representative, and an Airbnb host to share everything you should know before booking someone's home.

When you're booking a vacation, choosing to stay with a trusted company or provider is essential. This is especially true as the world continues to grapple with COVID-19, which continues to make travel unpredictable.

And while we're big fans of hotels — and have definitely logged enough nights reviewing them — the lodging landscape, in particular, has felt the ramifications of the pandemic. Many brands from boutique to big-name have had to adapt quickly, including by changing how they think about hotel design and implementing stringent new policies.

Prior to the pandemic, a certain type of traveler might have preferred hotels over Airbnbs as their primary lodging choice. But now, as social distancing becomes the norm, many are likely to rethink that approach. That's because when you book an entire home, it's sheltered from interaction with staff and other travelers. They also make for easy driveable getaways.

Additionally, experts have confirmed that vacation rentals are safer alternatives to hotels due to the lack of run-ins with any other guests.  

Plus, booking a local home or apartment offers added residential comfort with the full amenities of home (or, you know, a castle), in addition to contactless amenities like self-check-in. 

But vacation home rental options aren't limited to just Airbnb. Other sites, like Vrbo, are credible companies that operate with the same idea: homeowners rent out properties they're not using to travelers looking for a place to stay. These sites all offer plenty of options ranging from quirky tiny homes to super-luxe chalets.

Do note that popular vacation rental booking site HomeAway recently got folded into Vrbo and no longer exists separately. Instead, HomeAway now redirects to the Vrbo homepage and all rentals previously listed with HomeAway can now be booked via Vrbo.

If you're looking for a thorough breakdown of some of the best vacation rentals sites or in need of alternative options when Airbnbs is all booked up, we have those covered. But for a quick overview of the key differences between some of the most popular sites, read on below. 

While there are, understandably, many concerns about whether travel is safe right now, these platforms are all implementing strict new policies (just keep in mind there might be higher cleaning fees now to coincide with such stringent sanitizing measures) in response. We've broken down how each of these three vacation home rental companies works, plus their policies for cleaning, cancellation, and more. 

Wherever you travel, be sure to check for local policies regarding travel and quarantine periods, which may prohibit some out-of-state visitors. And remember, without a vaccine, there is no firm guarantee on safety, and it's crucial to follow guidelines from organizations such as the CDC and WHO, and wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain social distancing.

Airbnb: Booking processes, cancellation policies, and cleanliness guidelines

Book a private home rental on Airbnb

Unlike other companies that only offer rentals for whole private homes, Airbnb offers entire homes and apartments, as well as private and shared rooms with more than 7 million listings worldwide.

Although Airbnb has come under fire for contributing to over-tourism and crowding out local renters in places like Amsterdam and Paris, it remains popular with hosts and guests for its navigability and emphasis on building local connections that will ground visitors in a place.

In the time of COVID-19, Airbnb has attracted new users — and retained its older ones — as people opt for accommodations that limit exposure to others and don't require interaction with staff or other guests to the same degree hotels do. And despite the pandemic, users are still keen to book. According to company data, more guests were booking six months out than at the same time the previous year. 

Part of this is due to new measures the company has put in place as it continues to adapt to the pandemic, which includes an Enhanced Cleaning Initiative and an Extenuating Circumstances policy, detailed below.

If you're considering booking an Airbnb now or in the future, here's what you should know about the platform:

The Airbnb Booking Process

• Search for homes based on location, price, date, the number of bedrooms or bathrooms, amenities, and more.
• When searching for a private home rental, users may sort stays to filter those that offer flexible cancellation policies, and also view the host's cancellation policy on the listing page. 
• According to Airbnb, guests will soon be able to search by filters to view only hosts who have completed the Enhanced Cleaning Initiative, detailed below. 
• Listings that are certified with the Enhanced Cleaning Initiative will display a badge in the listing. If there is no badge, the host does not participate. Here's a detailed look at how to know if the home you're considering participates.
• Airbnb now has a quick guide to purchasing travel insurance to travel with confidence. 

Airbnb Cancellation Policies 

• Reservations made for stays on or before March 14, with check-in dates between March 14 and July 31, are covered by the company's Extenuating Circumstances policy. This means bookings may be canceled because of COVID-19-related reasons before check-in for a full refund or travel credit, if available. Applicable bookings will also receive a refund or travel credit for all service fees. Guests might need to justify why they have an extenuating circumstance, and in some cases, provide documentation. 
• Reservations made after March 14 are considered to be booked under the host's usual cancellation policy, which falls into one of several Airbnb-created templates running from a flexible policy with a full refund for cancellations at least 14 days out, to a strict one with only a 48-hour window after booking to receive a refund. Reservations made on or before March 14 with a check-in date after July 31 are also not covered under this policy (the host's stated cancellation policy applies). 
• There is one exception: if either the guest or the host becomes sick with COVID-19. In that case, the Extenuating Circumstances policy comes into effect. Guests may then request a full refund or travel credit to rebook, and hosts can cancel without a fee or losing their Superhost status. 
• To determine the cancellation policy for vacations you've already booked, log into your account and go to the Trips page. From there, you may select the trip you're looking for and view the cancellation policy. Normal cancellation policies for short-term stays of less than 28 days include the following: 
  • Flexible: This is the safest option. Free cancellation is available up to 14 days before check-in. If the reservation is booked less than two weeks out, then guests have 48 hours after booking to cancel. After that window, guests may still cancel up to 24 hours before check-in for a full refund minus the service fee. 
  • Moderate: Guests may cancel a reservation up to 14 days before check-in. If the booking is made less than two weeks before the trip, but more than five days before it starts, there's a 48-hour period for guests to cancel for free. If made less than five days before a trip, guests who cancel will lose the first night's rate plus half of the total of the remaining nights. According to the Airbnb website, those who leave their stay early forfeit the nightly rate for 24 hours after canceling, then receive 50% of the nightly rate for the remaining nights not spent. 
  • Strict: Guests may cancel a reservation within 48 hours of booking for stays beginning 14 days out. If the booking is made between 14 days and seven days before check-in, guests can receive a refund for 50% of the total nightly rate and cleaning fee, but will forfeit the service fee. Guests do not receive a refund if the cancellation is less than seven days before the stay, or if they leave early.

Airbnb Cleanliness Guidelines

Airbnb launched an Enhanced Cleaning Initiative in May that the company calls "the first overarching standardized guidelines for cleaning and sanitization in the home-sharing industry." Here's a detailed look at how to know if the home you're considering participates.

This initiative includes extra protections to keep guests safe, and all hosts are strongly encouraged to participate, in addition to following local guidelines. The program lays out a five-step cleaning process and includes reference checklists for cleaning each room. 

While not required, hosts may log on to review the guidelines and take a quiz, and confirm they'll comply with the protocol. Those who certify receive a special call-out in their profile where it's easy for guests to see.

According to Airbnb, while this is optional, "we believe our hosts are committed to comply with the policies and requirements of the program." According to internal company data, 94% of all Airbnb reviews showing that guests are satisfied with the cleanliness of their listing, will score it as 4 or 5 stars after their stays.

Guidelines include: 

• 24-hour waiting periods between guest checkout and the cleaners' arrival
• Guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment including the use of masks, aprons, shoe covers, and gloves by cleaning crew
• Disinfectants approved by regulatory authorities 

Educational materials for hosts are available in 12 countries as of publishing: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the US (more are expected in the coming days).

There's also a second option for hosts unwilling to complete the strict protocol above, called "Booking Buffer. It was what the company used for its Frontline Stays project, which housed medical workers and first responders. This protocol's guidelines include:

• A 72-hour period between guests, with only cleaning allowed during that time
• A 24-hour waiting period between guest checkout and cleaners' arrival, plus another 48 hours before guests can enter the property 
• Adherence to CDC recommendations and local guidance 

Again, both programs are optional, so guests should always confirm with the host which protocol a listing meets, or if they don't participate in any formal program at all.

See Also:

• The best Airbnbs in the Hamptons
• Airbnb announced vigorous new cleaning protocols for hosts in response to COVID-19. Here's how to know if the listing you're considering is participating — or not.
• The best Airbnbs on the Jersey Shore