VRBO stands for Vacation Rentals by Owner and is known as the go-to vacation rental site for travelers. VRBO created its first web page in 1995 in order to advertise a Breckenridge ski rental condo.  VRBO’s mascot, the traveling teddy bear, ‘visits’ several of the listed properties and provides insider reviews on the web site. Before booking, get the low-down on your prospective vacation rental from someone who has already stayed there.

VRBO provides the most reliable, inexpensive method for vacation property owners and rental managers to expose privately owned vacation homes, condos, cabins and other privately owned vacation properties to the vacationing public. VRBO is a great vacation rental portal for travelers to find rental properties and for owners to advertise their properties to a large audience of travelers.

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VRWD.com is pleased to assign the first Editor’s Choice Award to the provider of the world’s largest vacation rental marketplace, HomeAway.com.  HomeAway is a leading vacation rental web site with over 115,000 listings of apartments, condos, houses, and more. Founded in 2005, HomeAway now operates the top vacation rental sites in the US, UK, Germany and France. HomeAway.com provides an unrivaled selection of vacation homes in almost every world travel destination, from California to the UK, and beyond.  In 2007 HomeAway.com experienced rapid growth in both listings and site traffic, and the site continues to grow.

Travelers use the service on HomeAway.com for free. Browse through HomeAway’s listings in destinations all over the world. What type of vacation are you looking for? A weekend at the lake? A family ski trip? A golf getaway? Search refinements on HomeAway.com make it easy to find the vacation rental that best fits your itinerary. Just plug in your travel preferences, such as location, rental size and type and search through the vacation homes that meet your preferences.

For ski trips, consider a cabin rental with ski-in/ski-out access. For beach vacations, choose a condo or cottage on the shore. Search refinements also include options for budget or luxury rentals and special needs like wheelchair accessible or pet-friendly vacation rentals. Amenities like indoor hot tubs, backyard swimming pools and flat screen TVs are also available in many vacation homes. Traveler reviews of certain vacation rentals provide an insider’s perspective on the vacation home before you even inquire - another way HomeAway works to improve your vacation experience.

When you find your ideal vacation rental, check the online availability calendar and query the owner directly. You may also ask owners about additional services or requests for housekeeping or nearby activities.

Property owners who list their vacation homes with HomeAway.com pay a simple annual fee. Listing with HomeAway.com gives owners the opportunity to get exposure to travelers from all over the world each month. HomeAway.com provides an efficient marketing channel for driving inquiries and bookings. Maximize the impact of your message by opting to appear on HomeAway.com and three other web sites! Plug into HomeAway.com’s Owner Community for regular tips, updates, and seminars to ensure you get the most from renting out your vacation home.

Click here to learn more about HomeAway