HomeToGo vs Airbnb: Which is Better For You? [2024]

HomeToGo vs Airbnb: There are a lot of vacation rentals that offer several benefits including amenities and lower prices. However, knowing which service gives you the best overall experience is the main thing.

Airbnb and HomeToGo are such online vacation rentals that let you search for and book accommodations for your trips.

Since Airbnb is quite older, and more popular than HomeToGo, how does hometogo stack up with Airbnb? And which one is better among them? What are the key differences? To know the answer to all these questions, keep on reading this HomeToGo vs Airbnb comparison article.

HomeToGo vs AirBnb: Overview

HomeToGo

HomeToGo is a vacation rental meta-search engine where you can find your dream vacation rental from tens of thousands of listings from several trusted partners, including Vrbo, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor.

Here, you can find anything from cabins, apartments, houseboats, farm stays, vacation homes, beach houses to condos, and everything in between. Moreover, it combines destination, price, amenities, and date to come up with the best accommodation for your trip.

From a meta-search engine, it has evolved very much to meet your demands. So, plan your best holiday and find the perfect holiday home for any occasion at the best prices.

Airbnb

Airbnb is an online peer-to-peer marketplace for short-term homestays and experiences and acts as a broker along with charging a commission for every booking.

As a host, you’ll have to create a listing for your property along with descriptions, photos, and availability and then permit guests to search and book them.

As a guest, you can choose from a variety of homes across the world and find everything near national parks or in the heart of big cities and book instantly.

Moreover, you can even explore designed categories and discover homes that you don’t even have to look for. These homes are usually selected for their location, style, and nearby activities.                                                                                               

HomeToGo vs Airbnb: How Do They Work?

HomeToGo

One of the main advantages of using a site aggregator is that you can get results from multiple platforms for the same property and compare those results.

So, get started with HomeToGo by creating an account and then searching and comparing rentals from different vacation rental websites, including HomeAway, Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Trip Advisor, and more.

Firstly, you can start your search process by entering the destination, the number of people, and your travel dates. Then, browse through the list of available accommodations which perfectly match your search criteria.

You can further narrow down your search results depending on amenities, price range, and property type. Once you’ve selected accommodations that meet your preferences, you can compare them and complete the booking process.

Since HomeToGo is a metasearch engine, it doesn’t regulate the booking process on its website. Instead, you’ll be redirected to the original rental site where you can complete your booking.

Airbnb

Get started with Airbnb by discovering stays or experiences. Simply apply filters like self-check-ins, entire homes, or pet allowed to slim down your options.

As soon as you get what you have been looking for, read past guest reviews, know about your host, and get information on cancellation options and then complete the booking process in just a few taps.

Once it is done, pay for the accommodation and then you’ll get a notification of your booking along with the address you’ll be staying in.

Now, get in touch with your host for queries, advice, or local tips. And you can also contact Airbnb customer support for extra support.

Difference

Though both offer the same service for booking vacation rentals, they have some differences which are as follows.

Business Model

As mentioned above, Hometogo is a meta-search engine that combines listing from various rental platforms including Vrbo, Airbnb, Booking.com, and more. So, we can say that it makes money by charging a commission to its partners.

Whereas Airbnb is a home-sharing or marketplace that connects you to hosts who have additional space in their homes. And it earns money by charging a service fee to both hosts and guests.

Listings 

As HomeToGo combines listings from various platforms, it offers a wide range of vacation rental listings when compared to Airbnb. This also means that you can search and compare listings from different sites at one place.

On the other hand, since every listing is independently inspected and authorized by Airbnb before they are listed on its site, it offers a well-curated selection of vacation rentals.

Inventory

Hometogo primarily focuses on traditional vacation rentals like condos, apartments, and beach houses. While Airbnb is popularly known for its wide range of exclusive and quirky accommodations such as castles, treehouses, tiny homes, and yurts.

Service Fees

Although both services charge fees, the fee structure is quite different. For instance, Hometogo doesn’t charge any fees to guests, but it charges a commission to property owners which typically ranges from 10%-15% of the total booking cost.

On the other hand, unlike Hometogo, Airbnb charges a commission to both guests and hosts which is usually 14% and 3% of the total booking costs, respectively.

Flexibility

The flexibility you’ve through Hometogo is greatly based on the policies of the original sources. On the other hand, as a host, Airbnb gives you the flexibility to set your own cancellation policies which can range from flexible to strict. And guests can also text hosts to talk about any specific requests for accommodation.

Key Highlights

HomeToGo

• Offers a wide range of rentals including houses, villas, apartments, cabins, and more.
• It doesn’t charge any service fee to guests thus making it an affordable option for you.
• Easily find better prices from thousands of trusted partners and save time and money.
• Ability to compare prices of various rental sites like VRBO, Airbnb, Booking.com, and more.
• You can filter your search results by using different criteria like location, price, and number of guests.
• Get valuable insights into the quality and suitability of the accommodation by reading user reviews.

Airbnb

• Present in over 100 countries with over 7 million listings worldwide.
• Access a large selection of listings, including houses, treehouses, apartments, villas, boats, and more.
• The split stay feature splits one trip across two homes so you can find more available homes and experience more on your trip.
• Offers experiences that let you explore your destination with local hosts, including city tours, cooking classes, and other outdoor activities.
• Ability to chat with your host and get up-to-the-minute information regarding your bookings.

Booking

HomeToGo

In order to book a vacation rental, all you need to do is to enter your destination, the number of guests, and your travel dates and add filters to narrow down your search.

Then, by clicking ‘View Deal,’ you can check the details of individual accommodation offers. Once you check the number of guests, travel dates, and maybe the number of pets, the price will be automatically calculated.

Next, tap ‘Book Now’ and fill in all your personal details on the booking page and check the terms and conditions book to finish the booking process.

Additionally, HomeToGo offers different types of bookings – Express, Instant Bookings, and On Request.

Airbnb

Similar to HomeToGo, navigate to the listing and tap ‘Check Availability.’ Then, select the number of guests, and dates and tap Reserve.

Once you get ‘Confirm and Pay,’ you can book instantly. But, if you are shown ‘Request to Book,’ you’ll have to add payment info, recheck the policies and terms, and message the host before you submit.

If your host accepts your request, you’ll be charged for your reservation. However, if they don’t respond within 24 hours or decline, you’ll have to book a different stay.

Listing Your Property

HomeToGo

If you want to list your property on HomeToGo, you’ll need to have your own website. Otherwise, you can list your property on one of their partner websites or tap ‘List your Property’ on the top right of the home page. You can also visit here to join the distribution networks.

And if you have your own website and want to use HomeToGO as an extra channel, you can just simply contact them at [email protected].

Airbnb

To list your property like a flat, cottage, or cozy Airstream on Airbnb, all you need to do is to create a account first and then add a new listing in the Host section of your profile.

Once you create it, you can publish your listing. However, to appear in search results, it might take up to 72 hours. So, you’ll have to wait for some time before someone can book your property.

Furthermore, by accessing the resource center of Airbnb, you can get tips to draw guests and ensure bookings. Not only that, but you can also ask a Superhost for guidance to help you land your first booking.

HomeToGo vs Airbnb: Which Is Cheaper?

Deciding which one is cheaper is completely based on various factors, including time of year, location, and the type of properties you are interested in. Nonetheless, both offer a wide range of rentals at various price points, which can differ based on location, season, and availability.

While HomeToGo tends to offer mid-range to high-end options, Airbnb typically offers a wide variety of pricing options along with budget-friendly options and luxury listings.

And Hometogo might have lower prices than Airbnb as it charges a commission to property owners instead of guests. Whereas Airbnb charges a service fee to guests and takes a commission from property owners as well.

Nonetheless, as mentioned earlier, other factors should be kept in mind, and it is always better to compare prices and read reviews before deciding on anything.

HomeToGo vs Airbnb: Which Is Better?

Both services let you book directly with the property owner or manager. However, Airbnb is a marketplace and Hometogo is a meta-search aggregator that combines vacation rentals from different websites.

As HomeToGo is simply redirecting you to other rental sites, why do you even have to use it in the first place? Well, it is always better to compare prices and check reviews on both platforms to make sure you get the best deal.

Lastly, it entirely depends on you to decide which platform to choose. Nonetheless, if you prefer traditional vocational rentals and wish to avoid guest fees, then HomeToGo can be a better option. Whereas Airbnb can be a better choice if you are looking for a unique vacation rental.

Ultimately, deciding on which platform is better depends on your individual needs and preferences like your budget and the type of accommodation you are looking for.

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