You found the house. You love the house. Now there is a button that says “Reserve” on Airbnb, and somewhere on our own website there is a button that says “Book Now.” Same house, same dates, same beds. So does it actually matter which one you press?
It does — more than most travelers realize. Here is the honest breakdown, including the parts where the big platforms genuinely do have an advantage.
1. You stop paying for the middleman
This is the big one. When you book through an online travel agency (OTA) like Airbnb or VRBO, you pay a guest service fee on top of the nightly rate. That fee does not reach the house, the cleaners, or us. It pays for the platform.
Book direct and that fee simply is not there. Comparing like for like — same house, same dates, same flexible cancellation terms — booking direct with us typically comes out around 10% cheaper than the same stay on a platform.
One note in the interest of being straight with you: we do pass through a card processing fee on direct bookings. It is a fraction of what the platform charges, and the 10% figure above is calculated after it.
2. You are talking to the actual people who own the business
We are a family-run company. When you message us direct, you reach Al or Elissa or someone on our small team who has personally been inside the house you are staying in.
Our guests bring this up constantly, unprompted. One Palm Springs guest noted her questions were answered in five minutes or less, every time, before she had even booked. A Duck guest wrote that we resolved a grill issue and a router issue quickly and accommodatingly. An Outer Banks family said our communication was excellent from day one.
That is not a platform feature. That is just what happens when you can reach the owner. If you would like the longer version of how we got here, we wrote about going from two homes to a thriving brand.
3. There is no algorithm between you and the house
On an OTA, your conversation lives inside someone else’s app, subject to their message filters and their policies. Direct, you have our email and our phone number. If your flight is delayed and you are arriving at midnight, you tell us and we sort it out.
4. Flexibility is a conversation, not a dropdown
Cancellation and change policies on OTAs are rigid tiers, applied by software. Booking direct, a late checkout, an early arrival, or a question about bringing your dog is a conversation with a human who can weigh your actual situation.
For the record, here is our direct cancellation policy in writing: 96% refund up to 14 days before arrival, and 46% refund up to 7 days before arrival. It is shown at checkout before you pay, not buried in a policy tier.
5. Direct guests get the perks
Repeat guests, longer stays, off-season flexibility, add-ons like our private chef service — these are things we can offer directly that the platforms do not have a checkbox for.
Where do the OTAs genuinely win?
We would rather be straight with you than pretend otherwise.
If you have never heard of us, a platform feels safer. OTAs offer a familiar dispute process and a recognizable brand. That is real, and it is the main reason first-time guests start there.
One account, one place. If you are comparing thirty houses across five companies, the platforms are a convenient way to browse.
A non-refundable platform rate can close the gap. If you are certain of your dates and you pick a platform’s non-refundable option, the price difference narrows considerably. Our 10% figure compares flexible booking to flexible booking.
Here is the thing though: you can use both. Plenty of our guests find us on Airbnb, stay once, and book direct every time after — because now they know us. Our homes carry hundreds of reviews across the platforms, and our track record is public. San Diego Voyager also profiled how we have built the company, if you would like the longer version: Scaling With Intention: Inside the Rise of Rather Be Properties.
How to book direct with us
- Browse our homes at ratherbeproperties.com — every property has its own page with full photos and details.
- Pick your dates and book right on the site. Real-time availability, secure payment.
- Or just message us. If you are not sure which house fits your group, that is genuinely our favorite question to answer.
Frequently asked questions
Is it actually cheaper to book direct?
Yes. On a like-for-like comparison — same house, same dates, same flexible cancellation terms — booking direct with us runs about 10% less, because you are not paying the platform’s guest service fee.
Is booking direct safe?
Ours runs on secure payment processing with a confirmed reservation and a written agreement, same as anywhere. The difference is you also have our direct phone and email.
What is your cancellation policy if I book direct?
96% refund up to 14 days before arrival, and 46% refund up to 7 days before arrival. It is displayed at checkout before you pay.
What if something goes wrong during my stay?
You contact us and we fix it. No ticket queue. That is the part guests tell us they notice most.
Can I see reviews if I book direct?
Yes — our homes have hundreds of reviews across the platforms, and we are happy to point you to them. We do not hide from our record.
Do you offer discounts for longer stays?
Reach out and ask. Longer stays and off-season dates are exactly where booking direct gives us room to work with you.
Take a look
Outer Banks homes → · Coachella Valley homes →
Not sure where to start? Our guides to where to stay in the Outer Banks with kids and the best family vacation rentals in Indio are the two most useful places to begin.
Because there is no place you would rather be.
