Vrbo Logo

Vrbo

Vrbo Logo
Vrbo

Complaints

8 complaints
Search in results...

Vrbo Ignored My Complaint About Moldy Rental and Broken Shower

44

Thus horrible. I never book a property with Vrbo once more. Our lodging was really horrible; the shower was totally dama...

Vrbo Refused to Refund My Canceled Booking Despite Clear Refund Policy

27

Well inside the refund window indicated on the listing, I canceled a reservation on Vrbo on April 10, 2025—a full three ...

Vrbo Host Doubles Price Before Trip, Customer Service Refuses Help

60

I made a reservation through Vrbo to celebrate my partner's birthday in a romantic setting near the vineyards of France....

Vrbo Host Canceled Reservation After Arrival

67

On March 26th, I booked a beautiful home in Austin for a stay with my family. However, a mere 5 minutes after meeting th...

Vrbo Service Fee Complaint - High Commissions, Unhelpful Service

58

I faced some problems when I tried to list my home on the Vrbo app. The process was a bit complicated and didn't move as...

Vrbo Customer Service Complaint

59

On March 24th, I booked a two-night reservation for a house in Orlando via the Vrbo mobile app for March 27th and 28th. ...

Vrbo Payment Hassle - Guest Stay Completed, but No Payment Received

28

I incorporated my residence into the Vrbo accommodation app, and I recently had a guest book their stay through the plat...

Vrbo Payment Hassle - Guest Stay Completed, but No Payment Received

Missing Contact Details for Vrbo Rental in Leiden, Netherlands

27

Between August 24th and September 5th, we booked an apartment in Leiden, Netherlands, using the Vrbo app. Unfortunately,...

Brand Overview: Vrbo

Vrbo, which originally stood for Vacation Rentals by Owner, is a global online marketplace for short-term vacation rentals. Founded in 1995, the platform helped pioneer the modern vacation rental industry before being acquired. Today, the brand is wholly owned and operated by Expedia Group.

Contact Info

Vrbo primarily manages customer service inquiries through its dedicated Help Center, mobile app, and live chat features. There is no official direct customer support email address publicly available for general traveler issues. However, customers can reach their support team directly by phone.

  • Phone: 1-877-202-4291 or 1-877-228-3145
  • Email: No official support email publicly available (inquiries are routed through web forms and live chat)

Industry and Operations

Vrbo operates as a two-sided online travel marketplace connecting travelers with property owners and property managers. Unlike some of its competitors, Vrbo focuses exclusively on whole-home rentals rather than shared spaces, ensuring guests have the entire property to themselves. The business generates revenue by charging service fees to guests and subscription fees or commissions to hosts. The platform facilitates bookings for a wide variety of standalone accommodations, including:

  • Beach houses and coastal villas
  • Mountain cabins and ski resort condos
  • Urban apartments and townhouses
  • Unique accommodations like treehouses, farms, and houseboats

User Sentiment

Overall user sentiment regarding Vrbo on third-party consumer review platforms is heavily negative. While the platform facilitates millions of bookings, travelers who encounter problems frequently express severe frustration with the company's dispute resolution process, citing a lack of accountability from both the platform and individual property hosts.

  • Refund and Cancellation Disputes: Customers consistently report immense difficulty securing refunds when arriving at substandard properties or when hosts cancel reservations at the last minute.
  • Ineffective Customer Service: Users frequently complain about long wait times, dropped calls, unhelpful representatives, and a failure to follow up on escalated support tickets.
  • Misleading Property Listings: A major source of frustration involves properties that are excessively dirty, poorly maintained, or entirely misrepresented by the photos and descriptions online.
  • Unresponsive Hosts: Many travelers complain about hosts who are impossible to reach during check-in or when emergencies arise during a stay.
  • Billing and Hidden Fees: Users commonly report issues with unexpected post-booking fees, double charges, and confusing currency conversions.

Share Your Experience

If you have experienced issues with Vrbo, you are not alone. Share your experience or file a complaint on Xolvie to let your voice be heard and help other consumers navigate their travel options.