Experienced VRBO Renters

I have rented many apartments, both in Europe and the U.S. I've mostly used VRBO, occasionally their sister site Homeaway, and my last trip I used Airbnb twice. I have never had a problem with the person not being there to meet me at the appointed time. I enjoy staying in apartments and I predict you will too. Most apartments I've rented contain a notebook with information about the apartment and nearby restaurants, stores and attractions. Relax and enjoy Barcelona!

I've rented apartments lots of times through VRBO and have had nothing but good experiences. As long as you liked the pics, it has plenty of positive reviews, and the owner has been professional and responsive, I wouldn't worry!

I have used their sister company Owners Direct for more than 25 holidays across the globe and have never had an issue with any property or their owners.

I dislike hotels and the only time I use them is when away on business. I like the freedom your own place gives you and as I am a light sleeper, I generally pick places that look like quiet areas away from hotels and traffic. The only issue is when you have to call the owner to say your flight etc has landed and you are en route if they are handing the keys over personally - making sure your mobile phone works!

Thank you Andrea, Anita and Jennifer. You put my mind at ease!!

Like the others, I've had nothing but good experiences with vrbo and homeaway (same ownership), as well as the other rental agencies I've used. If you're really nervous I think vrbo sells pretty cheap insurance (I know homeaway does). But remember, if renters complain to the website about an owner ripping them off, the owner won't be able to list there again. So an owner who doesn't show up or otherwise stiffs you has lost access to all those future renters, via that website, for the one-time "benefit" of stealing your deposit. Not a rational choice for a thief.

Of course, that would be a worst-case scenario. There can be misunderstandings, last-minute emergencies, and the like, on both sides of the transaction. But, like a hotel, an apartment owner needs to maintain a good reputation to stay in business long. I wouldn't worry about it unless some specific "red flag" pops up.

I have rented through vrbo over the whole US and many in Europe. Always with no problems. I always only rent ones with multiple good reviews though... You can tell a lot too from your interaction with the owner, if they are timely and give you good info...

Have fun!

Thanks Dick. Thanks Kim. The apartment is pretty much completely booked for the next few months. I hope that is a good sign that it is reputable.

We have gone to Europe every summer for a month for 12 of the last 13 years and almost always stay in B&Bs.
So much more can be gained from those experiences of interacting with the owners and other travelers. When we have stayed in a hotel, it has always been next to an airport where we flight out of the next day. Try it, you might like it. Happy travels.

This is a subject where I have been on both sides of the issue in Europe. I think I am allowed to say that much. You can go to a forum and ask what its like to do business with Sears and get a pretty reliable understanding of Sears. The same isn't really true to the same degree at VRBO, because while you have some interaction with VRBO, you are mostly at the mercy of 20,000 individual business people each with their own personalities and agendas; good and bad. You need to be more concerned with the reviews on the individual apartments and worry less about VRBO. Many (most?) of the apartments you will find on VRBO are also listed on half a dozen other sites.

Personally I have a better comfort factor renting apartments from larger management companies and not from individuals. With a larger company they have standardized practices and business ethics in order to maintain a much large client list. That helps eliminate some the extremes in the process. But any number of listings, managed or independent can be wonderful. So, what I am saying is that this is really no help at all.

I do agree that you can get a different insight into a location by renting an apartment. But you can also get a different insight into a location by staying in a 5 star hotel.

I have never had a problem in over 15 years of renting apartments and other alternative accommodations online, through various sites, including VRBO.

In future, though, if you're worried, you can go to a site like Trip Advisor, and you can choose an apartment with a guarantee (i.e. they will find you alternative accommodation/refund your money, if there is a problem). There is a small fee for this. Since this service is provided by Flip Key, I imagine you can get the same guarantee by booking through that site. https://www.tripadvisor.ca/pages/peace_of_mind.html

(I am using Air B&B for the first time to rent an apartment in Barcelona in May. I haven't used that site before, but I know many others who have.)