TO get the holiday rental you want, Vrbo have all the deadlines you need to avoid being disappointed.
If the January blues are hitting hard and you want an amazing holiday to look forward to, you better book it now.
Vrbo, the online marketplace for vacation rentals, have given their deadlines by which holidaymakers should book their getaways, and it’s sooner than you think.
With January slipping away already, Vrbo recommends booking a trip for Easter in the next few weeks with the latest date being March 3.
If you decide to look for a deal by late January, over half of homes should still be up for grabs for the Easter break.
Booking after March 3 means that less than 30 per cent of homes on Vrbo are expected to be available for over the Easter break.
So not only will you have less choice, but you can expect more expensive options too.
For those of you hoping to have a sun-soaked trip abroad this year, there’s good and bad news.
The good news is there’s still time to find the perfect holiday, the bad news is that the deadline is shorter than if you’re planning a staycation.
Vrbo has identified mid-February as the best time to book summer trips when 50 per cent of properties are still expected to be available on the site.
Don’t hang around though because by late April, more than 70 per cent of summer homes will have been snapped up in the most popular holiday locations.
Melanie Fish, a spokesperson for Vrbo says: “It’s a mistake to treat holiday homes like hotels.
“With space for only one group at a time, there’s more competition to book homes, especially those with standout amenities in top locations.
“When you find that dream house – beachfront, game room, bunk beds, and a pool steps from the ocean – don’t wait.
“A week or two can make the difference between being just steps from the beach or on the other side of town.”
On the Vrbo website, Faro in Portugal, and the Balearics and Las Palmas in Spain prove to be most popular. So to have the most choice of properties, it’s a good idea to book in January.
If you’re planning to stay in the UK this summer, the pressure is still on as properties in the likes of Cornwall, Devon and Cumbria are likely to be snapped up by March 24.
Norfolk is delayed until April 7 and North Yorkshire until May 5.
Vrbo have also offered up some very handy holiday home booking tips – the first being to book an October trip to save cash.
Everyone knows summer holidays are the high season so October is the best time to go away.
During that month, average daily rates are the lowest, such as Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Gloucestershire.
Or take a trip over to Florida in cities like Lakeland and Winter Haven as the weather remains mild.
On the Vrbo website, there’s a way to score discounts for longer stays as well.
Find homes with the “Monthly discount” and “Weekly discount” filters to save an average of 10 per cent on selected weeklong bookings.
Trying out properties under the “New listing discount” filter means you’ll be among the first three guests at a new property and save 20 per cent. (Price excluding taxes and fees).
