An unexpected fee for a VRBO rental — reader mistake story
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Today, I want to share a story from TPG reader Chase, who overlooked some important terms while booking a vacation rental:
I work in the event industry, and am traveling in a group of nine people to a beachfront town in Florida to work an event in September. We decided it would be more fun to rent a beautiful oceanfront house rather than several hotel rooms, so I jumped on Airbnb and VRBO to find a house that would work.
I found a house we liked for $349 a night, plus an additional $715 in fees (reservation fee, housekeeping charge, damage waiver and service fee) and $229 in tax for the four-night stay. The fees were high, but they were clearly displayed and included in the total price. I booked the stay using my Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — no perks for this booking, but it’s my business card. Like any booking, I had to accept the terms and conditions, and like 99% of the population, I didn’t read them.
A few hours later, I received an email from the property management company saying my credit card would be used for the VRBO service fees, but that I needed to submit payment for the house directly to their company. This is pretty normal with VRBO, but they added that unless I mailed them a check or money order, I would be charged an additional 4% service fee (plus tax) for paying with a credit card.
I explained I had to use a card (since it was a business expense), and that the fee should have been listed with the others, but the company replied that it was in the terms and conditions I blindly accepted. Even though the VRBO listing explicitly broke down four separate fees I was paying, they hid the additional 4% credit card fee separately.
Moral of the story: unless you’re booking through a major chain, always read the terms and conditions. Failing to do so in this case cost me an extra $95.84 on top of an already steep set of fees. Also, be mindful of whether you’re booking a home managed by an individual person/family or a property management company. In the latter case, you can almost always book directly through that company and save the VRBO/Airbnb service fee.
Both VRBO and Airbnb have tweaked their fee structures recently in the pursuit of more transparent pricing, but renting on either platform still comes with the potential for hidden charges. To see which fees are included in a VRBO booking, click the link that says "View details" under the total dollar amount shown, and further expand the owner fees to see each one listed individually. Don't stop there, however, as you may find other charges listed in the property description (like a local tourist tax collected on site or a nightly rate for additional guests). Review Airbnb listings with similar diligence, including the breakdown of charges listed in the cost summary and additional terms noted in both the space description and the separate section for house rules.
Scouting rentals so thoroughly may sound tedious, but keep in mind those extensive terms and descriptions are there for your benefit and not just as an avenue to nickel and dime you after booking. Setting expectations in writing makes it easier for you to hold hosts accountable when their offerings fall short, like if the Wi-Fi doesn't work or there aren't as many beds as advertised. Unscrupulous hosts may try to levy additional charges upon arrival, but if those charges weren't listed when your stay was confirmed, then you're under no obligation to pay.
Chase preaches caution when booking through vacation rental sites like VRBO and Airbnb, but I recommend reading terms and conditions even when booking through a major chain, as individual properties may impose unfriendly policies that are atypical of the larger brand. In particular, you should always review cancellation policies; so long as the cancellation policy is benign, you have an out from other unfavorable terms and conditions.
Related: 12 tips for scoring the perfect Airbnb
I appreciate this story, and I hope it can help other readers avoid making the same mistake. In appreciation for sharing this experience (and for allowing us to post it online), I’m sending Chase a gift card to enjoy on future travels, and I'd like to do the same for you. Please email your own travel mistake stories to info@thepointsguy.com, and put "Reader Mistake Story" in the subject line. Tell us how things went wrong, and (where applicable) how you made them right. Offer any wisdom you gained from the experience, and explain what the rest of us can do to avoid the same pitfalls.
Feel free to also submit your best travel success stories. If your story is published in either case, I’ll send you a gift to jump-start your next adventure. Due to the volume of submissions, we can't respond to each story individually, but we'll be in touch if yours is selected. I look forward to hearing from you, and until then, I wish you a safe and mistake-free journey!
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.