Online Press Kit

HomeAway FAQ

Why would I choose a vacation rental home over a hotel?
It's simple: vacation rentals provide more space, privacy and amenities for less money than a hotel. On average, hotels are at least 50 percent more expensive per square foot than vacation rentals. Vacation homes also provide an authentic, local experience where travelers can truly "Live the Destination."

What is HomeAway, Inc.?
HomeAway, Inc. is the world leader of online vacation rentals, representing more than 255,000 paid vacation rental home listings across 100 countries. The company has contributed significantly to the popularity of the vacation rental industry, making it easier than ever for both owners to advertise and profit from their vacation homes and for millions of travelers to find the perfect rental. The HomeAway portfolio includes the leading sites in the U.S: HomeAway.com, VRBO.com, VacationRentals.com, CyberRentals.com, A1Vacations.com, GreatRentals.com and TripHomes.com; as well as the leading sites in the U.K., Germany and France: Holiday-Rentals.co.uk and OwnersDirect.co.uk, FeWo-direkt.de and Abritel.fr, respectively. The company also recently launched sites in seven additional European countries.

Why was HomeAway founded?
HomeAway, Inc. was founded in February 2005 by Brian Sharples and Carl Shepherd who, after experiencing the frustration of finding vacation rentals for family travel, realized the huge potential of the highly fragmented, online vacation rental industry. They initially acquired several leading sites and consolidated them into one vacation rental marketplace, launching HomeAway.com in June 2006.

What is HomeAway.com?
HomeAway.com launched in June 2006 as the consolidation of CyberRentals.com, A1Vacations.com, GreatRentals.com, TripHomes.com, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk and FeWo-direkt.de. With more than 95,000 homes globally, HomeAway.com is the company's flagship site, offering unparalleled search and Listing Reviews.

How do the sites work?
The sites connect home owners/managers who pay to advertise their properties with the millions of travelers who prefer vacation rentals over hotels. There is no fee or registration process for travelers to use the sites. Homeowners are responsible for updating their property listings, which include property descriptions, photos, pricing and availability information. When travelers find a home that best fits their needs and budget, they contact the owner directly via the phone number or email address provided in the listing. HomeAway does not facilitate online transactions.

How does HomeAway define vacation rental "home?"
Vacation rental "home" refers to traditional rentals such as houses, condos and villas, as well as barns, boats, bungalows, cabins, castles, chalets, châteaux, cottages, estates, mansions, yachts, yurts and any other structure travelers may want to rent on vacation. HomeAway even lists a teepee and entire islands for rent.

Aren't vacation rentals all luxury properties and expensive to rent?
No. There is a vacation rental for every budget. Properties on HomeAway.com rent from $200 per week to $300,000 per week, but the average rental price is only $1,650 per week ($236 per night).

How do I know the home pictured and described in the listing is what I will experience when I arrive at my destination?
The company developed the following process and services to ensure travelers have a great vacation rental experience:

HomeAway customer support representatives review each ad for unusual content prior to the property listing going live on the site.

Properties on the sites are private homes, and so both owners and renters benefit from the upkeep and detailed descriptions of the properties in the listings. However, HomeAway recommends travelers always ask owners to elaborate on listings prior to paying deposits.

Listing Reviews enable travelers who have rented on HomeAway.com to use a five-star system and rate a listing for its accuracy, which is then displayed on the property page.

Finally, HomeAway investigates any listings that receive complaints or poor reviews and removes ads that do not comply with practices in the best interest of travelers or go against company policy.

What is VRBO.com?
Founded more than 10 years ago, VRBO pioneered the online advertising of for-rent-by-owner properties and continues to provide a "no-frills" approach to vacation rentals. HomeAway acquired VRBO in November 2006 and continues to run the site as an independent brand.

What is VacationRentals.com?
In May 2007, VacationRentals.com became the newest site in the HomeAway family, adding 30,000 paid listings to the portfolio. A large percentage of the inventory is in America’s top destination: Florida. Like VRBO, VacationRentals continues to operate as an independent brand.

How is HomeAway, Inc. funded?
HomeAway is a privately held company funded by leading venture capital firms Austin Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, American Capital, Institutional Venture Partners and Trident Capital. In November 2006, HomeAway secured an additional $160 million in financing for continued expansion initiatives throughout the world. The funding represented the largest financing of an Internet software/services company in the world for the year.

Where is HomeAway, Inc. located?
HomeAway is based in Austin, Texas and has additional offices in Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia; London, England; Kassel, Germany and Marseilles, France.