While nothing beats a luxury hotel, sometimes it's nice to swap the chlorinated sheets and overpriced turndown service for a full kitchen and the comforts of a real vacation home away from home. And though Airbnb's managed to become the number one home swap site on the Web, it's not the only source for travel abodes. Here are a few of our favorites.
ONE FINE STAY: This London-based site considers itself the "luxury Airbnb," offering up high class rentals and homestays in London, Los Angeles, Paris and New York. Like Airbnb, the One Fine Stay team will put you in the home of someone who's out of town for a bit, and they'll go the extra step by stocking the facilities with bathroom soaps and goodies, fresh linens and maid service, if you want it. Plus, your absent hosts will leave you special recommendations so you can explore your chosen city like a local.
HOMEAWAY: HomeAway is a lesser-known Airbnb, boasting over 625,000 listings all over the world. Homes are generally private rental homes and not owners' primary residences, which is good news for anyone creeped out by Airbnb's model; there are no booking fees and rental prices are owner-determined, plus you can rate your hosts once you return from your trip.
VRBO: If your vacation is keeping you domestic, this HomeAway sister site offers no fee rental homes in popular locations all over the country, with special emphasis on destinations in Florida, Colorado, California, Hawaii and the Carolinas. They've also got a few offerings scattered in international cities in South America and Europe, though their real specialty is in the States.
WEENEEDAVACATION.COM: This one's a little more local, but WeNeedaVacation is prime vacation rental hunting if you're looking for a place in Cape Cod, Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard. The homes are all secondary residences, and there are options for longterm rentals if you're planning to stay for a while. Plus, the site's rental staff are seasoned renters and renter-outers themselves, so they're regular pros when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of the business.
ROOMORAMA: Roomorama's good for overseas jetsetters, sporting thousands upon thousands of available rentals in Europe and Asia. Most properties are strictly rentals and managed by an professional company. The site also offers tons of perks for travelers, like discounted dinners, tours and photography sessions.
