Vrbo: Common Questions

Find answers to common questions about Vrbo in Hostaway, including connection behavior, listing management, reservations, and platform limitations.

How do I connect to Vrbo?

You can connect to Vrbo by either of the following:

• iCal. Only reservations will sync. Rates and content information will not sync. Vrbo can continue to take payments on your behalf
• API. Rates, inventory, reservations, and messages will sync. Note that Vrbo does not take payments anymore, and you will need to connect Hostaway to Stripe and have Guest Invoicing set up

Does Hostaway support Price Consistency?

Yes, Hostaway supports Price Consistency by default for all properties connected via API.

Can I message Vrbo guests from the dashboard?

Yes. Hostaway uses the Vrbo messaging API.

Can I import my length of stay policy from Hostaway to Vrbo?

You can push the length of stay policy from Hostaway into Vrbo. The maximum number of minimum stays is 200 days.

How can I adjust the markup rate for my Vrbo listings?

You can adjust your markup settings by following the next steps: 

1. Go to your Hostaway Dashboard > Channel Manager
2. Under the Channels bar > Click on Vrbo > Configure
3. Near the listing, click on "Settings"
4. "Is listed on Vrbo" should be On > Set the markup
5. Close

How can I handle guests' payments?

How "Allow Invoice Payment" Works

The "Allow invoice payment" setting is a Vrbo-specific feature that determines how payments for Vrbo bookings are handled. You can find this setting by navigating to Listing > Edit > Channel Specific.

Here’s how it works based on your selection:

Setting "Allow invoice payment" to NO:

• Function: This is the recommended setting for automated payments. It instructs Vrbo to push the guest's credit card details to Hostaway.
• Process:
  1. A guest books through Vrbo.
  2. Vrbo sends the reservation and the guest's encrypted credit card details to Hostaway.
  3. If you have Auto-Payments set up for Vrbo, Hostaway will automatically charge the guest's card via your connected Stripe or Braintree account.
  4. If you don't have auto-payments enabled, you will need to charge the card manually from the reservation page.
• Use Case: This is the best option if you want to automate payment collection for Vrbo bookings and manage everything within Hostaway.

Setting "Allow invoice payment" to YES:

• Function: This setting prevents Vrbo from sending the guest's credit card details to Hostaway.
• Process:
  1. A guest books through Vrbo.
  2. Vrbo sends the reservation details to Hostaway, but without any payment information.
  3. You are now responsible for manually invoicing the guest and arranging payment outside of the automated system (e.g., via bank transfer, cash, or a separate payment link).
• Use Case: This option is for hosts who prefer to handle payments manually, use a payment method not integrated with Hostaway, or collect payments on arrival

How can I change the listing content on Vrbo?

To update your listing content on VRBO, follow these steps:

1. Make changes to any field that syncs with VRBO (such as property description, amenities, number of bathrooms, etc.)
2. A Save & Export pop-up will automatically appear
3. Click Save & Export to push your changes to VRBO

Manual Sync Method

If you need to manually trigger a sync without making permanent changes:

1. Temporarily modify a field that syncs with VRBO (e.g., change the number of bathrooms)
2. Click Save & Export
3. Revert the field to its original value
4. Click Save & Export again

Note: Changes may take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours to appear on VRBO, depending on the type and amount of information being synced.

Can I accept Vrbo inquiries from Hostaway?

Yes, you can! Please make sure that you do have the content API activated and that there is an email address available in the reservation details to reply to the guest.

Once a guest sends in their inquiries via "Ask Manager A Question", you will need to answer the guest from Hostaway. A reply to the guest will automatically approve the request and the guest will receive in their email inbox your reply and buttons to either "Reply" or "Book Now":

 

Once the guest clicks on "Book Now", the inquiry will then turn into a reservation.

What do the different reservation statuses mean?

Hostaway's message system features many different reservation statuses. Read more about what each one means here.

How long does it take to sync with Vrbo?

It can take from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the information that is synced.

Can I adjust the dates of my stay on Hostaway with a Vrbo inquiry?

No, you can't. However, you can adjust the dates of stay of a confirmed reservation (meaning that the inquiry has turned into a new reservation) on the Hostaway dashboard. On the reservation details, click on "Edit" or "Modify" change the check-in and check-out dates, and click the "Save" button.

Can I decide whether the Refundable Damage Deposit is included in the reservation total or not?

Yes, you can. The feature is called "Deposit paid at location" on Vrbo, and if you choose not to include it, the deposit will not be charged at the time of booking, and you will have to manage that deposit outside the booking process.

The option can be found under Listings > Prices & Fees. By default, the checkbox is unselected.

 

Does Hostaway support Vrbo Pet Fees?

Yes, Hostaway does. Vrbo pet fees can be added under Listings > Price & Fees. They apply per pet, either per reservation or per night.

 

All pet fees are displayed in Financial Reporting under the same column - pet fees - regardless of the channel.

 

Where can I find the Advertiser ID that is required by Vrbo?

For Single VRBO Account

If you have only one VRBO account connected to Hostaway:

1. Navigate to Settings > Account
2. Locate your Account ID

For Multiple VRBO Accounts

If you have multiple VRBO accounts connected to Hostaway:

1. Go to Channel Manager > Channels
2. Click Configure next to VRBO
3. All Advertiser IDs for your VRBO accounts will be displayed in the Account field

Why is my Room type not reflected in Vrbo?

Vrbo only supports the export of the property type attribute, to specify if the property is a house, apartment, condo, etc; but the Room type listing attribute is only supported for the Hostaway website. Vrbo's policy does not support shared spaces except under specific conditions.
https://help.vrbo.com/articles/What-is-HomeAway-s-policy-regarding-shared-space-rentals

Payment Amount Discrepancies: Why is the amount to be paid different in Vrbo and Hostaway?

Important Note: Due to recent changes in Vrbo's fee structure and breakdown system, you may notice discrepancies between the total booking amount and the payment amount processed through our platform.

Why does this happen?

Vrbo manages its fees and commissions separately from the main booking payment. The amount you see in our system represents the remaining balance that needs to be collected after Vrbo has already deducted its commission and fees.

Key Points:

• Our platform is the source of truth for the remaining amount to be paid after Vrbo's deductions
• The payment amount will vary based on how Vrbo calculates and deducts its fees and commissions
• This discrepancy is expected behavior due to Vrbo's payment processing structure

For more detailed information about Vrbo's payment processing, please refer to their official integration guide: About Vrbo Integration - Payments

Note

Keep in mind that all financial records and payments will be kept within Hostaway and your payment processor as the source of truth, so any additional fees/extras or financial updates may not be directly changed in your Vrbo dashboard.

This is expected based on the Merchant of Record ownership change once you are integrated through Hostaway; Vrbo will no longer manage this data after initially receiving the reservation. 
For more details, please refer to their guide on Payments for Integrated Accounts

Payment Status Discrepancies: Why does my reservation appear as paid on Vrbo but show as failed in Hostaway and Stripe?

This is expected behavior when Hostaway serves as your Merchant of Record. Here's why this happens:

Vrbo's Limited Payment Visibility:

• Vrbo is not directly connected to your Stripe payment processing
• They can only confirm the payment amount and the scheduled payment date
• Vrbo cannot verify whether the actual charge was successful or failed

Hostaway as Merchant of Record:

• Since Hostaway processes payments on your behalf, any payment issues must be resolved directly through Hostaway and Stripe
• The actual payment status is only visible in your Hostaway dashboard and Stripe account
• Vrbo's payment status may not reflect the real-time status from your payment processor

Status Updates:

• While Hostaway sends payment updates through the Vrbo connection, these updates don't always reflect immediately (or at all) on Vrbo's dashboard
• Always refer to your Hostaway and Stripe accounts for accurate payment status information

Action Required: If you see a failed payment in Hostaway/Stripe, address it directly through these platforms, regardless of what Vrbo displays. The payment status in Hostaway and Stripe is the authoritative source for your actual transaction status.

I want to cancel and completely remove my Vrbo connection from Hostaway. Can you delete the Vrbo account and disconnect everything?

It’s not possible to fully delete the last Vrbo account from the Hostaway VRBO API section. One Vrbo account record will always remain and cannot be removed. However, all listings can be deactivated/unmapped so they no longer sync or appear connected to Vrbo. In your case, the listings are already disconnected, but the final Vrbo account entry will still exist and cannot be deleted.

Why is the "Add Property" or "Export" button missing?

Symptom: You have connected your Vrbo account, but you cannot find the "Add Property" button, or the export/mapping dropdown menus are missing from the configuration page.

Cause: This is expected behavior if your Vrbo account status in Hostaway is currently showing as "Connecting". While the account is in this transitional state, Hostaway's interface temporarily locks listing configuration and mapping options.

How to resolve this:

1. Verify Onboarding Form Completion: Ensure you have completed the mandatory Vrbo Self-Service Onboarding (SSO) Form using your correct Hostaway Advertiser/Account ID.
2. Allow Processing Time: Vrbo typically takes 24 to 72 hours to process and validate your SSO submission to establish the API connection.
3. Wait for Status Change: Once Vrbo's team completes the API activation, the connection status in Hostaway will automatically change to "Connected".
4. Export & Map Listings: Once the status is "Connected", click on your specific Vrbo Account ID/number under Channel Manager > Channels > Vrbo > Configure to view the mapping page, where the "Add Property" / "Export" options will now be fully visible and active.