22/10/2026
π¨ GUEST ALERT π¨
π‘ π«β΅οΈπΊοΈA LOT IS CHANGING IN THE VACATION RENTAL WORLD AND TRAVELERS NEED TO KNOW WHATβS HAPPENING!πΊοΈπ’ποΈπ‘
If you travel and book vacation rentals anywhere in the world, but especially in the European Union understanding whatβs happening behind the scenes can help you make informed choices and save money. πΆπ΅
Hereβs whatβs going on because as we all know, everything is getting more expensive. πHere is what you need to know:
π AIRBNB: Host fees went to 15.5% for owners!
A few months ago, Airbnb began moving hosts to a single-fee structure, increasing the host fee from 3% to 15.5%.
The 15.5% fee comes out of the host's payout and applies to the nightly rate and any other charges, such as cleaning fees, parking, pet fees, etc. Everything except the security deposit is affected. To maintain their earnings, many hosts have had to raise their nightly prices to make up even part of the difference. And now VRBO and its family of platforms are raising their rates from 5% to 12% for us host's.
All this means higher prices for travelers, and higher taxes for owners and travelers because of the increased rental price. Depending on the property and tax rate, the overall increase can be significant, for some it is an additional 20%+. π
And thatβs not all!
πAIRBNB'S NEW HOST POLICIES
Airbnb has also announced policy changes affecting rental agreements, guest identity verification, checkout tasks, and house rules which are NOT according to Croatian tourist law π
π VRBO: Host fees went from 5% to 12%
VRBO is following suit. For hosts on its pay-per-booking model, the commission is increasing from 5% to 12%, effective October 29, 2026. Hosts on annual subscription plans are being transitioned when their subscriptions expire.
And yes, VRBO is still charging travelers a separate service fee on top of the rental price! π‘
π BOKINGCOM: 18% OR MORE
Booking. com host fees can run 18% or higher, depending on the property's agreement and arrangement.
WHO ENDS UP PAYING FOR ALL THESE FEE INCREASES?
We, the hosts aren't simply going to absorb these costs. Many of us will raise our prices to make up the difference.
And when prices rise, travelers can end up paying more, including potentially paying taxes on the higher rental amount. π
π‘ SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
BOOK DIRECT whenever you can!
Here's how: π§³
π. 1. Find a vacation rental you like on Google , Airbnb, B.Com or VRBO. Google is safer because of the many illegal accommodations listed at B.Com and Airbnb.
π 2. Look for the name of the property, or the owner.
π 3. Google that name and see whether you can find its direct-booking website.
π 4. To be 100% sure, go to the local tourist board website and search the name of the accommodation as well as the owner's name. If it exists, you are safe to make a reservation π
π𧳠When you book directly with the legitimate owner or property manager, you may avoid some third-party platform fees and save money. Depending on the property, the savings could be 20% or more.
Just make sure you're booking through a legitimate website and understand the payment and cancellation policies.
π WE ALL HAVE SOME DECISIONS TO MAKE HERE.
As travelers, we need to be smarter about where we book.
As hosts, we need to decide whether these platforms are still worth the fees and restrictions they impose.
Personally, we removed our listing from all mentioned two years ago π except Google and our website!
Please share this with anyone who travels or books vacation rentals. They deserve to know what's happening, and that there may be a better, more affordable way to book! π€
π𧳠If you come across our holiday home on any accommodation booking platform, we would be grateful if you could let us know!
To verify the legal status of our property or any other accommodation on the island of LoΕ‘inj, please visit the official website of the Mali LoΕ‘inj Tourist Board. LOSINJ - ISLAND OF VITALITY
β οΈ
To book direct, go to: www.villamacaklin.com
