10/29/2026
Let's talk about what you're really paying when you book on Airbnb. 👀 For Airbnb bookings starting November 20th booking rules have changed.
Here's something the big booking sites don't advertise: on a lot of rentals, part of what you pay never goes to your host or toward the home you're staying in. It goes to the platform.
💸 Airbnb now takes an extra 15.5% from most hosts on every booking. That cost doesn't disappear; it gets built into the price you see.
💸 Vrbo now takes an additional 12% from the host and adds its own service fee on top when you check out.
Real example, same lake home, same 3 nights:
✅ Book direct with us: $750
❌ Book on Airbnb: about $888
❌ Book on Vrbo: $864 , plus Vrbo's service fee on top
That's $100+ out of your vacation budget for clicking a different button. 🤯
We're a small local team in Tomahawk. We'd much rather that money stay with YOU, for an extra night up north, dinner on the water, or a full tank in the boat.
How to stop overpaying, whether you stay with us or not:
🔎 Found a place you love on a big site? Search the property or host name on Google. Many have their own booking site.
🧾 Always compare the **final total at checkout**, not the nightly rate.
📞 Reach out to hosts directly once you've found their own site. Many offer repeat-guest discounts you'll never see on the platforms. (we do!)
⭐ Follow your favorite rentals on Facebook. That's where the direct-only deals show up.
🔖 Bookmark the place you love so next time you skip the middleman.
And if you're heading to Tomahawk 🌲 book with us at wisconsin-getaways.com - no booking-site fees, real local hosts, and right now **UPNORTH** takes $50 off your winter stay.
👉 Full breakdown and more tips: https://www.wisconsin-getaways.com/blog/book-direct-and-save
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