Five Ways You Benefit From Directly Booking Your Vacation Rental
When booking a vacation rental, it’s easy to turn to third-party platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. With a simple search,
you can find accommodation just about anywhere. However, booking directly with the host has its own benefits. Book
directly and save money! Not only that, but you are also more likely to have a great experience.
Whether you are looking for a place to stay near Oregon State University or a Corvallis mid-term rental, direct booking
saves you money while allowing for an even better experience. The benefits become even more apparent for a mid-term
rental or other longer stays of a month or longer.
Top Reasons to Book Your Vacation Rental or Corvallis Business Travel Directly
1. Save Money on Service Fees
Without a doubt, third-party booking apps are convenient and easy. When visiting an unfamiliar place, it’s comforting to
use a familiar interface and to do business with a known entity. However, many travelers don’t realize how much of what
they pay goes to the platform as add-on booking fees.
Booking directly saves you money. For example, Airbnb charges a host fee and a guest services fee on top of the cost of
your vacation rental and applicable taxes. Often, this added service fee is enough to cover a restaurant meal or an
activity like a visit to a local attraction.
While the convenience and security of a platform have value, for repeat visits, many travelers find that when they book
their next stay directly, they not only save money but they have a more personal experience.
2. Enjoy Seamless Communication
When you engage your vacation or business travel rental manager directly, you may receive better service. While we
always strive to offer the best experience to all of our guests regardless of booking method, communication is usually
more efficient when the guest contacts us directly.
In addition, many vacation rental hosts hold back available listings from Airbnb and other booking sites. If you are
planning a trip to Corvallis during peak times like OSU Graduation, Beaver football season, or OSU Family Weekend, you
may find that some rooms are reserved as soon as they are available. By communicating directly with the host, you have
an even better chance of finding a great place to stay with the amenities that make you feel at home.
3. Access to Local Knowledge for a More Memorable Stay
Your local host knows the community and is able to make personalized recommendations for the best hiking trails, golf
courses, restaurants, or whatever else you enjoy.
While we happily make such recommendations to our platform guests when they ask, sometimes it just spontaneously happens
when communicating with a guest who is booking directly. When you book directly with a host who lives in the community,
you have access to the kind of information only locals know like the best place to park in downtown Corvallis or where
to get a bite to eat after watching a show at PRAx.
Basically, when you book direct, you receive concierge-level service while staying in a more private, homelike setting.
4. Ease Ethical Concerns About Airbnb
Over the years, people have questioned the ethics of third-party platforms like Airbnb. One common concern is their
impact on local housing markets. In some cities, the rise of short-term rentals may have contributed to housing
shortages and increased rental prices, making it difficult for residents to find affordable long-term housing. This
varies by the community and is typically more of an issue in areas with a thriving tourism economy.
The rapid growth of Airbnb has led to concerns about community disruption, including noise, increased traffic, and
changes in neighborhood dynamics. Individual hosts who don’t consider their neighborhood are likely responsible if this
happens, but a global platform doesn’t vet individual homes for these issues.
A local host, like Fernwood Circle Guest Houses, carefully weighs whether a home is suitable for short-stay or longer
mid-term stays. That suitability includes whether there is parking and whether the neighborhood can accommodate higher
guest turnover.
Additionally, some cities struggle to regulate short-term rentals effectively, leading to potential legal and safety
issues. By choosing to book directly with local businesses, you can ensure that your stay aligns with community
standards and supports responsible tourism.
5. Support Small Businesses and the Community You Visit
In recent years, there has been a movement of savvy consumers who choose to support local products and services.
Small, independent businesses are then able to spend more in their local economy as employers, taxpayers, and consumers.
They are also likely to give back to the community they love in various ways. One frequently cited economic study
estimated that a local, small business is likely to spend $68 out of every $100 earned locally.
As a small business, Fernwood Circle Guest Houses contributes to the Corvallis-area local economy and community. In
Northwest Oregon, the leisure and hospitality industries are the sources of over 17% of all jobs. Visitors spend $1.56
billion each year. By supporting smaller businesses over big-box brands, more of this money enhances the quality of life
and local amenities enjoyed by both visitors and residents.
Corvallis visitors are charmed by the vibrant downtown, abundant parks, and beautiful campus area. They often feel like
Corvallis is their second community. Small, local, independent businesses contribute to the unique vibe found downtown
and on Monroe Street adjacent to the OSU campus. Their tax revenue also allows the city to maintain beautiful parks,
open spaces, public recreation facilities, and hiking and biking trails. By supporting local businesses while you visit,
you help ensure that the Corvallis community remains a special place to visit.
Book Your Next Trip to Corvallis
Next time you plan to visit Corvallis, consider booking directly instead of searching for “VRBO Corvallis” or “Corvallis
Airbnb.” Not only do you save on fees, but you also enjoy a personalized experience.
Visit Fernwood Circle Guest Houses to book accommodation for your next trip to Corvallis, Oregon.