A cancellation policy for Vrbo owners is not optional; it is required! It guarantees that all parties are on the same page. Not only does it give visitors the required information about their booking, but it also protects you if your guests fail to appear.
Without a well-defined cancellation policy, hosts are often left empty-handed. As a result, it is prudent for vacation rental owners to do research and plan in advance.
Lodgable is a vacation rental software that enables hosts to improve reservations and optimize their time on their own. We understand how important it is to be included on listing sites – much more so when you’re just starting. That is why we have created this Vrbo tutorial to assist you in navigating their features.
If you are a Lodgable client interested in connecting to Vrbo through API, please contact our customer care team to seek adjustments to our cancellation policy. For further information join Lodgable.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Vrbo is handling cancellations during the Covid-19 epidemic, please see our blog post here: How to Manage and Protect Your Vacation Rental against Coronavirus.
Vrbo host cancellation policies
As a homeowner, you are responsible for determining the cancellation policy for your rental property. When you initially offer your house on Vrbo, you have six choices. Among these choices are the following policies:
• No refund policy: This is the most restrictive option; reservations for your holiday rental are non-refundable.
• Strict (60-day) cancellation policy: Guests who cancel at least 60 days before their check-in date get a full refund.
• Firm (60/30-day) cancellation policy: Guests who cancel at least 60 days before their check-in date get a full refund. They get a 50% refund if they cancel at least 30 days before check-in (excluding the service fee). After 30 days, reservations are non-refundable.
• Moderate (30/14-day) cancellation policy: Guests who cancel at least 30 days before their check-in date get a full refund. They get a 50% refund if they cancel 14 days before check-in (excluding the service fee). Cancellations made less than 14 days before check-in will not be refunded.
• Relaxed (14/7-day) cancellation policy: Guests get a full refund if they cancel their reservation at least 14 days before check-in. They get a 50% refund if they cancel at least seven days before check-in (excluding the service fee). Cancellations made less than seven days before the check-in date will not be refunded.
• Specific policy: Vrbo also allows for the creation of custom cancellation policies for certain properties. These policies each have their own set of terms and conditions, which visitors may see straight from the property website. To minimize misunderstanding, hosts should include their own rules in the description of their property.
You’ll need to decide which choice is best for your home. While stricter cancellation rules may provide more protection for the owner, flexible cancellation alternatives are often more popular with prospective visitors. It is best to find a medium ground that benefits both you and your visitors.
How to cancel a reservation made by a visitor
While canceling a guest’s reservation is never desirable, there may be circumstances in which you are compelled to do so. The following are the measures to take:
• Visit the Vrbo owner login page.
• Select the reservation you want to cancel from the list.
• Access the Inbox
• In the All Messages drop-down menu, locate the guest’s name.
• Select Cancel booking.
• In the drop-down box, choose the reason for the cancellation.
• Click Continue after reviewing the return amount.
• Click Confirm after reviewing the refund amount.
It’s important to understand that depending on the reason for your cancellation, you may be eligible for a cancellation waiver. However, if you do not acquire a waiver, your cancellation will hurt your ranking metrics.
How to accept a guest’s request for a cancellation
If a visitor requests to cancel a reservation and you are required to approve, the following steps must be taken:
• Check your visitors’ My Trips area to see whether they’ve requested cancellation.
• Click on the listing that the visitor wishes to cancel
• Select the Inbox
• Use the All Messages drop-down option to filter your discussion
• Click on Confirm cancellation next to the guest’s name.
How to alter the cancellation policy for your Vrbo bookings
If you want to modify your cancellation policy for any reason, the following actions should be taken:
• Navigate to your Vrbo Dashboard
• Select the listing you want to alter or amend
• Select the Settings option, followed by the Rental Agreement and Cancellation Policy button.
• In the Cancellation Policy section, choose the policy you want to employ and save your modifications.
Can Vrbo hosts opt-out of refunding guests?
Depending on the cancellation policy selected by the Vrbo owner, guests may be eligible for reimbursements on canceled bookings. As a result, proprietors may elect to provide no refunds and may establish their cancellation procedures.
In the event of inclement weather, Vrbo has a cancellation policy.
If a visitor is forced to cancel their reservation due to a natural catastrophe such as a hurricane, flood, or storm, they should inform the owner immediately. The owner and visitor must then agree on a solution, which may include a refund or postponing the stay.
Utlize a Vacation Rental Channel Manager
A vacation rental channel manager will make managing your vacation rental easier by connecting you to multiple booking sites all from a single dashboard. You can get custom reports and experience an increase in revenue.
