For finding apartment stays, start with mainstream platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com for their large, diverse global inventory. If you want the best price, use HomeToGo to compare listings across major sites simultaneously. For premium, professionally managed experiences, Sonder and Vacasa offer consistent quality, while Flatio and Sublet.com are the best options specifically for extended or long-term travel rentals.
3HomeToGoBest for price comparison. It functions as a meta-search engine that scans multiple platforms, like Airbnb and Vrbo, allowing you to find the lowest price for the same property across different sites.68%
When looking for the best websites to book apartment stays for travel, the right choice depends on whether you want a peer-to-peer local feel, a heavily filtered hotel-like experience, or a meta-search engine to compare multiple sites at once.
Top Apartment Booking Platforms
Airbnb – The undisputed giant for private apartments, condos, and unique local stays. It features millions of global listings ranging from budget private rooms to luxury penthouses, though it's important to watch out for individual host cleaning and service fees.
Vrbo – Owned by Expedia Group, Vrbo focuses exclusively on entire-place vacation rentals (houses, condos, and apartments). It's a great alternative to Airbnb, especially for families or groups looking for entire properties rather than shared spaces.
Booking.com – While famous for hotels, Booking.com has a massive inventory of serviced apartments and aparthotels. Travelers often prefer it for city apartments because many listings offer free cancellation and clear, hotel-like review scores without hidden host surprises.
– A meta-search engine (or aggregator) that pulls vacation rental and apartment inventory from thousands of different sites into one search, helping you compare prices across the web.
Plum Guide – Known for an intense curation process, Plum Guide hand-selects and rigorously tests top-tier apartments and homes (usually only accepting the top 3% of homes in a given destination), making it ideal if quality control and aesthetics are your top priorities.
Traveler Experiences
I LOVE using AirBnb to book lodging, especially if it's an expensive to visit city. The customer service I've experienced with their team has always been excellent.
Booking.com is such a great tool for lodging planning.
If you want to narrow down your choices, tell me:
What is your destination?
Are you looking for a city apartment or a resort/beach condo?
Do you prefer entire apartments or are you okay with a private room?
I can recommend the best specific platform and tips for saving on fees for your trip.
Focuses on professionally managed, furnished apartments and longer stays.
My practical approach
Vacation of a few nights to 1–2 weeks: compare Airbnb + Vrbo + Booking.com.
Family/group trip: pay particular attention to Vrbo, since its listings are whole homes.
City trip where you want an apartment but might consider a hotel:Booking.com makes that comparison convenient.
28+ nights: check Airbnb's monthly stays and dedicated furnished-rental sites. Airbnb offers monthly pricing and some long-stay discounts.
One important tip: don't compare only the advertised nightly rate. Check the total price after cleaning, service, resort, and other fees, plus the cancellation policy. The cheapest-looking listing isn't necessarily the cheapest final booking.
If you tell me where you're traveling, dates, number of people, and approximate budget, I can also search the current apartment options and compare the sites for that specific trip.
For apartment-style stays, these are the main sites I’d compare:
airbnb.com — Huge selection of apartments, condos, and homes, with particularly strong coverage for unique properties and longer stays. Airbnb has dedicated apartment listings.
vrbo.com — Especially useful for entire apartments/homes, families, and groups. Vrbo focuses on whole-home rentals rather than shared accommodations.
booking.com — Excellent for comparing apartments alongside hotels and serviced apartments. It has more than 2 million properties overall and offers features such as free cancellation on many properties.
Quick way to choose
If you want…
Start with
Lots of apartment choices
Airbnb
An entire place for a family/group
Vrbo
Apartments + hotels in one search
Booking.com
A longer stay
Airbnb or Vrbo
Tip: For an important trip, search the same dates on at least Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. Compare the final checkout price, not just the nightly rate, because cleaning, service, resort, and other fees can change the total substantially.
If you tell me where you're traveling, dates, number of people, and approximate nightly budget, I can compare the best apartment-booking options for that specific trip.
When booking an apartment stay for travel, the "best" website depends on whether you are looking for local peer-to-peer charm, hotel-like consistency, rewards points, or ultimate price comparison.
The top platforms for booking apartment stays are organized by their strengths below:
General & Global Marketplaces
Airbnb : The undisputed giant for short-term apartment rentals globally. It offers everything from single spare rooms to luxury penthouses. It’s best for unique local character, wide inventory, and filtering by features like Superhosts.
Vrbo : Focused strictly on entire-place accommodations (no shared spaces or single rooms), making it a favorite for families and groups wanting privacy. Owned by Expedia, it features robust "Premier Host" metrics for reliability.
Booking.com : Though traditionally known for hotels, Booking.com has a massive inventory of standalone apartments. It often features transparent pricing without heavy separate service fees, and frequent users unlock Genius loyalty discounts.
Curated, Boutique & Quality-Vetted
Plum Guide : Known as the Michelin guide of vacation rentals. They manually vet and test homes, accepting only the top 3% of properties in a given destination based on strict design, location, and comfort criteria.
Sonder : Operates a hybrid model where they lease entire apartment buildings and manage the units themselves. It guarantees hotel-like consistency (app-based check-in, crisp linens, uniform aesthetics) combined with apartment amenities like kitchens.
Rewards & Loyalty Focused
Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy : A curated selection of premium and luxury home rentals . The major draw here is that you can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points on apartment stays while getting professional property management.
Expedia & Hotels.com : Both feature dedicated vacation rental and apartment inventory where bookings contribute to OneKeyCash rewards, allowing you to cross-shop apartments alongside standard lodging.
Aggregators (Best for Price Comparison)
HomeToGo : A massive meta-search engine that aggregates apartment listings from hundreds of other sites (including Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com) so you can compare prices for the exact same property across platforms.
KAYAK : Similar to HomeToGo, KAYAK’s vacation rental search pulls apartment and condo deals from across the web into one comparison view.
Community Perspectives on Booking Apartments
Travelers often find that switching platforms changes the overall experience, especially regarding support and hidden costs.
I found Booking.com to be much more straightforward for city apartments because the price on the search page is usually closer to what you actually pay, and I've had fewer issues with weird host cancellations compared to peer-to-peer sites.
Airbnb is still my go-to for unique neighborhoods, but you really have to read the fine print on cleaning fees and check-in rules now since every host sets their own totally different standard.
If you'd like to narrow down which site to use, tell me:
Where are you planning to travel?
Are you looking for a budget-friendly space, a family setup , or a luxury apartment?
I can recommend the exact platform that fits your trip.
When you're looking for apartment stays for travel, the right platform depends on whether you want a peer-to-peer rental, a professionally managed apart-hotel, or a heavily curated luxury space.
Here are the best websites for booking apartment stays, categorized by what they do best:
Top Overall & Peer-to-Peer Marketplaces
Airbnb – The giant of short-term rentals. It features everything from single spare rooms to entire high-rise downtown apartments and unique architectural stays. Best for sheer variety and global reach.
Vrbo – Owned by Expedia Group, Vrbo focuses exclusively on entire-place rentals (no shared spaces or private rooms). It's a favorite for families and groups looking for full apartments or vacation homes.
Best for Professional, Hotel-Like Apartments
Booking.com – While famous for hotels, Booking.com has an massive inventory of standalone apartments. Many properties feature zero-risk free cancellation policies , making them ideal for flexible trip planning.
Sonder – A hybrid approach that blends the space and style of an apartment with consistent, hotel-grade operations (keyless entry, reliable Wi-Fi, crisp linens, and professional cleaning). You won't have to worry about quirky hosts or unexpected chore lists.
Best for Curated & High-End Design
Plum Guide – Often called the Michelin guide of vacation rentals. They personally vet and curate only the top few percent of homes and apartments based on rigorous design, location, and host quality tests. Best if you want guaranteed aesthetic standards.
Best Comparison Aggregators
HomeToGo or cozycozy – These meta-search engines let you search multiple booking platforms (like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo) all at once so you can easily compare prices and cancellation terms across the web.
If you want to narrow down your choice, tell me:
What is your destination?
Are you looking for a budget-friendly spot or a luxury/design-focused stay?
I can point you toward the specific platform that handles that region or style best!
If you’re looking specifically for apartments rather than traditional hotels, these are the main sites I’d check:
airbnb.com — Huge selection of apartments, condos, studios, and furnished homes. Particularly useful for unique properties, kitchens, and longer stays.
vrbo.com — Strong for entire apartments/homes, especially if you're traveling with family or a group and want more space and privacy.
booking.com — Excellent for comparing apartments with hotels and serviced apartments in the same search. It offers vacation homes, apartments, villas, and other accommodation types.
Which to use?
If you want…
Start with
Lots of apartment choices
Airbnb
Entire place for a family/group
Vrbo
Apartment + hotel comparison
Booking.com
Monthly/extended stay
Airbnb
Kitchen, laundry, residential feel
Tip: Don't compare only the nightly rate. Check the total price including cleaning/service fees, taxes, cancellation terms, and deposits before deciding.
If you tell me where you're traveling, dates, number of people, and approximate nightly budget, I can also find some specific apartment options and compare them.
When you are looking for apartment stays for travel, the best platform depends on whether you want a massive global selection, a vetted luxury aesthetic, or a standardized corporate-apartment feel.
The top websites for booking apartment-style accommodations span several distinct categories:
Mainstream & Massive Inventory
Airbnb : The go-to platform for private apartments, entire condos, and unique city lofts globally. It offers the widest range of pricing and local neighborhood listings, though quality can vary drastically by host. Check listings on Airbnb.
Booking.com : While famous for hotels, Booking.com features a massive inventory of professionally managed and private apartments. It is often praised for a straightforward interface and generous Genius loyalty rewards. Browse options on Booking.com.
Vrbo : Focused entirely on entire-place vacation rentals (fewer shared spaces or single rooms), making it a reliable choice for families or groups looking for multi-room apartments and condos. Explore properties on Vrbo.
Curated & High-Quality Vetting
Plum Guide : Known as the "Michelin guide" of vacation rentals. They personally vet and test every home using a strict 150-point quality standard, interviewing interior designers and checking water pressure. Inventory is smaller, but the risk of a misrepresentation is drastically lowered. Discover stays on Plum Guide.
Hotel-Like Consistency & Managed Apartments
Sonder : Perfect if you want the space of an apartment (kitchen, living room, laundry) but the consistency, reliability, and security of a boutique hotel. Sonder operates its own spaces rather than relying on individual peer-to-peer hosts. View options on Sonder.
Marriott Homes & Villas : Ideal for loyalty members. These are high-end, professionally managed vacation rentals where you can earn and burn Marriott Bonvoy points while getting hotel-standard customer service. Check out Marriott Homes & Villas.
Aggregators
HomeToGo : A meta-search engine that scours multiple sites (including Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com) simultaneously so you can compare prices for the exact same apartment across platforms. Compare prices on HomeToGo.
To help narrow down the best platform for your trip, tell me:
What is your destination city?
Are you looking for a short weekend trip or a longer monthly stay?
Do you prefer a homestyle independent host or a professionally managed aparthotel?
If you mean websites for booking apartment-style vacation stays, these are the main ones I’d compare:
airbnb.com — Huge selection of apartments, condos, houses, and unique stays. Particularly useful for city trips and shorter stays.
booking.com — Excellent for apartments as well as hotels. It has extensive international coverage and many properties with free cancellation.
vrbo.com — Particularly geared toward entire homes/apartments, making it useful for families and groups who don't want shared accommodations.
hometogo.com — A comparison/aggregator site that searches vacation rentals across multiple providers, useful for price-shopping before you book.
expedia.com — Convenient if you're booking your flights, rental car, and accommodation together, with vacation rentals integrated into its broader travel platform.
agoda.com — Worth checking especially for Asia, where its accommodation inventory is particularly strong.
plumguide.com — More curated and upscale; useful if you care more about vetted, design-oriented apartments than having the largest possible selection.
Quick way to choose
If you want...
Start with
Lots of apartment choices
Airbnb / Booking.com
A whole apartment or house for a family
Vrbo
Compare prices across sites
HomeToGo
International travel
Booking.com /
One tip: don't compare only the advertised nightly rate. Cleaning fees, service fees, taxes, deposits, and cancellation terms can substantially change the final cost.
If you tell me where you're traveling (city/country), dates, number of people, and approximate nightly budget, I can compare the best apartment-booking options for that specific trip.
If you’re looking for apartments rather than traditional hotels, these are the sites I’d start with:
airbnb.com — Best overall for apartments and unique stays. Huge global inventory, especially strong for city apartments, studios, and longer stays.
booking.com — Best for flexibility and international travel. It has a very large selection of apartments alongside hotels, and often has flexible/free-cancellation options.
vrbo.com — Best for entire apartments/homes and groups. Particularly good when you want a private property rather than a room in someone's home.
hometogo.com — Best for comparing prices. It aggregates vacation-rental listings from many different booking sites, so it's useful for checking whether you're getting a competitive rate.
agoda.com — Particularly good for Asia. Its vacation-rental inventory is especially strong across Asian destinations.
plumguide.com — Best for upscale/curated apartments. Smaller inventory, but properties are more heavily curated, making it useful if quality matters more than price.
My quick picks
If you want...
Start with
🏆 Best all-around apartment selection
Airbnb
🌍 International city travel
Booking.com
🏠 Entire place for a family/group
Vrbo
💰 Compare prices across sites
HomeToGo
🌏 Travel in Asia
Tip: Don't compare just the nightly rate. Check the total price including cleaning/service fees, taxes, and the cancellation policy. Fees and policies can differ substantially between platforms.
If you tell me where you're traveling, dates, number of people, and your approximate budget, I can also suggest which apartment-booking sites are likely to have the best options for that particular trip.
When you're looking for apartment stays for travel, the best website depends on whether you want a peer-to-peer home share, a professionally managed serviced apartment, or a meta-search engine to compare prices across multiple platforms.
The top websites for booking apartment stays are organized below by what they do best:
Top Dedicated Vacation Rental & Apartment Marketplaces
Airbnb : The gold standard for private apartments, condos, and unique urban spaces worldwide. It features the largest inventory of individual host-owned properties, ranging from single rooms to luxury penthouses.
Vrbo : Best known for entire-place vacation homes, Vrbo (part of Expedia Group) is ideal if you are looking for private condos and apartments without a host on-site, leaning heavily toward entire properties rather than shared spaces.
Top Hybrid Platforms (Hotels + Apartments)
Booking.com : While famous for hotels, Booking.com features a massive inventory of professionally managed apartment complexes and private city apartments. Their filter system lets you isolate "Apartments" easily, and frequent users unlock Genius loyalty discounts.
Agoda : Excellent for finding serviced apartments and apart-hotels, particularly if you are traveling in Asia or looking for competitive baseline pricing that often undercuts other major OTAs.
Curated & Boutique Apartments
Plum Guide : If you want guaranteed quality and hate sorting through mediocre listings, Plum Guide manually vets and "tests" every single apartment they list, accepting only the top 3% of homes based on design, location, and host reliability.
Sonder : Perfect for travelers who want the consistency and cleanliness of a boutique hotel combined with the space, full kitchens, and amenities of a high-end design apartment (since they lease and manage the units directly).
Meta-Search & Comparison Engines
HomeToGo : A massive vacation rental search engine that aggregates listings from thousands of smaller and larger sites (including Vrbo, Booking.com, and others), letting you compare apartment prices in one place.
KAYAK : Works as an accommodation aggregator that pulls apartment and vacation rental rates from across the web so you can filter by style, price, and location before being redirected to the booking provider.
Traveler Experiences
Finding the Right Vibe
I've used Airbnb extensively during our travels. In fact many of the best apartments we've found while traveling were through Airbnb.
I prefer to book on Booking.com when I can. I often find they have the best selection as well as the best prices. You'll see home rentals, B & Bs, and lots of other options besides traditional hotels.
If you want to narrow down your choice, tell me:
Where are you planning to travel?
Are you looking for a private host/home-share or a professionally managed serviced apartment?
I can recommend the best specific platform for that destination!
