Vrbo Affiliate Program: In-Depth Review, Pros, and Cons

The Vrbo Affiliate Program offers a lucrative opportunity for content creators to earn commissions by promoting vacation rental bookings. Vrbo, part of the Expedia Group, has over 2 million unique properties listed worldwide, making it a major player in the vacation rental market.

In 2023, Expedia Group reported revenues of over $12.8 billion, with a substantial portion coming from the booming vacation rental industry. Affiliates can earn up to 4% commission per booking, with a 7-day cookie duration. As the travel market continues to rebound post-pandemic, joining Vrbo’s affiliate program presents a promising opportunity for growth.

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What is the Vrbo Affiliate Program?

The Vrbo Affiliate Program allows content creators to earn commissions by promoting Vrbo's vacation rental listings to their audience. Affiliates can earn up to 4% commission on bookings made through their referral links, with a 7-day cookie duration. It's an excellent opportunity for creators in the travel and lifestyle niche to monetize their content while offering value to their audience.

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What Do You Get As A Vrbo Affiliate Partner?

As a Vrbo affiliate partner, you receive the following benefits:

• Commission: Earn up to 4% commission on bookings made through your referral links.
• Cookie Duration: 7-day cookie window, allowing you to earn commissions on bookings made within seven days of a user's first click.
• Access to Marketing Tools: Banners, links, and widgets to help promote Vrbo properties.
• Global Reach: Promote over 2 million unique vacation rental properties worldwide.‍
• Tracking and Reporting: Real-time analytics to track your performance and earnings.

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What Are The Benefits Of The Vrbo Affiliate Program?

The Vrbo Affiliate Program offers a variety of additional perks, making it an attractive opportunity for content creators looking to maximize their earnings while providing value to their audience. These benefits make it one of the most comprehensive affiliate programs in the travel industry.

Broadest Range of Offerings

Vrbo, being part of the Expedia group, provides access to an extensive inventory, with over 3 million properties, 220,000 unique activities, 500 airlines, thousands of car rentals, and dozens of cruise lines, catering to a wide variety of traveler needs and preferences.

Monetize with Trusted Travel Brands

As part of the Expedia Group, Vrbo enables you to promote some of the most trusted travel brands globally. You'll earn up to 4% commission for every qualifying booking made through your site, link, or widget, offering great monetization potential.

Cutting-Edge Technology

Vrbo consistently invests in its technology to ensure affiliate partners have access to the best tools and features. This includes new products that help expand your business and improve your ability to succeed as a partner.

Customizable Marketing Tools

Affiliates gain access to customizable banners, widgets, and links, making it easy to seamlessly integrate Vrbo promotions into websites, blogs, or social media.

Dedicated Support

A dedicated affiliate management team is available to provide guidance and support, helping you optimize your promotions and maximize your earnings.

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How to Become a Vrbo Affiliate Partner

Becoming a Vrbo affiliate partner is simple and can be done through the Expedia Affiliate Network, as Vrbo is part of the Expedia Group. Here’s how to get started:

Step 1: Sign Up Through Expedia

‍Visit the Expedia Affiliate Network website (https://affiliates.expediagroup.com/en-us/home) and complete the application form, providing details about your website, audience, and promotional strategy. Since Vrbo is part of Expedia, you'll need to apply through this platform.

Step 2: Get Approved

After submitting your application, you’ll receive approval within a few days. Once approved, you'll gain access to Vrbo’s affiliate marketing tools.

Step 3: Add Links to Your Content

Utilize the provided banners, links, and widgets to seamlessly integrate Vrbo promotions into your website, blog, or social media channels.

Step 4: Start Earning Commissions

Begin promoting Vrbo and earn up to 4% commission on every qualifying booking made through your referral links. Monitor your earnings and performance via Expedia’s affiliate dashboard.

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Best Options To Sign Up For The Vrbo Affiliate Program

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1. Expedia Affiliate Network

• Commission Rate: Up to 4% per booking.
• Cookie Duration: 7 days.
• Countries: Available globally.
• Sign-Up URL: https://affiliates.expediagroup.com/en-us/home

2. Travelpayouts

• Commission Rate: 1.8%
• Cookie Duration: 7 days.
• Countries: Available in 190 countries
• Sign-Up URL: https://www.travelpayouts.com/en/offers/vrbo-affiliate-program/

3. Lasso

• Commission Rate: 1.6%
• Cookie Duration: 7 days.
• Countries: Available globally
• Sign-Up URL: https://getlasso.co/affiliate/vrbo/

4. CJ Affiliate Publisher

• Commission Rate: 2%
• Cookie Duration: 7 days.
• Countries: CA, GB, US‍
• Sign-Up URL: https://signup.cj.com/member/signup/publisher/?cid=2691607&utm_source=linkclicky-com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=affiliateprograms#/branded

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What Are The Requirements Of Becoming A Vrbo Affiliate Partner?

To become a Vrbo affiliate partner, you must meet the following requirements:

• Relevant Content: You should have a website, blog, or social media platform that aligns with travel, vacation rentals, or lifestyle content. Your audience should be interested in travel and accommodations to increase the chances of successful referrals.
• Compliance with Guidelines: Affiliates must adhere to Vrbo’s marketing and promotion guidelines, ensuring the use of provided banners, links, and widgets without misrepresenting Vrbo’s brand or offers.
• Approval by an Affiliate Network: You need to apply and get approved through affiliate networks like the Expedia Affiliate Network, CJ Affiliate, or Lasso, which will evaluate your platform and promotional strategy.‍
• Ethical Marketing: Affiliates are expected to engage in ethical marketing practices without engaging in spam or fraudulent activities that could harm Vrbo's brand reputation.

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Vrbo Affiliate Program vs Other Brands

When comparing the Vrbo Affiliate Program to other major brands in the travel and vacation rental category, several key factors stand out, such as commission rates, cookie duration, and the breadth of offerings.

1. Vrbo vs. Booking.com

• Commission Rate: Vrbo affiliates earn up to 4% commission, whereas Booking.com offers a lower commission of around 3% per booking.
• Cookie Duration: Both Vrbo and Booking.com offer a 7-day cookie window.
• Offerings: Vrbo focuses primarily on vacation rentals, while Booking.com includes hotels, apartments, and vacation rentals, giving affiliates a wider variety of accommodations to promote.

2. Vrbo vs. TripAdvisor

• Commission Rate: Vrbo offers up to 4% per booking, whereas TripAdvisor Rentals provides a highly competitive commission rate of up to 50% of the revenue share.
• Cookie Duration: Vrbo has a 7-day cookie window, whereas TripAdvisor Rentals offers a longer 14-day cookie duration, providing more time to convert leads.
• Offerings: Vrbo focuses on vacation rental homes, while TripAdvisor Rentals not only offers vacation rentals but also experiences, restaurants, and more, giving affiliates a broader range of travel-related products to promote.

3. Vrbo vs. Agoda Homes

• Commission Rate: Vrbo offers up to 4% commission, while Agoda Homes typically provides around 4-5% commission per booking.
• Cookie Duration: Vrbo offers a 7-day cookie window, while Agoda Homes provides a 30-day cookie duration, offering affiliates a longer conversion period.
• Offerings: Vrbo specializes in vacation rental homes, whereas Agoda Homes provides vacation rentals alongside hotels and apartments, giving affiliates a more diversified catalog to promote.

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What Are The Drawbacks Of Vrbo’s Affiliate Program Compared To Other Similar Programs?

While the Vrbo Affiliate Program offers competitive benefits, there are a few drawbacks when compared to similar programs:

• Lower Commission Rate: Vrbo offers up to 4% commission, which is lower than competitors like TripAdvisor Rentals, which offers up to 50% commission.
• Shorter Cookie Duration: With a 7-day cookie window, Vrbo’s tracking period is shorter than alternatives.
• Limited Offerings: Vrbo focuses solely on vacation rentals, whereas platforms like Booking.com or TripAdvisor Rentals offer a wider range of services, including hotels, flights, and experiences, providing affiliates with more opportunities to earn.
• Global Reach: Although Vrbo is global, some competitors like Booking.com may have more diverse property types and more significant international presence.

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Final Takeaways On The Vrbo Affiliate Program

The Vrbo Affiliate Program is an excellent choice for content creators focused on promoting vacation rentals, offering competitive commissions of up to 4%. While it provides valuable marketing tools and access to over 3 million properties, it falls short compared to other programs with higher commissions, longer cookie durations, and broader offerings.

For affiliates specializing in vacation rentals, Vrbo remains a solid option, but those seeking greater flexibility or higher earnings may consider other platforms.