Vrbo Copies Airbnb’s Best Trick, With a Catch for Guests

Vrbo launched “Reserve Now, Pay Later” on Wednesday, October 28, letting travelers book eligible vacation rentals with nothing due at booking. The option is live on Vrbo’s website and will reach the Vrbo app over the coming weeks.

The idea is borrowed from Airbnb, which introduced it for U.S. domestic stays in August 2025 and took it global in February, and which credits it with boosting its business. Airbnb applies it to listings with flexible, moderate, limited or firm cancellation policies, and charges guests the full amount before the free-cancellation window closes, a window the Skift report puts at 24 hours.

Skift’s Dennis Schaal reports that Vrbo’s version leans toward hosts and gives guests less flexibility to cancel without penalty. That raises the question of whether the feature will deliver the same lift Vrbo might expect from following Airbnb’s lead.

The launch is part of an Expedia Group fall product release with more than 30 new or improved features across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, including tools that help group planners confirm attendees, collect contributions and manage the cost of an entire stay. Before assuming “pay later” means “cancel free,” read the cancellation terms on the listing.

Sources: Skift