Beaches are the most popular vacation destinations on Vrbo this summer, and according to the online marketplace, many of the most sought-after beach destinations in America just so happen to be in the South.

This week, Vrbo revealed a list of this summer’s top beach vacation destinations for travelers looking to book a beachfront home, and many familiar favorites made the cut.

Looking for some vacation inspiration? Vrbo’s top beach towns this summer include:

30A, Florida

This 24-mile stretch of coastal highway in Northwest Florida boasts sugar-white sand and a handful of charming beach towns, including Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach, Alys Beach, and Watercolor. All along 30A you can find oceanfront stays, boutique shopping, fresh seafood, and a wide variety of family-friendly activities.

Wilmington, North Carolina

Wrightsville and Topsail Island—two of Wilmington’s most iconic beaches—are amongst the most beautiful places on the North Carolina coast. Highlights here include surfing, sailing, diverse restaurants, a walkable downtown, and scenic shorelines seen in hit TV shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty and Dawson’s Creek.

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Sometimes called “The Golf Island,” Hilton Head features numerous championship golf courses, outdoor adventures, and gorgeous sandy beaches. Vrbo experts say this 12-mile barrier island is ideal for travelers who want both relaxation and recreation.

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf Shores is one of Vrbo’s most booked beach destinations this summer thanks to its sugar-white sand beaches and turquoise waters. The area’s two beaches—Gulf Shores Public Beach and Orange Beach—offer everything from water activities to nature trails and parks.

To get the most bang for your buck and to get the best selection of homes, Vrbo recommends booking your vacation home at least two months before travel dates. But that doesn’t mean that last-minute planners are out of luck. Thousands of vacation rentals on Vrbo offer Last Minute Deals, so you can still save even if you book within 30 days.

Key Takeaways Kayak is a metasearch engine that compares prices from various sites and features a map to locate hotels in popular areas.

Expedia’s One Key Rewards program offers members-only deals but doesn’t earn you loyalty points with hotel chains.

Priceline can provide big discounts through Express Deals, with secret hotel details revealed post-booking for significant savings.

Getting a great deal on a hotel room can save you hundreds of dollars. Sure, you can always reserve a hotel room on the hotel’s website, but is that the best way to do it? How about all of the popular online travel agencies (OTAs)? Which one offers the best pricing?

We’ve gone through all of the best and most popular websites (plus a few that aren’t so popular) to find out once and for all: where is the best place to book a hotel at the cheapest price?

The Hotel’s Own Website

There are lots of times when it makes sense just to keep things simple and book on the hotel’s website, whether it’s Marriott, Hilton, IHG, or any other. If you’re a member of a hotel’s loyalty program and are trying to earn or maintain elite status, you will most likely want to book direct.

By booking directly, you can take advantage of discounted member rates and will be sure to earn loyalty points and elite night credits. Many hotel chains offer promotions that allow you to earn lots of bonus points.

If you don’t book direct, the hotel may not recognize your elite status.

For example, if you have Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status and you book your room through Orbitz, you could easily miss out on your lounge access (and free breakfast) perk.

Hot Tip: If you hold elite status with a hotel, it’s generally best to book direct. In addition to not earning points and elite night credits when booking through an OTA, your elite status might not be honored by the hotel.

1. Kayak

Kayak is not an OTA; it’s a metasearch engine for travel deals. This site will look at all the other sites and show you where the best deals are.

One of the things to love about Kayak, in addition to the great filtering options at the left of the screen, is the map feature.

On the search results page, you will see a map on the upper left-hand side of the screen. When you click on it, you will get a detailed map of your destination city, including hotel locations as well as popular areas for eating, sightseeing, shopping, and nightlife. Each dot on the map represents a hotel. You can click on any of them for more details about the hotel and price comparisons.

You can also use the price slider to narrow your search to only inexpensive options.

Kayak’s map feature can offer lots of information about your destination city, including where the cheapest hotels are located. Image Credit: Kayak

Also, keep an eye out for Pricebreakers. These are opaque fare deals, which means you won’t know all of your reservation details until after you book. When searching for a cheap hotel on Kayak, you can select Pricebreakers in the filtering options for your search.

You’ll then see deals that give you the price and 3 hotel possibilities, but you won’t know exactly which hotel you’ll get until after it’s booked.

You may be able to save money with a Pricebreaker deal as long as you don’t mind not knowing your hotel until after it’s booked. Image Credit: Kayak

Pros and Cons of Kayak

Pros:

Pricebreaker deals

Kayak maps

Cons:

Kayak doesn’t always show the price on the hotel’s website, which can often be cheaper

Hot Tip: For more information and how to find great deals on hotels, flights, car rentals, vacation packages, cruises, and more, check out our in-depth guide to Kayak.

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2. Expedia

We’ve shown you how to save money on flights by booking through Expedia, but how does this OTA compare when booking a hotel room?

One thing that makes Expedia unique is its rewards program, One Key Rewards. It’s free to join and allows you to earn and redeem OneKeyCash on travel.

Pros and Cons of Expedia

Pros:

One Key Rewards program (which is also used by Hotels.com and Vrbo)

Members-only deals

Cons:

You will not earn loyalty points or elite night credits on the hotel’s own rewards program

While most bookings are refundable, some are not; pay attention to the terms of your booking before completing your purchase

Hot Tip: While you won’t earn points through the hotel’s loyalty program when you book through Expedia, you can earn credit card points. Look for cards that earn points in the general “travel category,” like the American Express® Green Card or the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, all of which earn 3x points on hotels.

3. Priceline

Searching for a hotel on Priceline is straightforward, and prices are similar to other OTAs.

One of the areas where Priceline can offer a deep discount is through its Express Deals. These opaque bookings keep details of the hotel secret until the booking is complete. These are prepaid, nonrefundable, and nontransferable bookings, so if your plans aren’t concrete, it’s best to avoid this type of booking.

Look for Priceline’s Express Deals and Pricebreakers to save some money. Image Credit: Priceline

These Express Deals also have a much more generous best-price guarantee than standard bookings (for VIP members). When booking a traditional hotel room through Priceline, you will receive a refund of the price difference if you find a better price within 24 hours of booking.

However, if you book an Express Deal and find a better price anytime up to midnight before you travel, you will get a 200% refund of the price difference!

The reservations must be identical in all aspects, and the rate must be available to the general public (no member rates) to qualify.

If you like the idea of Express Deals but want a little more certainty, check out Pricebreakers. These opaque bookings will show you 3 hotel options before you book. You still won’t know which one you’ll get until after you book, but you’re guaranteed to get 1 of the 3 options.

The last thing you’ll want to know about Priceline is that it has a loyalty program called Priceline VIP. This free program comes with 4 levels of membership offering perks like best price guarantees, hotel discounts, and Express Deal coupons.

Hot Tip: If your plans are flexible and you are comfortable booking an unknown hotel, Priceline Express Deals and Pricebreakers can certainly save you some big bucks!

Pros and Cons of Priceline

Pros:

Priceline VIP

Express Deals and Pricebreakers

Cons:

You won’t earn hotel loyalty points or elite night credits when booking through Priceline

Hot Tip: For more information about finding the best deals and saving money, check out our complete guide to booking travel with Priceline.

4. Momondo

Momondo is an easy-to-use travel metasearch engine that sorts through deals on other websites to help you find the best price. Once you find a deal on Momondo, you’ll be transferred to a booking website (an online travel agency or a hotel’s website) to book. You won’t ever actually book anything on Momondo’s website.

Momondo shows you hotel prices from lots of websites in one place. Image Credit: Momondo

Pros and Cons of Momondo

Pros:

The easy-to-use interface shows you prices from lots of websites at one time

Cons:

There’s no loyalty program

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed guide to using Momondo.

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5. Booking.com

Booking.com is an easy-to-use site where you can search for and book hotels, hostels, B&Bs, apartments, and vacation homes.

One thing that stands out about this site is its generous low-price guarantee. If you find a lower advertised price for the same reservation available to the public (not a member or special rate), Booking.com will refund the difference up to 24 hours before your check-in date. The offer needs to be online and available at the time Booking.com checks.

Another thing to keep an eye out for is the Genius discount. When a room type is marked as Genius discount available, you’ll save 10% off the base price by logging in to your account. We’ve tested this, and sure enough, the price was adjusted just by logging in.

You’ll save 10% by booking a rate that’s marked with the Genius logo. Image Credit: Booking.com

In addition to discounts, the Genius Loyalty Program offers perks like free breakfast and room upgrades. There are 3 levels to the Genius program based on the number of stays you complete in a 2 year period.

Pros and Cons of Booking.com

Pros:

Genius Loyalty Program

Generous price-match guarantee

Option to book non-traditional accommodations like hostels or B&Bs

Cons:

You won’t earn loyalty points or elite night credits from the hotel’s rewards program

Hot Tip: For lots more information, check out our definitive guide to Booking.com.

6. Hotels.com

One of the best things about Hotels.com is its rewards program, One Key Rewards. It allows you to earn and use points (called OneKeyCash) through Hotels.com and its partner sites, Expedia and Vrbo.

If you have a Hotels.com account, be sure to log in to access member pricing, which saves an average of 15%.

Save 15% with member pricing. Image Credit: Hotels.com

Unfortunately, as with most OTAs, you won’t be able to earn loyalty points or elite nights with the hotel’s program when booking through Hotels.com. If you generally aren’t loyal to a single brand or don’t have hotel elite status, this probably doesn’t need to be a factor in your decision of where to book.

Hot Tip: You will not earn hotel points or elite night credits for nights booked through an OTA.

Pros and Cons of Hotels.com

Pros:

One Key Rewards program

Members-only pricing

Cons:

You won’t earn loyalty points or elite night credits from the hotel’s rewards program

You have to pay taxes and fees on reward nights

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our guide to booking travel and saving money with Hotels.com.

7. Orbitz

Orbitz is another easy-to-use OTA with a strong in-house loyalty program. You can earn Orbucks through Orbitz Rewards on hotels, flights, travel packages, and activities.

The Orbucks earning rate is much better for hotels than flights, and Orbucks can only be redeemed for hotels. The only catch is generally, you can only earn Orbucks on prepaid hotel stays.

Earn 3% Orbucks for hotel stays booked on a desktop

Earn 4% Orbucks for hotel stays booked on the Orbitz app

Unfortunately, you can only earn Orbucks on prepaid hotel rooms. Image Credit: Orbitz

Orbitz has its own version of elite status that can earn benefits like Wi-Fi and breakfast at select hotels after only 4 stays per year. After 12 stays per year, you’ll earn Platinum status, which comes with benefits like a TSA PreCheck application credit (a $78 value).

While Orbitz’s prices are in line with other OTAs, some of the ongoing benefits it offers might make it a great choice for the casual traveler.

However, if you can stay consistent with a single hotel brand, booking directly with the hotel to receive elite benefits might be a better deal.

Another way Orbitz can save you money on a hotel is if you book a hotel and flight together. When searching for a 7-night hotel stay in San Francisco plus a flight separately or as a bundle, the bundle saved over $100!

Booking a hotel and flight together can save you money. Image Credit: Orbitz

Pros and Cons of Orbitz

Pros:

Orbitz Rewards program

Vacation packages

Cons:

You can only earn Orbucks on prepaid hotel stays

You won’t earn hotel loyalty points or elite night credits when booking through Orbitz

Hot Tip: Learn more in our detailed guide to booking travel with Orbitz.

8. Hotwire

Hotwire has been around a long time and is probably the go-to OTA for many travelers, but is it the best place to book your next hotel stay if you’re looking for the cheapest price?

If you have some flexibility or aren’t particular about the exact hotel you stay in, Hotwire’s Hot Rate hotels could be a way to save you some money. These are opaque bookings, which means you won’t know the exact hotel until after the booking is complete. However, you’ll be able to see the hotel’s rating, neighborhood, amenities, Tripadvisor ratings, and the exact hotel the person previous to you got.

Look for Hot Rate hotels to save some money on your hotel booking. Image Credit: Hotwire

Hot Tip: Hotwire Hot Rate hotels could save you money. These are bookings in which you won’t know the exact hotel until after the booking is complete, so these properties are best for travelers with some flexibility.

Another way to save some money when booking through Hotwire is by booking a vacation package. Booking a hotel and flight together can save hundreds of dollars. To take advantage of this, go to the Vacations tab in the top search menu.

Pros and Cons of Hotwire

Pros:

Hot Rate Hotels

Vacation packages

Cons:

Hotel chains, including Marriott and Hyatt, offer discounted member rates, and you won’t be able to see these on Hotwire

Hot Tip: For more information about booking travel and saving money with this platform, check out our complete guide to Hotwire.

9. AmexTravel.com

American Express offers more than just credit cards. AmexTravel.com is a travel portal operated by American Express, and it operates much like an OTA. It’s even available to those who don’t hold an American Express credit card, although you will get more benefits if you have an Amex card.

One of the downsides to using AmexTravel.com is you have to create an account and log in to see the final pricing. The prices shown do not include taxes and fees, so it can be a little misleading if you aren’t logged in.

Pricing through AmexTravel.com tends to be in line with other OTAs. However, if you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you can earn 5x points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com. You also do not pay booking fees for flights through AmexTravel.com if you have one of these cards.

If you have American Express Membership Rewards points, you might be tempted to use them to book travel directly through AmexTravel.com. As a general rule, this isn’t a good use of points because the redemption rate is poor. You’ll often get less than 1 cent per point, which is much less than what Amex points are worth. You can get so much more value by transferring your points to one of the American Express transfer partners.

Using points to book a hotel through AmexTravel.com is generally not the best way to get maximum value. Image Credit: AmexTravel.com

Pros and Cons of AmexTravel.com

Pros:

Cons:

If you don’t have an Amex Platinum card, you’ll be charged a booking fee (on flights)

Poor redemption rate when you use Pay With Points (often less than 1 cent per point)

Hot Tip: For more details, check out our complete guide to using AmexTravel.com.

10. Agoda

Agoda doesn’t offer much when searching for flights, but it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for accommodations. In addition to traditional hotels and resorts, Agoda lets you search for hostels, private houses, and even monthly stays.

It has great filtering options and a map feature so that you can view all of your options by location.

Agoda is another OTA that now offers its own rewards program. You’ll earn AgodaCash on every eligible booking. Then, you can redeem your AgodaCash for all or part of any hotel booking.

Additionally, Agoda offers the AgodaVIP program, an elite status program that allows you to earn additional discounts and perks.

You’ll start to earn AgodaVIP discounts after completing 2 bookings in 2 years. Image Credit: Agoda

Pros and Cons of Agoda

Pros:

AgodaCash and AgodaVIP Program

Good search functionality

Cons:

You won’t earn loyalty points or elite night credits from the hotel’s rewards program

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed guide to using Agoda.

11. Travelocity

Travelocity offers many different products to book, including flights, hotels, cars, cruises, travel packages, and even activities, so it can be a little overwhelming if you aren’t sure exactly what you’re looking for. When searching for a hotel, you can add a flight, a rental car, or both to your search.

Like most other OTAs, you can save money by booking a flight and hotel together.

We did a test booking and found that booking a flight and hotel together was $35 cheaper than booking them separately. While you could save more or less on your specific travel plans, if you need a flight in addition to a hotel, it’s always a good idea to check the prices on a travel package.

Travelocity advertises lower rates of 10% or more on select hotels if you create an account. Member rates will be highlighted, but unfortunately, these discounts are only available at certain hotels, so you will need to have some flexibility to take advantage of these deals. In addition, when we did a test booking, the savings by creating an account was only $1.61.

You can save money on select hotels by creating a Travelocity account. Image Credit: Travelocity

Pros and Cons of Travelocity

Pros:

Lower member rates on select hotels

Lower rates on flight and hotel packages

Cons:

You won’t earn loyalty points or elite night credits from the hotel’s rewards program

Hot Tip: For more information about booking hotels, flights, and more with Travelocity, check out our guide to booking travel with Travelocity.

12. Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor is known for its great reviews. It’s the place to go if you want to get a feel for a hotel or activity, complete with amateur photos taken by other travelers that show what things really look like. Did you also know you can search for and book hotels through Tripadvisor?

After searching for your destination, you’ll see a typical list of all the hotels available. In each box, there will be prices from a few websites listed. You can see a full list by clicking on the small drop-down menu in the search results. Doing so will give you a good overall feel for where you might find the best pricing. Clicking on the price will take you to the specific website to complete your booking.

Tripadvisor displays prices from many OTAs. Image Credit: Tripadvisor

Pros and Cons of Tripadvisor

Pros:

Great customer reviews

Cons:

The prices shown do not include taxes, which can vary between websites

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our guide to using Tripadvisor.

13. Google Hotel Search

Did you know that you can search for hotels directly on Google? Like Kayak and Tripadvisor, this is just a search engine. You won’t actually book anything on Google — it’s just another way to find the best hotel prices.

To search, just type in “Hotels in ____” in the main Google search box or go to google.com/travel/hotels.

You can easily search by location using the map or use the filtering options above your search results to find exactly what you’re looking for. You can click on any of the hotels listed on the left side or click on the prices on the map for more information.

You’ll be able to see all of the price options for your chosen hotel by clicking on Prices.

You’ll be able to see each hotel’s prices on many different sites simultaneously. Image Credit: Google Hotels

To get a sense of price trends in the area you’re searching, click on What you’ll pay right above the search results. This will give you a good sense of what prices are like in your chosen destination during your travel dates.

Get an idea of the price trends for your destination by clicking on What you’ll pay. Image Credit: Google Hotels

Pros and Cons of Google Hotel Finder

Pros:

Price trends

Cons:

No loyalty program

Hot Tip: Google Flights allows you to plan your flight, hotel, and travel package options all from a single site.

14. Skyscanner Hotels

Skyscanner is generally regarded as a flight search engine, but you can also use it to search for hotels. While it’s easy to see the pricing options for each hotel, there aren’t many filtering options available. The map feature is nice if you prefer to search for a hotel by location.

Once you find a hotel and price you like, you’ll be sent to another website to complete the booking.

The lowest price for each hotel is clearly displayed. Image Credit: Skyscanner

Pros and Cons of Skyscanner Hotels

Pros:

The lowest price for each hotel is clearly displayed

Cons:

Few filtering options

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our guide to booking travel through Skyscanner.

15. HotelTonight

HotelTonight is a booking app and website geared towards offering great deals on last-minute hotel stays, although you can book rooms ahead of time, too.

The website is easy to use, but there aren’t many filtering options, so if you have something specific in mind, this may not be the best place to search for a hotel. If you’d like to set up a price deal alert, you can do so by using the toggle button right above your search results.

If you’re searching on the website, you may notice that some deals are only available on the app, so it might be a good idea to opt for the app when using HotelTonight.

You can set up an alert for your hotel search on HotelTonight.com. Image Credit: HotelTonight

Pros and Cons of HotelTonight

Pros:

Price deal alerts

Last-minute availability

Cons:

The website doesn’t offer everything that the app does

Hot Tip: If you’re booking last minute, you may want to check out one of these websites and apps to find a good deal.

16. Hopper

Hopper is a mobile app that offers price predictions so you have a better idea of when to book your room. It is so confident in its app that it claims 95% accuracy!

You can easily find the cheapest dates for your destination in the Hopper app. After entering the city you’d like to visit, you’ll get a color-coded map that quickly shows you the cheapest and most expensive times for hotels. You can choose your travel dates and set your filters, and then you’ll see what hotels are available.

Another feature that makes Hopper unique is the price freeze feature. By making a small deposit, which can later be applied towards your stay, you can freeze the price for 12 hours, 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days. You’ll save up to $300 if the price increases, and you’ll pay the lower price if the price drops.

Before booking a hotel on Hopper, check the Trip Extras. These are additional fees, including Hopper Tip and VIP Support, that will be automatically added on. If you want to decline them, you’ll have to unselect them manually.

Watch out for extra fees that are automatically added to your total. You’ll have to manually remove them if you don’t want to pay them. Image Credit: Hopper

Pros and Cons of Hopper

Pros:

Color-coded map shows the best prices

Price freeze option

Cons:

No desktop booking capabilities

Extra fees like Hopper Tip and VIP Support are automatically added

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed guide to using the Hopper app.

17. Trivago

Trivago, which is owned by Expedia, is another metasearch engine that scours the internet to show you hotel prices on lots of other websites so that you can easily compare them. It’s easy to use but doesn’t offer any features that differentiate it from competitors.

Be careful because a hotel’s “featured price” might not necessarily be the lowest.

Pros and Cons of Trivago

Pros:

Shows prices from many websites in one place

Cons:

The featured price is not always the lowest

No rewards program

Price Comparisons

As you can see, there are a lot of websites that all offer what they claim to be the best prices on your hotel room. But which site is truly the best?

We put these sites head-to-head in price comparison, only looking at the price (including taxes and fees) and not taking into consideration other factors like the cancellation policy.

Hot Tip: Many websites show you pricing without taxes and fees when you’re searching. While it might appear you’re getting a great deal on a particular site at first, once you add in all of the fees, the price may be the same as all of the other OTAs.

We priced out the same hotel on every site — a 1-week stay in the least expensive room at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, to see how these hotel booking sites compared.

As you can see from the example above, most prices are similar. In this example, the lowest price came from Google Hotels, with Kayak and Trivago close behind. Hopper had the highest price.

When you book directly through the hotel, you’ll be able to earn loyalty points and take advantage of any elite benefits you may have, so it might be worth it even if the price is a tad higher.

Bottom Line: Unfortunately, no clear-cut pattern or website consistently offers the lowest prices, as it always varies. If prices are similar, look for rates that offer flexible cancellation policies and ones that earn points or perks in a loyalty program (either the hotel’s or the website’s program).

Final Thoughts

Finding the lowest price on a hotel room can be tough, but knowing where to look helps steer you in the right direction.

If you have elite status or collect reward points from a chain like Marriott or Hyatt, it’s probably best to book direct. You generally won’t earn points or elite night credits if you book elsewhere.

like Marriott or Hyatt, it’s probably best to book direct. You generally won’t earn points or elite night credits if you book elsewhere. If you don’t have loyalty to a particular brand , start with a website like Kayak or Skyscanner. They can help determine where the lowest prices might be. Also, keep an eye out for special fares like Priceline Express Deals.

, start with a website like Kayak or Skyscanner. They can help determine where the lowest prices might be. Also, keep an eye out for special fares like Priceline Express Deals. Look for a vacation package if you need to book a hotel and flight . These are offered by many OTAs and usually offer big savings.

. These are offered by many OTAs and usually offer big savings. If you often book smaller, independent hotels, it might be smart to look at an OTA with its own rewards program, like Orbitz, Hotels.com, or Expedia.

No matter where you book your next hotel, be sure to use a travel rewards credit card to max out your benefits, and you’ll be on your next trip in no time.

Check out these guides to help you book the rest of your vacation: the best websites for cheap flights, the best websites for cheap car rentals, and the best websites to book cruises.

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US: On Tuesday, Vrbo announced it will offer last-minute deals through its app and website on private vacation rental bookings.

Nearly 300,000 last-minute deals are now live on Vrbo, and travellers can book these discounted rates within 30 days of check-in.

The deals can be found under the “last minute booking” filter on the Vrbo app or website. Discounted rental properties are also marked with a “last minute” badge, which displays the total amount of money travellers could save on that booking.

This announcement comes just before the Fourth of July, a popular time for individuals to go on a vacation.

Larry Plawsky, general manager at Vrbo, said: “The Fourth of July is one of the busiest travel times of the year, but it’s not too late to book a vacation home to enjoy the holiday – even in our most popular destinations. Last Minute Deals give families a great way to save on summer vacation, while helping hosts keep their properties booked year-round. It’s a win-win.”

A few of Vrbo’s top last-minute deals offerings for the summer include:

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Florida’s 30A beaches

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

San Diego, California

The last-minute booking announcement comes one month after Vrbo added a “no hidden fees” pop-up on its website and app, pledging to post all the total price, including fees, up-front in the listing price.

These deals also come a few weeks after Vrbo launched its global promotions suite, hoping to attract a broader range of travellers.

Highlights:

Summer is almost here, but it’s not too late to plan a getaway. Luckily, Michigan is home to over 22,000 vacation rental listings across Airbnb, VRBO, and other sites. From the bottom to the top of the mitten, there’s plenty to discover, whether it’s a historic lighthouse on Lake Superior, a barn in Three Oaks near Lake Michigan, or a cottage in downtown Charlevoix. And as far as relaxation, many of these rentals provide the perfect setting for swimming in a lake, sitting by a bonfire, or going for a walk in the woods or along the beach.

1. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Eppstein House in Galesburg

This midcentury-modern house was designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and was updated in 2017 after 20 years of neglect. It can sleep up to five people in three bedrooms with four beds and two bathrooms. Other amenities include floor heating, a firepit, two living rooms, a kitchen, a laundry room, a dedicated workspace, three terraces, a washer and dryer, and garden views. This rental is not suitable for kids under 12. With the exception of a few private closets, guests will have access to the entire house. Book through Airbnb.

2. A Pebble in Rock City: A ‘Tiny Home’ in Detroit

Don’t let the exterior fool you — this tiny home offers everything you need for a quality stay, including a kitchen, bathtub, television, washer and dryer, and even a backyard. It’s built in what looks like a train car and can sleep up to four guests in two beds. There are also chickens cooped on the property that provide fresh eggs. This little gem is located in Piety Hill, just a few blocks from the historic Boston-Edison district and not too far from downtown Detroit. Book through Airbnb.

3. Riverfront Cabin in Thompsonville

This 1,700-square-foot cabin south of Traverse City features three bedrooms that can sleep up to 12 as well as 2.5 bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a patio. The cabin sits on the Betsie River and provides some great views and a supply of games for rainy days. It’s also near the Freddie B Sport Fishing Charters, Iron Fish Distillery, and Crystal Mountain resort. You’ll find a hot tub and woodburning fireplace, too. Book through Vrbo.

4. Cottage in Suttons Bay

This beautiful getaway cottage, with three bedrooms, four beds, and two bathrooms, can host seven guests, who will have access to the entire space and a private beach, where kayaks are available to use. Some pets are allowed, but not on the furniture; otherwise, additional cleaning fees will apply. There is a washer unit, Wi-Fi, a kitchen, a TV, board games, and more. Book through Airbnb.

5. Northwind Llama Retreat ‘Farm House’ in Sawyer

The farmhouse can sleep up to six guests in two full furnished bedrooms with five beds and two bathrooms — plus, it has a full kitchen. It’s located just half a mile from Warren Dunes State Park and 15 minutes from New Buffalo and St. Joseph. Guests will have access to the entire home and 5-acre private park with firepits, a pond, and a meditation area, and because the property is a working llama farm, you can even add some time with the llamas to your experience. Book through Airbnb.

6. Earl Young Cottage in Charlevoix

In the late 1920s, architect Earl Young, of “mushroom houses” fame, transformed this 1800s cottage with some of his distinctive design details, including using boulders on the exterior. The rental is just a short walk to Lake Michigan and the Charlevoix lighthouse and a few blocks from downtown shopping and dining. The recently renovated cottage has four bedrooms, two baths, and a cozy patio and can accommodate four adults and three children. Book at mushroomhouses.com.

7. Postcard Cabin in Grand Junction

Immerse yourself in nature by staying at a cabin in the woods while only two hours from Chicago. This one-bed, one-bathroom rental for two features a private outdoor area with a firepit; complimentary s’mores fixings; a kitchenette with a stove, a mini-fridge, and cooking utensils; and a picnic table. There are also nearby trails available so you can truly enjoy the outdoors. Book through Postcard Cabins.

8. A-Frame in Harbor Springs

This cozy rental makes the list of Moody Cabin Girl’s favorite Michigan vacation rentals. It has two bedrooms and one bathroom and can sleep up to four people. It’s located just five minutes from downtown Harbor Springs and 20 minutes from Petoskey, so there are plenty of recreational opportunities in addition to a chance to drive through the famous Tunnel of Trees. The renovated A-frame offers a living and dining room, woodburning stove, full kitchen, washer and dryer, large front porch, and firepit out back. Book through Airbnb.

9. Historic 1850 Lighthouse on Lake Superior

Staying in a lighthouse is cool enough, but the 1,200-square-foot deck and four-season sunroom that overlook Lake Superior put this rental over the top. It sleeps six and features three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, one half bathroom, a gourmet kitchen, and a living room. Find everything you need here, including a washer and dryer, cooking equipment, and of course a lake view. Book through VRBO.

10. The Art Gallery Suite at the Art House Inn in Suttons Bay

Enjoy original works by living international artists on display at this eclectic rental suite within a bed-and-breakfast that dates back to the late 19th century. It’s just a five-minute walk from the nearest swimming beach and about 40 minutes from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Guests will enjoy new luxury bedding, a private attached bath, a mini-fridge, a television, Wi-Fi, and more. Wake up to a complimentary breakfast and grab a coffee from the Keurig. Sleeps up to two guests. Book through Airbnb.

11. The Store House Inn in Charlevoix

Built on the property of a favorite town store in the heart of Charelvoix, this guesthouse is a new build that opened one year ago. It has five bedrooms and six baths and sleeps 10. Book at thestorehousecharlevoix.com.

12. The Jewell of Michigan A-Frame in White Lake

This newly remodeled 1964 midcentury A-frame is a brisk walk away from Cedar Island Lake. It features an outdoor firepit, dining area, barbecue grill, and hot tub as well as two bikes. This home accommodates four guests and has two bedrooms, three beds, and one bathroom. Close by are White Lake Oaks Golf Course and Union Lake Golf Course, destinations for golfing and cross-country skiing. Other features include a private sauna, pool table, foosball table, shuffleboard, and more. Book through Airbnb.

13. The Barn of Three Oaks in Three Oaks

This charming barn was renovated and turned into a vacation rental that sleeps eight and features a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, three bedrooms, and 2.5 baths. Located between Three Oaks and New Buffalo, the barn is near Lake Michigan as well as restaurants, distilleries, wineries, breweries, and shops. In the barn, guests will find a variety of books, games, and puzzles; a selection of records; a television; a woodburning fireplace; shuffleboard; and more. Guests have the entire barn to themselves. Pets are allowed. Book through thebarnthreeoaks.com or Airbnb.

14. Serenity Now Treehouse in Whitehall

This intimate treehouse north of Muskegon is built in four oak trees and can sleep two guests with one bedroom and bath. The treehouse has DirecTV, a full kitchen, a gas grill, and games, but no Wi-Fi. There’s also access to Schneider Lake, a hammock, and an outdoor shower and a chapel for guests to enjoy. Book through Airbnb.

This story originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on May 5.

DALLAS, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Meet Bellboy, Hotels.com’s newest ambassador and the world’s first-ever “spokesbell.” Bellboy is a hotel desk bell come to life, with a passion for helping travelers maximize their budgets, elevate their adventures and unlock more rewarding travel experiences with Hotels.com. Measuring in at about 18 inches tall and boasting a signature melodic ding, while Bellboy may not be the tallest mascot in the game, he’s never short on confidence, charisma or savvy hotel tips. He’s sharing his best insider advice on social media and in the brand’s latest marketing campaign, which launches today.

A New Mascot Checks in at Hotels.com, Ringing in 50% More Rewards and Major Summer Savings A New Mascot Checks in at Hotels.com, Ringing in 50% More Rewards and Major Summer Savings

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/expedia/9272158-en-hotels-com-new-ambassador-bellboy-rings-in-rewards-and-summer-savings

To celebrate Bellboy’s birthday, Hotels.com is launching its most rewarding sale ever. Through May 26, members save 25% or more on hundreds of thousands of hotels, plus earn 50% more rewards on bookings. *

Having grown up assisting travelers at hotel desks around the world, Bellboy has seen and heard it all, and he’s using his extensive hotel expertise to help travelers game the system. Whether it’s getting complimentary perks at top-rated VIP Access properties or scoring member-only discounts, Bellboy points out no-fuss shortcuts to getting unbeatable value with Hotels.com.

“Here at Hotels.com, we’re no strangers to a mascot, and Bellboy fits right in because he’s just as obsessed with helping travelers make smart booking decisions as we are,” says Hari Nair, SVP and General Manager of Hotels.com. “For example, you may not know we have more than 35,000 last-minute deals on Hotels.com, or that you can now set up a price alert on the app to tell you when a hotel rate drops. Bellboy is going to make sure you know about these tools. It’s about helping people who love to travel get more value and rewards without the hassle.”

Meet Bellboy

He’s confident, charismatic, cool, and always ready to help travelers become more hotel-savvy. Bellboy ensures that every stay is hassle-free and packed with value by informing travelers of Hotels.com’s tools and insider tips.

“My friends always say I’m a bit hotel-obsessed. I prefer ‘hospitality visionary,'” says Bellboy, spokesbell for Hotels.com. “Few things bring me more pleasure than watching someone score a free room upgrade or enjoy the same pool for less money than everyone else. That’s why I’ve teamed up with Hotels.com, to help people save up to 20%, earn rewards and get more bang for their brass. Is that how the saying goes?”

Starting today, fans can catch Bellboy shelling out Hotels.com tips and catchy jingles on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube and on the site and app. Over the coming weeks, Bellboy will begin appearing in Hotels.com’s marketing globally.

Savvy Travel Tips

Here are a few of Bellboy’s favorite hotel hacks:

Be the first to know when prices drop: With Hotel Price Alerts, a brand-new feature on the Hotels.com app, track hotel prices and get alerts when they drop.

With Hotel Price Alerts, a brand-new feature on the Hotels.com app, track hotel prices and get alerts when they drop. Work the loyalty angle : It’s no secret; members get all the best deals. On Hotels.com, there are thousands of member deals up to 20% on the site. Plus, members enjoy richer savings during big sales and earn rewards on every stay.

: It’s no secret; members get all the best deals. On Hotels.com, there are thousands of member deals up to 20% on the site. Plus, members enjoy richer savings during big sales and earn rewards on every stay. Get treated like a VIP: Members enjoy complimentary perks like food and beverage credits, room upgrades and free parking when staying at VIP Access properties – an exclusive group of top-rated hotels known for exceptional quality and service. Gold and Platinum members also earn extra rewards from VIP Access bookings, up to 6%.

Members enjoy complimentary perks like food and beverage credits, room upgrades and free parking when staying at VIP Access properties – an exclusive group of top-rated hotels known for exceptional quality and service. Gold and Platinum members also earn extra rewards from VIP Access bookings, up to 6%. Spontaneous savings: No need to plan; procrastinators, “Type B” travelers and impromptu get-out-of-towners can always find a last-minute deal up to 20% on Hotels.com.

Download the Hotels.com app and don’t miss out on big hotel savings now through May 26.

About Hotels.com® (or Hotels.com™)

The Hotels.com® app makes it easy with almost one million places to stay around the world. So, whether you’re looking for value in Vegas, treehouses in Thailand or villas with views, it’s all just a search away. Now with One Key™, their comprehensive rewards program, get rewarded beyond hotels – earn and then use rewards on eligible flights, vacation rentals, and more on Expedia and Vrbo®. Members save 10% or more at select hotels when signed into the app, and Silver, Gold and Platinum members receive perks at select VIP Access™ properties, such as food and beverage discounts.

© 2025 Hotels.com, LP, an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Hotels.com and the Hotels.com logo are trademarks of Hotels.com, LP. CST# 2083949-50

For more information use our mobile app or visit hotels.com. Follow Hotels.com on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.

*Book by 5/26/2025 11:59 pm in hotel property local time. Stay between 4/17/2025-9/30/2025. Member Prices are available to Hotels.com® app users and One Key members. Limited availability, blackout periods may apply.

OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Hotels.com®, Expedia®, and Vrbo®.

SOURCE Hotels.com