Celebrating the 8th Annual #BookDirect Day Today!

The #BookDirect movement was originally created to educate travelers on the benefits of skipping third-party booking sites and booking directly with property managers and homeowners. Today marks the 8th anniversary of this fantastic initiative—how exciting!

Vacation rental owners are no strangers to the hefty commissions that listing sites charge. But did you know that guests also end up paying more for the exact same stay when booking through these platforms? It’s a win-win when you #BookDirect!

For the first 10 years of running Dan’s Florida Condos, we relied heavily on VRBO/HomeAway to advertise our charming 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom units on Anna Maria Island, located in the beautiful Bradenton Beach, FL. Our condos are nestled in the Runaway Bay Condominium community, which offers guests top-notch amenities and a welcoming atmosphere. And let’s not forget the cherry on top—direct beach access just across the street from our little slice of paradise! Listing on this platform allowed us to connect directly with guests, without any service fees, which kept our rates competitive and affordable.

However, a few years ago, things took a turn when VRBO/HomeAway was acquired by Expedia. Almost immediately, their business model began to change.

First, they introduced a “Service Fee” ranging from 7-13%, typically charged to the guest at the time of booking. While we absorbed much of this cost, rising insurance rates in Florida over the past five years made it harder to maintain. This fee hike was pricing out some of our loyal guests, and we started looking for ways to keep more money in their pockets—money that could go toward enjoying a margarita on the island rather than paying booking fees.

Then came the “Book It Now” (BIN) feature. VRBO/HomeAway began pushing us to adopt this, essentially taking control of the entire transaction, communication, and the guest experience. This removed the personal touch that comes with booking directly with owners.

On top of that, they removed our ability to share direct contact details like phone numbers or personal emails, making it harder for guests to reach out with questions about the condo or the island itself. What used to be a platform for advertising and networking has turned into a booking site focused solely on maximizing profits for its shareholders. This shift in priorities left us searching for better ways to connect directly with our guests, and that’s where #BookDirect comes in!

We are thrilled to be part of the #BookDirect movement and continue offering a “booking fee-free” experience on our website at www.dansfloridacondos.com. Skip the extra charges and enjoy a seamless booking process! On our site, you’ll also find detailed info about Anna Maria Island, our Runaway Bay Condominium community, plus photos, glowing guest testimonials, and an updated blog with all the latest events happening on the island and at Dan’s Florida Condos. Ready to book direct and save? Head over to our site today!

Did you know, that the average traveler spends $237 to big box booking sites like VRBO, HomeAway, and Airbnb!!!  They could be using that on a golf cart rental, fishing trip, or several rounds of drinks!

Six ways to Save $ By #BookDirect:

1. Try and #BookDirect with the owner or property manager. If you want to book one of our properties, please visit our website, call/text 773-598-9717, or email me at dan@dansfloridacondos.com.
2. Search on Facebook for the name and location to see if some of your favorite properties have a website or a Facebook page. From there you can contact the owner/manager and #BookDirect. You can like my page by doing a quick Facebook Search “Dans Florida Condos” or visiting facebook.com/dansfloridacondos
3. Search for your perfect vacation rental on any of the big box listing sites. Identify your top choices, noting the property’s name and location. Use your search engine (i.e. Google) to search for the property name and city and possibly the owner’s name to find their #BookDirect website.
4. Check for traveler reviews on the major websites (google business page for example). If there are a decent number of good reviews for a listing (say 10+), and the listing has been posted for at least a few months and had confirmed bookings (this information is usually included on the site), chances are it’s a safe bet. If the owner were in the habit of doing things like unjustifiably canceling reservations or wrongfully withholding security deposits, the listing would have been pulled or you would see this mentioned in reviews. (It’s important to note that the big listing sites will not remove negative reviews at the request of the owner/manager unless they violate the company’s guidelines.
5. Consider purchasing trip insurance from a third-party; the coverage will likely be broader — and may cost considerably less — than that “covered” by a listing site fee.
6. Explore alternative payment methods. The owner may be able to provide adequate information so you can use checks, bank transfers, or other methods with confidence and save an additional 3%.

If you have any questions about the changing Rental By Owner market or #BookDirect, you are welcome to reach out at any time. Please also take the time to “Like” our facebook page at www.facebook.com/dansfloridacondos.

Here’s to starting a new #BookDirect adventure together, declaring independence from greedy profit hungry Big Box listing sites, and returning to a more personal Vacation Rental By Owner experience for us all. #BookDirect

To read more articles highlighting Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, FL and Dans Florida Condos please visit the “Our Blog” section of our booking-free website: https://www.dansfloridacondos.com/blog/

*Please note – Dans Florida Condos posts blogs of local establishments and events periodically, for the intended benefit of our guests and visitors of Anna Maria Island. We do not receive advertisement commissions or other compensation from these posts. These recommendations are either experienced firsthand by us, or via reputable friends and partners on the Island. This ensures we are informing our guests of the “best of the best” that the Anna Maria Island and Runaway Bay Condominium community and the surrounding areas have to offer.

*The content of this blog is not to be copied, adapted or shared without the written consent of Dans Florida Condos.