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Connect VRBO API

Lorena Pamplona
Updated

In 1995, Vrbo introduced a new way for people to travel together, pairing homeowners with people looking for places to stay. Vrbo's purpose: To give people the space they need to drop the distractions of everyday life and simply be together.

Vrbo has grown into a global community of homeowners and travelers, with unique properties in 190 countries. The channel offers homeowners and property managers exposure to over 750 million visits to Expedia Group sites each month.

Things you should know before getting started

  • Use this guide to connect to the Vrbo API connection if you are: Brand new to Vrbo, currently using the Vrbo iCal, or moving from another software provider where you were connected to the Vrbo API.
  • If you are already listed in VRBO, you do not need to create a new VRBO account/listings in their extranet. Follow this guide and the channel will link your existing account afterwards.
  • Check the VRBO API FAQ before connecting to know more information about features supported and further details.
  • Note that all listings will become Instant Booking after connecting to Cloudbeds PMS.
  • Cloudbeds only syncs Base Rates with VRBO API.
  • You cannot officially kick off onboarding with Vrbo until you have completed filling out all the content steps in the Vrbo API channel on Cloudbeds PMS. Once you filled out all steps, you will provided with the Cloudbeds User ID/Vrbo Advertiser ID to move forward.

Connect VRBO API

Step 1 - Getting Started

In the Distribution page,

  1. Open the Discover tab
  2. Search for VRBO (Api) and click to View channel
  1. Click to Begin Setup to configure your account
Step 2 - Configure your connection to VRBO API

In this step, you must review all information available in your account to move forward with the connection. Some of the fields will be auto-populated from Cloudbeds PMS information.

1 - Configure Connection
  1. Listing Currency: Your rates will be sent to Vrbo in this currency. When you set your currency with your Vrbo Account Manager, make sure it is the same selected here.
  2. Listing Language
  3. Check the box to agree that during this setup process, Vrbo requires all free text listing content to be provided in the language selected above.

If you want to change the currency or language settings and the channel status is already set to pending or enabled, reach out to our support to request any updates.

2 - Contact Information
  1. Review your mandatory Contact Information (these fields will be auto-populated from Cloudbeds PMS):
    • First Name
    • Last Name
    • Email Address
    • Languages Spoken
3 - General Property Details

Review/configure the General Property Details:

Provide as much information as possible on this step and throughout the setup process. Not all fields are required, but you will reach a wider audience by supplying more information.

  1. Property Information:
    • Property Name
    • About the host / property owner
    • Why do you love the location / neighborhood?
    • What makes this property unique?
  1. Property Location:
    • Address
    • Is a car required to access the property?
4 - General Rules and Policies

Make sure to review/configure your policies:

  1. Guest policy:
    • Does primary guest need to meet a minimum age requirement?
    • Minimum age
    • Booking Cutoff Period 
    • Are events allowed?
    • Are pets allowed?
    • Are children under 18 years old allowed at your property?
    • Is smoking allowed?
  1. Custom House rules
    • Here you can add any particular rule that your property uses.
5 - Local Attractions and Activities

Select the available attractions and activities within 15 minutes of your property.

6 - Accommodation details

All of your Cloudbeds accommodations are listed in the table below. Each accommodation has its own sub-steps where users should specify accommodation details and upload photos.

  1. Click to Configure each accommodation - you will have to configure one by one.
  1. Select Accommodation Details or Images to edit.
  1. Configure each accommodation detail according to the instructions below:

General Settings:

Rooms and Spaces:

Bathrooms

  1. Click to Add new bathrooms
  2. Fill out the bathroom details
  3. Save

Bedrooms

  1. Click to add a new bedroom
  2. Fill out the bedroom details
  3. Save

Other Areas

  1. Fill out the details about other areas and save
Images

Provide at least 6 images to pass content check.

  • Minimum resolution: 1024 x 683 px; Recommended: 3840x2160 px;
  • Horizontal landscape display
  • Must be less than 20MB in size
  • Supported file formats are JPG or PNG
Disable and Re-enable Listings

You can disable and re-enable listings by any time. It may take up to 24h to disable and re-enable a listing in VRBO websites.

In the Accommodation Details step,

  1. Select Disable in the three dots menu
  2. Confirm that you want to Disable it
  1. Or select Enable to re-enable previously disabled listings.
  2. Confirm that you want to re-enable that listing.
7 - Listing Amenities
  1. Switch the toggle on to select all the amenities that apply to your rooms / units.

Custom amenities are not supported by channels.

8 - Taxes & Fees
  1. Use the Reservation Sources page to configure taxes and fees for the Vrbo (API) third-party source.
  2. Once you have completed tax and fee configuration for the Vrbo (API) third-party reservation source, you may continue channel listing setup and map your taxes.

If you do not wish to setup taxes and fees for this channel, you can move to the next step.

9 - Accepted Forms of Payment

Select the payment options you will accept on Vrbo.

Vrbo provides guests with two payment options during the booking process:

  1. Credit/Debit Card (Recommended): Allow travelers to pay with a credit card at the time of booking. Vrbo will provide credit card information in the reservation sent to Cloudbeds. Note: This option requires you to have a payment processor integrated with the Cloudbeds PMS (supported processors).
  2. Invoice: Guests are able to select a “Bill Me” option at the time of booking, which will allow them to provide payment after booking in the form of credit/debit card, cash, check, bank transfer, Paypal, etc. Vrbo will not provide credit card information in the reservation sent to Cloudbeds.

You can elect to support one or both payment methods, but Vrbo highly recommends that you do not accept Invoice payments if you are able to support the Credit/Debit option. For more information, please reach out to Vrbo or your Vrbo Onboarding Manager.

10 - Arrival, Payment, and Cancelation Policies

You can edit most of the pre-populated fields to create customizations unique to Vrbo (API), however, we recommend using the same information across both systems. Edits will not be saved to your Cloudbeds profile.

Configure your:

  1. Check-in/check-out policies
  2. Payments terms: these terms are determined by your Cloudbeds Deposit setting and your Cloudbeds Payment Processing selection for the Vrbo API source. 
  3. Cancelation policy
  1. Go to Payment Options, if you use Payment Processing:
11 - Base Rate Adjustment
  1. Add Base Rate Adjustment for each room type, if needed. Click Next when completed or if you want to skip this step.

Your listing is configured, follow Step 3 to go live.

Step 3 - VRBO Self-Service Onboarding Form
  1. VRBO Onboarding Form: Do not fill out this form until you have completed all steps on Cloudbeds and reached the confirmation step pictured below. The form will require information to be provided to Vrbo which is only generated upon completion of all setup steps.
  2. VRBO Onboarding team will reach out to you to finalize the steps on their side.
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