Connect Vrbo to Beds24 with the certified XML connection to create your listings at Vrbo, send prices and availability, import bookings and message guests from Beds24. You start Vrbo's self-onboarding from Beds24, and the connection updates all Vrbo brands. If you aren't eligible for the XML connection, use VRBO iCal instead.
Quick Guide
- In Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Mapping, tick Enable for your rooms and fix any content errors.
- In Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Account, click Generate VRBO Software id.
- Have your credit card and tax number ready, click Connect with Vrbo and follow Vrbo's self-onboarding.
- Enter your registration details and check the listing status in Mapping.
Table of Contents
- Capabilities and limitations
- Before you connect
- Connect Vrbo
- Listing content
- Prices, fees and taxes
- Policies and rules
- Payments
- Manage Vrbo bookings
- Messages and reviews
- Vrbo feature codes
- Troubleshooting
- Disconnect Vrbo
Capabilities and limitations
With the XML connection, Beds24 can:
- export listing content (create listings at Vrbo) and update existing listings
- export prices and availability
- import bookings
- send date changes and status changes to Cancelled
- show all messages from Vrbo guests and let you reply from the booking or with Auto Actions
The connection updates these Vrbo brands: Homeaway.com, Vrbo.com, abritel.fr, aluguetemporada.com.br, bookabach.co.nz, CanadaStays, fewo-direkt.de, homdelidays.es, homdelidays.it, homeaway.at, homeaway.ca, homeaway.co.au, homeaway.co.mx, homeaway.co.uk, homeaway.dk, homeaway.es, homeaway.fi, homeaway.gr, homeaway.it, homeaway.nl, homeaway.no, homeaway.pl, homeaway.pt, homeaway.se, homelidays.com, ownersdirect.co.uk, stayz.co.au and vacationrentals.com.
For the full list, see Channel Manager Capabilities.
Limitations
- Vrbo doesn't allow same-day bookings.
- Most agencies and property managers can use the XML connection, but you need a tax number and a credit card.
- Make all updates in Beds24, not at Vrbo: changes you make at Vrbo are overwritten with the next update.
- Vrbo doesn't show payments made after the booking in its control panel. The booking always shows as unpaid there, even if the guest has paid.
- Vrbo may also show your properties on its parent site Expedia. For bookings made on Expedia, you can't message the guest through Beds24; use email instead.
- Don't move properties with bookings between two Beds24 accounts that are both connected to Vrbo. It upsets Vrbo's commission calculation and you might be charged twice.
Warning: Don't change your Beds24 username while you're connected to Vrbo. It breaks the connection.
Before you connect
- Prices: Beds24 only sends availability when you have prices active for Vrbo. See Setting Prices for Booking Channels.
- Existing bookings: Beds24 imports and manages only bookings made after you connect. Import existing bookings by iCal or enter them manually, see Existing bookings.
- Confirmation messages: Vrbo doesn't send confirmation messages; Beds24 sends the confirmation message set in Settings > Guest Management > Confirmation Messages. You can't send different messages depending on the type of payment. See How to setup Confirmation Messages.
- Room types: the connection supports room types with a quantity of more than one.
- What you need: a credit card and a tax number (tax identifier). Vrbo asks for both during onboarding.
- Instant booking: your listings are set to instant booking by default. Listings on request rank lower and get fewer bookings. On request, Beds24 can set individual properties to request.
Properties in several accounts
The XML connection works per Beds24 account. All properties owned by the connected account or subaccount can send to the connected Vrbo account. To connect a property owned by another account or subaccount:
- Click the User icon at the top right, then Account Management > Manage Account > Manage Property. In the old control panel, click Sub Account at the top right.
- Go to Channel Management.
- In Vrbo Connect via Account, select the account that connects the property to Vrbo.
Connect Vrbo
Vrbo's self-onboarding tool starts from Beds24. If self-onboarding isn't available in your region, you can't complete the setup yourself: Vrbo creates a support case automatically and contacts you.
Step 1: Activate your rooms
- Go to Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Mapping and tick Enable for all rooms you want to connect. Click Help at the top right of the page for detailed instructions.
- If you see the red button Fix Content Errors, your content doesn't meet Vrbo's requirements. Click it: the settings that need fixing are highlighted in red. Click the links to fix them. See Minimum content requirements.
- Go to Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Account and click Generate VRBO Software id.
Expected result: Your Vrbo Software User ID shows in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Account.
Step 2: Have your credit card and tax number ready
During onboarding, Vrbo asks for your credit card and your tax number (tax identifier).
Step 3: Self-onboard to Vrbo
You can start as soon as at least one room is enabled.
- If you have subaccounts, check that you're logged in to the account or subaccount you want to connect.
- Click Connect with Vrbo to start Vrbo's self-onboarding.
- Follow the steps.
Vrbo decides the currency of your Vrbo account. Set this currency in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Account and use it in all properties in this Beds24 account. If you use a different currency in Beds24, set a price multiplier.
Tip: Once you're connected, click View Listings to see the properties and rooms in the Beds24 feed for Vrbo.
At Vrbo, if you don't have a Vrbo account yet:
At Vrbo, if you already have a Vrbo account:
Step 4: Enter your registration details
- Go to Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Mapping.
- Click Registration details, then Update Registration, and enter your details.
Step 5: Check the listing status
- In Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Mapping, click View Status at Vrbo.
- Check the content, especially activeStatus.
Expected result: Your listings are active at Vrbo and show the prices and availability from Beds24.
Step 6: Add your reviews (optional)
Beds24 can upload your existing reviews to Vrbo. Vrbo only accepts direct reviews, including reviews from your own website, Tripadvisor, Google or other sources you have the right to use on your own website. Vrbo doesn't accept reviews from other OTAs, such as Airbnb or Booking.com.
To send your reviews, tell your Vrbo activation specialist how far back your reviews go, then open a support ticket with Beds24.
Listing content
These factors matter most for how your listings perform:
- Choose your headline carefully and make sure your key (first) picture and headline work together.
- Add 24 pictures, all with captions.
- Add location type features so your listing shows in location-based searches.
- Add cleaning features.
- Don't ask guests to pay the full amount with the booking, see Payments.
Listings, headlines and names
Beds24 creates one Vrbo listing for each room.
- Headline: the Room Headline in Settings > Channel Manager > Property Content > Room Content. If it's empty, the Headline in Settings > Channel Manager > Property Content is used.
- Property name: the Name in Settings > Properties > Description. To give each listing its own name, enter a unique Name for each room in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Specific Room Content.
Minimum content requirements
To send a listing to Vrbo, enter all of these in Beds24:
- Property name and property type
- Maximum number of guests
- An accurate address, latitude and longitude for each property
- At least 6 pictures for each listing, all with captions, recommended resolution 1920x1080
- Headlines with at least 20 characters
- At least one bedroom and one bathroom per listing
- Prices and inventory, for online bookings
Check what Beds24 will send in View content for VRBO.
Language
Vrbo tells you which language is compulsory: the language of the Vrbo site you're listed on. If it differs from your booking page's default language, set it in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Specific Property Content, and add your descriptions in that language. To activate languages, go to Settings > Booking Engine > Internationalisation; the context help there explains how to use several languages. Check which descriptions Beds24 sends in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > View Content.
Bedrooms and bathrooms
- Go to Settings > Properties > Rooms > Set Up and click edit bedrooms or edit bathrooms.
- Set the type and use the selectors to define the facilities in each. Define every bedroom and bathroom.
- Close the pop-up and click Save.
You can also add bedrooms, bathrooms and amenities by hand with feature codes. Vrbo doesn't support every Beds24 feature.
Amenities, features and location type
Set up amenities and location type for the property in Settings > Properties > Description, or per room in Settings > Properties > Rooms > Setup. Property settings apply to all rooms in the property, so use them for what all rooms share, and room settings for what only one room has. Don't enter the same item in both. For example, if all units have internet, set it once for the property; if only one unit has internet, set it for that room.
- Click Edit next to the Features field.
- In the pop-up, click Amenities and tick the amenities you provide.
- Close the pop-up and click Save.
Tip: Cleaning features and a location type matter a lot for your performance. Add them by hand with feature codes.
Pictures
- Vrbo requires at least 6 pictures per listing. Add more so guests get a good impression of what they book.
- Beds24 sends the pictures activated as Room Pictures in Settings > Booking Engine > Pictures. Only if no room pictures are activated, it sends the Property Pictures.
- External pictures must be in .jpg format.
- To change a picture, add or change its caption so Vrbo imports it again.
- Add captions to all pictures, see Pictures.
Prices, fees and taxes
Choose the price type in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Specific Room Content.
| Price type | What Beds24 sends |
|---|---|
| Per Occupancy Pricing (LOS) | A price for each occupancy defined in Beds24, and prices for different lengths of stay. With fixed prices: 1 person, 2 person and room price (room price for the specified occupancy); several prices with different occupancies can be sent; Extra Person, Extra child and discounts on the Discounts tab can't be sent. With daily prices: the daily price including occupancy; several occupancy prices can be sent; the extra person price is sent. Vrbo calculates and shows length-of-stay discounts from the prices Beds24 sends. |
| Per Day Pricing | One room price per date. With several prices active for Vrbo with different minimum stays, Beds24 sends the price with the lowest minimum stay. You can also set the number of guests the price applies to, an extra person price, and long stay discounts in Specific Room Content (applied to the room price only, not extras; Vrbo stay discounts are cumulative). |
- Max Stay set in the calendar or prices can be sent.
- Beds24 sends prices for up to 16 guests. If your property takes more than 16 guests, use Per Day Pricing with an extra person price.
- Vrbo occupancy pricing supports minimum stays up to 30 days.
- When you send different prices for different lengths of stay, set the room restriction strategy to Stay through. With Arrival, prices after the first night may be wrong.
- With Per Day Pricing, Vrbo applies the minimum stay to the arrival date only, not to every night of the booking.
- If you use daily prices with an extra person price, set the daily price for the maximum occupancy and add the extra person price as a negative value, so the price for full occupancy can be sent.
- Click View Actual Data in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Mapping to check the prices and availability Beds24 will send.
Price multiplier and currency
Enter the multiplier in the Price Multiplier field in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Mapping, for example *1.23 to raise prices by 23%, or *[CONVERT:THB-USD]* to convert Thai baht to US dollars. It applies to all prices and fees Beds24 sends. See Price multiplier for all options.
With a * at the end, Beds24 adds the info item VRBO_MULT to each imported booking with the conversion rate applied. When Vrbo reads the booking status, Beds24 uses it to convert the amounts back to the values Vrbo originally sent.
Warning: Vrbo reads your bookings from Beds24 and calculates its commission from them. Don't convert the prices of imported Vrbo bookings by hand, or Vrbo charges the wrong commission.
Fees and taxes
- Add taxes and fees under Custom in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Specific Room Content. They can apply as a flat fee, a percentage, per day or per guest. The context help next to the setting explains the details.
- Taxes and fees set as stay collected aren't added to the booking price.
- Vrbo requires a cleaning fee. If you don't set one, Beds24 sends a cleaning fee of zero. You can enter it in Settings > Channel Manager > Property Content > Room Content.
Policies and rules
- Cancellation policy: Vrbo requires one. Beds24 sends the policies set in Settings > Booking Engine > Property Booking Page > Content; choose which applies in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Specific Room Content. For a custom policy, enter it in Custom there. The context help explains the details.
- Minimum age: set it as a Custom value in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Specific Room Content.
- Pets: if you don't allow pets, choose the feature Pets not allowed in Settings > Properties > Description. Set pet fees as custom values in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Specific Room Content.
- Children: if you allow children, set Maximum Children to the number allowed, or to Dont ask, in Settings > Properties > Rooms > Setup.
- House rules and event rules: enter custom rules in Custom in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Specific Room Content.
Payments
By default, payment is due when the guest books. You can change this to At Check-in, set up payment schedules with up to five payments, and choose which payment types you accept. Listings where guests don't pay the full amount with the booking perform better. For the settings and how to collect the payments, see Payment Schedules.
Manage Vrbo bookings
Updates
Beds24 sends changes to availability and prices instantly. Vrbo pulls other changes with its next poll.
Requests
If your listing is on request, requests import with the status Inquiry, which doesn't block the room. To confirm a request, check that the room is available and set the status to Confirmed. Vrbo gets the change the next time it pulls booking information from Beds24.
Cancellations
When you set a booking to Cancelled, Beds24 sends it to Vrbo as cancelled by the guest (the default). If you cancelled as the host, choose the substatus in the second selector next to Cancelled on the booking's Summary tab; Beds24 then sends cancelled by owner.
Warning: Never delete Vrbo bookings. Vrbo expects to read the status of every booking, including cancelled ones.
Special offers for guests
To give a guest a special price, ask them to book at the full price. Once the booking is imported, change the price and send the guest a confirmation with the revised price yourself. Beds24 sends the new price to Vrbo automatically, so Vrbo can adjust its commission.
Vrbo commission
Beds24 gives Vrbo a feed with all Vrbo bookings so Vrbo can calculate its commission. If you add on-site services to a booking, give the invoice item a status that starts with stayfee, for example stayfee_tour. Vrbo then leaves the item out of the commission.
Offline bookings and data protection
For bookings that come from a Vrbo enquiry, Vrbo requires you to set Referer = Vrbo on the booking's Details tab and to enter the guest's email address. Vrbo has access to these bookings for reporting. Make sure you comply with your local data protection laws.
Invoices
To use a different invoice template for Vrbo bookings, use an invoicee.
Messages and reviews
You can message guests with confirmed Vrbo bookings directly from Beds24. Inquiries and requests aren't imported. See all messages in the API Messages component on the Dashboard, and each conversation on the booking's API Messages tab.
- Add the API Messages component to your dashboard.
- To send Auto Action emails as messages, set Send Message on the Auto Action's Messaging tab to one of the API options. Vrbo doesn't support HTML, so Beds24 removes it; you can add a plain text version of the message for Vrbo.
- Vrbo supports attachments in PDF, JPG, PNG and GIF format.
- The confirmation message goes to the guest by email, so it doesn't show in the message thread.
- There can be a short delay between the booking and messaging being enabled. Set Auto Actions that send a message when the booking is made to fall back to email.
- If you moved the booking to another room, manually or with dependencies, both rooms must be connected to the same Vrbo account, or messaging doesn't work.
For how API messages work, see OTA Messages.
Reviews
You can read a guest's review on the booking's Mail & Action tab and reply to the guest from there.
Vrbo feature codes
You can type these codes into the Features field exactly as shown, separated by spaces. Put the bedroom or bathroom type first, then the codes for what is in that room. Add one type code for each room.
| Example | Features field |
|---|---|
| One bedroom with a double bed | BEDROOM BED_DOUBLE |
| Three bathrooms with different features | BATHROOM BIDET COMBO_TUB_SHOWER BATHROOM BIDET BATHROOM_HALF TOILET |
| Television, internet and beach view | TELEVISION INTERNET BEACH_VIEW |
Bathroom types
Add one code for each bathroom, followed by its amenity codes.
BATHROOM BATHROOM_HALF BATHROOM_SHOWER
Bathroom amenities
Put these after the bathroom type they belong to. Add one code for each feature.
BIDET COMBO_TUB_SHOWER JETTED_TUB OUTDOOR_SHOWER SHOWER TOILET TUB
Bedroom types
Add one code for each bedroom, followed by its bed codes.
BEDROOM BEDROOM_LIVING_SLEEPING_COMBO BEDROOM_OTHER_SLEEPING_AREA
Bedroom amenities
Put these after the bedroom type they belong to. Add one code for each bed.
BED_BUNK BED_CHILD BED_DOUBLE BED_KING BED_MURPHY BED_QUEEN BED_SOFA BED_SINGLE
Nearest features
Join three parts with underscores: the feature type, the distance unit and the number, for example NEAREST_BEACH_KILOMETERS_3 or NEAREST_BAR_METERS_200.
Feature types:
NEAREST_AIRPORT NEAREST_BEACH NEAREST_GOLF NEAREST_RESTAURANT NEAREST_TRAIN NEAREST_BAR NEAREST_FERRY NEAREST_HIGHWAY NEAREST_SKI
Distance units:
KILOMETRES METRES MILES MINUTES
Location type
BEACH BEACH_FRONT BEACH_VIEW DOWNTOWN GOLF_COURSE_FRONT GOLF_COURSE_VIEW LAKE LAKE_FRONT LAKE_VIEW MOUNTAIN MOUNTAIN_VIEW NEAR_OCEAN OCEAN_FRONT OCEAN_VIEW RESORT RIVER RURAL SKI_IN SKI_OUT TOWN VILLAGE WATER_VIEW WATERFRONT
Other features
LIVING_ROOM FIREPLACE WOOD_STOVE HEATING AIR_CONDITIONING ELEVATOR TELEPHONE HAIR_DRYER ICEMAKER IRON_BOARD LINENS TOWELS DRYER WASHER BALCONY DECK_PATIO_UNCOVERED LANAI_GAZEBO_COVERED GARDEN PRIVATE_YARD GRILL GAME_ROOM VERANDA GARAGE PARKING_POSSIBLE PARKING_PAID EV_CHARGER BOOKS DVD FOOSBALL GAMES MUSIC_LIBRARY TABLE_TENNIS POOL_TABLE CABLE SATELLITE STEREO TV TV_SMART TOYS VIDEO_GAMES VIDEO_LIBRARY BREAKFAST_NONE BREAKFAST_POSSIBLE BREAKFAST_INCLUDED PRIVATE_CHEF DESK DESK_WITH_CHAIR INTERNET WIFI KITCHEN DINING_AREA DINING_ROOM COFFEE_MAKER DISHES_UTENSILS CHILDRENS_DINNERWARE PACK_N_PLAY_TRAVEL_CRIB BABYSITTING BABY_MONITOR DISHWASHER HIGHCHAIR MICROWAVE OVEN REFRIGERATOR SPICES STOVE TOASTER OUTDOOR_LIGHTING OUTDOOR_FIREPLACE FIRE_EXTINGUISHER FIRST_AID_KIT MEDICAL_EMERGENCY_CONTACT POLICE_EMERGENCY_CONTACT FIRE_EMERGENCY_CONTACT SMOKE_DETECTOR CO_DETECTOR DEADBOLT_LOCK EMERGENCY_EXIT_ROUTE PETS_CONSIDERED PETS_NOT_ALLOWED HOT_TUB MASSAGE POOL POOL_HEATED POOL_INDOOR POOL_PRIVATE SAUNA B_AND_B CAR_AVAILABLE CHAUFFEUR CHECK_IN_OUT_SELF CLEANING_DISINFECTANT CLEANING_ENHANCED CLEANING_INCLUDED CLEANING_POSSIBLE CONCIERGE GUEST_HOUSE HOTEL SHOP BASKETBALL_COURT BICYCLE BOAT CROSS_COUNTRY_SKIING FISHING FITNESS_ROOM GOLF HIKING HORSE_RIDING HUNTING ICE_SKATING JET_SKIING KAYAK_CANOE KAYAKING MOUNTAIN_BIKING MOUNTAIN_CLIMBING MOUNTAINEERING PARASAILING RAFTING SAILING SPORTS_SNORKELING_DIVING SKIING SKIING_WATER SNOW_SPORTS_GEAR SNOWBOARDING SNOWMOBILING SPELUNKING SURFING SWIMMING TUBING_WATER WATER_SPORTS WHITEWATER_RAFTING WIND_SURFING CAR_NECESSARY CAR_RECOMMENDED CAR_NOT_NECESSARY CHILDREN_NOT_ALLOWED CHILDREN_WELCOME EVENTS_ALLOWED SMOKING_ALLOWED SMOKING_NOT_ALLOWED WHEELCHAIR_YES WHEELCHAIR_NO BAY COIN_LAUNDRY DUTY_FREE HEALTH_BEAUTY_SPA MARINA MUSEUMS THEME_PARKS WATER_PARKS WINERY_TOURS ZOO ANTIQUING BIRD_WATCHING ECO_TOURISM GAMBLING OUTLET_SHOPPING PADDLE_BOATING SHOPPING SLEDDING WHALE_WATCHING WILDLIFE_VIEWING FITNESS_CENTER HOSPITAL LAUNDROMAT FAMILY HISTORIC ROMANTIC
Troubleshooting
| Issue / Error | Likely cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| You can't find your Vrbo Software User ID or Vrbo Advertiser ID | Both are generated during self-onboarding | Follow Connect Vrbo. Once generated, the ID shows in Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO. |
The Vrbo connection for this property is managed by account ... or It cannot be mapped to this account.
|
Only properties owned by the connected account or subaccount can send to the connected Vrbo account | Set the account that connects the property in Vrbo / Homeaway Connect via Account, see Properties in several accounts. |
Fix content errors and enable rooms before generating the Vrbo Software User ID or Fix content errors and enable rooms
|
No room is enabled, or your content doesn't meet Vrbo's requirements | Go back to Step 1: Activate your rooms. |
| Vrbo Software User ID not generated | The ID hasn't been generated yet | Go back to Step 1: Activate your rooms and click Generate VRBO Software id. |
internal error constructing XML |
Your content doesn't meet Vrbo's requirements | Go to Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > View Content. Settings that need fixing are highlighted in red; click the links in the Settings column to fix them. |
Reverse Geocode Postal Code |
The address, latitude or longitude doesn't match Vrbo's data | In Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > View Content, check that the address, latitude and longitude are correct. Vrbo rejects addresses with wrong or mismatched data. |
For general causes and fixes, see Troubleshooting in How the Channel Manager works.
Disconnect Vrbo
- In Settings > Channel Manager > VRBO > Mapping, untick Enable for the rooms. Beds24 stops sending data to Vrbo.
- To remove the connection completely, contact Vrbo and ask them to remove the connection to Beds24.