Hotel Alternatives
https://www.airbnb.com – Seems like they are the biggest company in this market. Aug 15, 2011 – they added a $50k guarantee to cover loss or damage for anyone offering their place to guests. (this was after a poorly handled burglary in SF earlier in 2011) (also – absorbed Crashpadder – https://airbnb.crashpadder.com/)
https://Roomorama.com/ – founded in Jan of 2009 – seems like they specialize in short term apartment rentals
https://www.couchsurfing.org/ – the free version of airbnb – offer your couch or backyard to a traveler for free
https://www.homeaway.com/ – online classifieds where vacation rental owners pay to advertise their space, no option to stay in just a room or with a host
https://www.vrbo.com/ – online classifieds where vacation rental owners pay to advertise their space
https://www.onefinestay.com/ – seems to be focused on London, full homes or apts
https://www.bedandfed.co.uk/ – UK and Ireland
https://www.wimdu.com/ – clone competitor to airbnb – accused of aggressively trying to steal airbnb hosts – https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/09/airbnb
https://www.9flats.com/ – clone of airbnb
And also:
Google has launched a great new hotel finder tool: https://www.google.com/hotelfinder
Rent or Borrow Stuff: https://snapgoods.com/
Rent out your car – https://www.getaround.com/tour
House / Apartment Swapping
Great article on swapping – https://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/15/home-exchange-vacations-why-pay-to-stay-when-you-can-swap-house/
https://www.homebase-hols.com/
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/going-on-holiday-finding-a-hom-86386