How to list your property on Google Vacation Rentals
- james73515
- Aug 2, 2025
- 3 min read
If you're a short-term rental host looking to drive more direct bookings and get your property in front of millions of travellers, Google Vacation Rentals could be a game-changer.
Unlike traditional OTAs (online travel agencies) such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo, Google Vacation Rentals helps travellers discover properties directly through Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Travel – but without hefty commission fees.
But here’s the catch: you can’t list directly on Google Vacation Rentals as an individual host. So how do you get your property featured? Let’s break it down.
What is Google Vacation Rentals?
Google Vacation Rentals is a dedicated search experience within Google’s ecosystem that allows users to compare short-term rental listings across platforms. Properties show up with rich visual cards, pricing, amenities, reviews, and even links to book directly.
When a guest searches for terms like “holiday rental in Cornwall” or “Airbnb near Edinburgh Castle”, Google will surface relevant listings from verified sources – just like it does for hotels or flights.
Why should you list your Airbnb on Google Vacation Rentals?
Here’s why it’s worth the effort:
Free exposure to millions of high-intent travellers.
Direct booking potential, if you use a supported channel manager or PMS.
Increased visibility in search results and Google Maps.
Lower commission costs (sometimes 0% depending on your setup).
How to get listed on Google Vacation Rentals
You can’t just upload your property manually to Google. Instead, your listing needs to be connected through an approved partner (like a property management system or channel manager) that’s integrated with Google.
1. Check if your tech stack supports Google Vacation Rentals
To list your property on Google Vacation Rentals, you’ll need to work with a connectivity partner. These companies send structured data (such as availability, pricing, and property details) directly to Google on your behalf.
Common partners include:
Booking.com (if your Airbnb is also listed there)
If you're not already using one of these, consider switching or adding it to your stack. Look for "Google Vacation Rentals" in their feature list or integration page.
2. Ensure your listing meets Google’s quality requirements
Google wants high-quality listings. Here’s what you need to provide (usually through your partner platform):
8-20 high-resolution photos.
Accurate availability calendar.
Real-time pricing and fees.
Clearly defined amenities (Wi-Fi, parking, air conditioning, etc.).
Location data.
A valid URL for booking (ideally a direct booking site).
Pro tip: Google is picky. Make sure your photos are well-lit and professional, and double-check that your amenities and availability are synced correctly.
3. Enable Google Vacation Rentals through your PMS or channel manager
Once you’ve chosen a provider, follow their onboarding steps to enable Google Vacation Rentals. This usually involves:
Connecting your Airbnb listing or direct booking site to their platform.
Authorising a sync of your calendar, pricing, and property data.
Opting in to Google Vacation Rentals as a distribution channel.
Most tools handle the technical bits for you.
4. Track your performance
Once live, you’ll want to monitor performance metrics like:
Impressions on Google Search and Maps.
Click-throughs to your booking site.
Conversion rates.
Booking value.
Many PMS platforms provide a dashboard to track your listing’s performance across Google and other OTAs.
Important: you can’t list directly via Airbnb
At this time, Airbnb does not feed listings to Google Vacation Rentals – meaning your Airbnb listing won’t show up unless you also list via another integration partner or direct booking site.
If you want to get listed:
You may need to create a direct booking website (easy to do with tools like Hostfully, Hospitable, Hosthub, or Guesty)
Or list on a third-party platform that does integrate with Google, like Vrbo or Booking.com
Final thoughts
Google Vacation Rentals is a powerful discovery tool for short-term rental guests – and a way for hosts to reduce their reliance on OTAs like Airbnb and Vrbo. While you can’t list your Airbnb directly, integrating with a trusted property management system or channel manager gives you a simple route to get featured.
Increased visibility, lower commissions, and more direct bookings are all within reach – if you set it up the right way.
Need help?
If you're unsure which platform is right for you or how to get started, feel free to reach out to one of our partners:
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