What Does a Booking Really Cost You?
OTAs, advertising, websites, payment processing and marketing all have a cost. See what you're spending to acquire bookings — and how adding more direct-booking opportunities could strengthen your marketing mix.
Stay Near complements Airbnb, Vrbo and your existing marketing. It does not require you to replace them.
Not sure? Use average nightly rate × average nights per stay below.
These are initial estimates only — use my actual rate for each channel you use.
Host-only fee models are common; split-fee and country-specific models differ.
Pay-per-booking vs. annual subscription models change the effective rate.
Typically payment processing on your own booking system, not a commission.
Booking.com and similar marketplaces vary widely by agreement.
Full-service management commissions commonly range well above OTA fees.
Referral sources, local agencies, or anything else you pay per booking.
OTA fees vary by host, location, listing type, software configuration and account agreement. Calculator defaults are estimates for educational purposes. Enter your actual fees for the most accurate comparison. Defaults last reviewed 2026-08-01.
Stay Near adds discovery before the lodging search
- 1Traveler searches waterfalls, scenic drives, wineries, mountain towns, events, hiking, or leaf color
- 2Finds Stay Near experience content
- 3Builds a trip
- 4Sees lodging matched to those experiences
- 5Visits the property's website
- 6Books directly if they choose
Instead of competing with OTAs for the exact same "cabin rental" search, Stay Near helps properties get discovered while travelers are deciding what they want to experience.
Keep your OTAs
Stay Near is designed to complement Airbnb, Vrbo and other channels — not replace them.
Add direct discovery
Give travelers another route to your property's own booking website.
Reach travelers earlier
Get discovered while travelers are researching experiences and destinations.
Strengthen your marketing mix
Reduce reliance on any single booking source over time.
Experience-based SEO
Connect your property to the experiences travelers are already researching.
No commission, no guest fee from Stay Near
Stay Near does not take a booking commission or add a guest service fee. Your own payment processor and booking system still have their own costs.
Commission is only part of the picture
Booking acquisition cost usually includes more than a platform commission. Looking at the full picture makes it easier to compare channels fairly.
Variable booking costs
Incurred because a booking happened: OTA commission, payment processing, referral commission, property manager commission, per-reservation software fees.
Fixed marketing costs
Incurred whether or not a specific booking occurs: website, SEO, advertising, photography, software, agency expense.
OTA fees vary by host, location, listing type, software configuration and account agreement. Calculator defaults are estimates for educational purposes. Enter your actual fees for the most accurate comparison.
Questions owners ask
Could a few more direct bookings strengthen your mix?
Stay Near helps independent lodging owners get discovered around the experiences travelers are planning — then sends interested travelers to the property's own website.
Start with a free listing. No booking commission.
More owner resources: List for free · Partner with Stay Near · Plans and pricing
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