Google Flights is the preferred choice for flight searches due to its price accuracy and comprehensive flight options. Vrbo is the better option for vacation rentals, offering a wide variety of property types and reliable booking process.
| Attribute | Google Flights | Vrbo |
|---|---|---|
| Price comparison accuracy | High accuracy, often within 1% of airline website prices; includes credit card surcharges and fees; offers a 'Price Guarantee' for some flights. | Prices displayed are generally accurate, but it's crucial to check 'price details' for a full breakdown, including taxes, cleaning, and service fees. |
| Breadth of flight/rental options | Includes nearly all airlines (though may not directly display Southwest Airlines); searches assorted OTAs and airline sites; gathers data from over 300 airlines and OTAs. | Offers over 2 million rentals worldwide; specializes in vacation home rentals, offering a wide variety of property types, including houses, condos, cabins, and cottages. |
| User interface intuitiveness | Clean and intuitive design; simple, functional, and easy to use. | Generally considered easy to navigate and book through, with user-friendly interfaces. |
| Filtering and sorting capabilities | Offers a variety of filters (stops, airlines, bags, price, times, emissions, connecting airports, duration); sort by 'Best' or 'Cheapest'; filter out undesirable features like airport/terminal changes, overnight flights, risky connections, or long layovers. | Allows users to filter search results by price, reviews, location, and access to nearby activities. You can also sort by price (low to high or high to low). |
| Deals and discounts availability | Helps users find deals and identify the cheapest dates to fly; provides insights on whether the fare is high, low, or average; sends fare alerts and notifications when prices drop. | Automatically includes discounts for select vacation rentals, such as newly listed homes and extended stays. |
| Customer support responsiveness | Search tool; does not directly handle bookings, changes, or cancellations; users need to contact the airline or OTA directly for support. | Offers customer support through its website or app via a chat function and phone support. |
| Cancellation policy clarity | Cancellation policies depend on the airline or OTA you book with; most OTAs offer a 24-hour free cancellation window. | Offers various cancellation policies, ranging from "No Refund" to "Relaxed," which are clearly stated on the listing page. |
| Mobile app functionality | Information not found in the provided search results. | The Vrbo Owner Mobile App allows you to manage your vacation rental, stay connected with travelers, manage bookings, and run your business. |
| Search speed and efficiency | Known for its speed and real-time results; a fast search engine with plenty of options. | The site allows you to quickly search for properties by location, price, dates, and amenities. |
| Accommodation/Flight type variety | Search for round-trip, one-way, or multi-city itineraries; different flight classes (economy, premium economy, business, first class). | Specializes in vacation home rentals, offering a wide variety of property types, including houses, condos, cabins, and cottages. |
| Geographic coverage | Allows you to search for flights to anywhere in the world; supports searching multiple airports simultaneously. | Worldwide geographic coverage. |
| Trustworthiness & Reliability | Considered reliable because it sources data directly from airlines; offers options to book directly with the airline; may link to third-party agencies; relatively objective source of travel information. | Considered a reliable platform for booking vacation rentals with measures in place to prevent fraudulent activity, including vetting listings and secure payment processing. |