For years, the idea of opening your home to travelers felt like something only seasoned hosts did. But lately, that’s been changing. Whether you’re a single-property owner listing your main residence or someone with a small portfolio of investment homes, more and more homeowners are discovering that hosting a vacation rental can be accessible, rewarding, and even kind of fun.
With summer travel in full swing and more than half (56%) of Americans planning to stay in a vacation rental when traveling in 2025, demand for unique and homey stays is only heating up. It’s not just about making extra income (though that certainly helps), it’s also about creating meaningful moments, offering authentic experiences, and helping guests have their most memorable vacation yet. In fact, nearly one in four (23%) Americans say what excites them most about staying in a vacation rental is the chance to live like a local to get a true feel for the destination.
And one platform that’s been gaining momentum in this space is Booking.com. With over 8.1 million vacation rental listings globally and more than 2 billion guest nights booked since 2010, it’s not just a platform for travelers – it’s a go-to for hosts, too. It’s so simple to list and manage, even A-listers Mariah Carey, Martha Stewart and Ludacris have teamed up with Booking.com to welcome guests looking for unforgettable places to stay.
A Simple Way to Start
You don’t need to have a celeb-sized mansion or a lavish penthouse to become a host. In fact, some of the most loved vacation rentals are often places with charm and character: a quiet lakeside cabin, a modern home near a hiking trail, or a tucked-away apartment in a walkable neighborhood.
Getting started is easier than most people expect. With Booking.com, there’s no upfront listing fee, and almost half of new vacation rental listings see their first booking within just one week. Hosts can opt to allow instant bookings or review guest requests first – whichever feels right for their comfort level.
A Global Audience
With over 100 million monthly app users, Booking.com brings serious traveler traffic meaning your listing doesn’t just exist, it’s discoverable. There’s also something reassuring about working with a company that’s been part of people’s travel planning for years. Travelers already trust Booking.com for everything from last minute hotels to family-friendly resorts, and the platform’s smart search filters, which give travelers the ability to describe exactly the type of stay they are looking for in their own words, making it easy for them to find a vacation rental like yours, no matter how specific their vision may be.
Hosting without Hassle
Behind the scenes, Booking.com handles a lot of the logistics that might seem intimidating at first: multilingual listings translate into 45 languages, innovative technology to help match travelers with the perfect place to stay, global marketing support, secure payment processing, and 24/7 help if something goes wrong. So whether hosting guests from across the country or across the globe, there is a support system built in. For hosts, that means fewer technical headaches and more time to focus on creating a space that feels like home, even if only for a few days.
More Than a Side Hustle
At its best, hosting can be more than just a revenue stream. For many, it can also be a way to meet interesting people, share a part of your world, and turn unused space into something that brings joy to both you and to your guests.
And with travel continuing to evolve, and vacation rentals becoming an even bigger part of the picture, there’s never been a better time to try something new.
You can explore more about how to list your home at list.booking.com.
*Methodology: Research was commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of adults who had taken a leisure trip in the last 12 months with an overnight stay and plan to travel in 2025. The sample comprised 32,106 respondents across 32 counties and territories surveyed in January 2025, including 2,000 from the U.S.
