Vacation Rental Desk
Vacation Rental Desk provides online booking, reservation management, and website services for vacation rental owners and managers.
What Vacation Rental Desk is
Vacation Rental Desk provides online booking, reservation management, and website services for vacation rental owners and managers. Its site builder includes a photo gallery, availability calendar, and direct online booking. The calendar supports nightly, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates, minimum stays, and day-specific check-in and check-out restrictions. Managers can review reservations, send quotes, enter phone orders, track charges and balances, and manage guest and payment details. Reports cover owner statements, reservation charges, occupancy, payments, guest contacts, and rental revenue, with Excel downloads. Built-in emails can send confirmations, check-in and check-out reminders, rental agreement copies, payment notices, and welcome messages. Availability syncs in both directions with major marketing channels, iCalendar, and Google Calendar; rates and photos do not sync. Pricing includes a free plan and a 30-day trial. Paid subscription costs $12 a month per rental. Paid accounts can process Visa, MasterCard, and Discover at a 2.75% flat rate, limited to U.S. properties. The service is available on web, Android, and iOS.
Good
- Website builder includes gallery, calendar, and direct booking
- Supports multiple rate periods and stay restrictions
- Reports include occupancy, payments, and rental revenue
- Availability syncs with channels and Google Calendar
- Free plan and 30-day trial
Watch out
- Rates and photos do not synchronize with channels
- Credit card processing is limited to U.S. properties
- Trial accounts cannot accept credit cards
- Paid subscription costs $12 a month per rental
Who it suits
Vacation Rental Desk suits do-it-yourself rental owners and managers, including professional property managers on a budget. It may fit operators who need direct booking, reservation administration, reports, and automated guest emails.
Verdict
Vacation Rental Desk combines direct booking pages with reservation administration, reporting, and guest email automation. Consider the limits on rate and photo synchronization and the U.S.-only card processing before choosing it.
Plans and prices
From Vacation Rental Desk's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Free | no booking fees · no setup fees · no annual contracts · trial excludes credit-card processing and Google Vacation Rentals listing |
| Paid subscription | $12 a month | website and reservation dashboard · calendar sync · owner logins · keyless entry · credit-card processing · Google Vacation Rentals listing · per rental per month |
| Bulk pricing: up to 15 rentals | $150 a month | up to 15 rentals · per month |
| Up to 15 rentals | $150 a month | up to 15 rentals · monthly |
| Up to 20 rentals | $180 a month | up to 20 rentals · monthly |
| Bulk pricing: up to 20 rentals | $180 a month | up to 20 rentals · per month |
| Bulk pricing: up to 25 rentals | $210 a month | up to 25 rentals · per month |
| Up to 25 rentals | $210 a month | up to 25 rentals · monthly |
| Bulk pricing: up to 30 rentals | $240 a month | up to 30 rentals · per month |
| Up to 30 rentals | $240 a month | up to 30 rentals · monthly |
| Bulk pricing: up to 35 rentals | $270 a month | up to 35 rentals · per month |
| Up to 35 rentals | $270 a month | up to 35 rentals · monthly |
| Bulk pricing: up to 40 rentals | $300 a month | up to 40 rentals · per month |
| Up to 40 rentals | $300 a month | up to 40 rentals · monthly |
| Up to 50 rentals | $330 a month | up to 50 rentals · monthly |
| Bulk pricing: up to 50 rentals | $330 a month | up to 50 rentals · per month |
| Bulk pricing: up to 75 rentals | $360 a month | up to 75 rentals · per month |
| Up to 75 rentals | $360 a month | up to 75 rentals · monthly |
The facts
Each one read from Vacation Rental Desk's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API and SDKs
- The official pages opened for this research provide no public API reference, SDK download or developer portal.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Automated messaging
- Built-in emails cover confirmations, check-in and check-out reminders, agreements, receipts, overdue notices, housekeeping alerts, welcome messages and thank-you messages.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Calendar and rates
- The booking calendar supports nightly, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates, minimum stays, and day-specific check-in and check-out restrictions.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Calendar integrations
- Calendar availability can synchronize in both directions with Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway, FlipKey, iCalendar and Google Calendar.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Channel integrations
- Calendar availability can synchronize in both directions with major marketing channels, iCalendar, and Google Calendar; rates and photos are not currently synchronized according to the signup FAQ.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Coupons
- Owners can create coupons with codes, expiration dates, date windows, fixed-dollar, percentage or free-night discounts, and combination rules.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- SourceForge lists documentation, live-online training and in-person training as available options.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Email automation
- Built-in reservation emails include confirmations, check-in and check-out reminders, rental agreement copies, payment notices, and welcome messages.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Google Vacation Rentals
- Paid subscriptions can list properties on Google Vacation Rentals without a listing commission.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integration limitation
- The signup FAQ says calendar synchronization currently transfers dates and basic booking details but not rates or photographs.checked 15 Oct 2026
- International limitation
- Credit-card processing is restricted to U.S.-based rental businesses, while the member area and guest communications are English-only.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Keyless entry
- The paid offering advertises keyless-entry integration with unlimited access codes at no extra charge.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The official pages opened do not state an open-source licence; the product is presented as hosted commercial software.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Mobile access
- The maker says its websites and reservation dashboard are mobile friendly and support current iPhones, Android phones, and tablets.checked 9 Oct 2026
- News: calendar synchronization
- A company news post dated 24 September describes importing and exporting calendars from VRBO, Airbnb, FlipKey and other listing sites to reduce double bookings.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Payment limitation
- Credit card processing is limited to U.S.-based vacation rental businesses, and a trial account cannot accept credit cards until upgraded and documented as a U.S. business with U.S. rental properties.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Payment processing
- Paid accounts can process Visa, MasterCard, and Discover at a published 2.75% flat rate, and the signup page limits this option to U.S. properties.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Payments
- Paid accounts process Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards at a displayed 2.75% flat rate for U.S. properties and support electronic checks.checked 15 Oct 2026
- PayPal limitation
- PayPal payments and invoices are not integrated into the booking system and must be recorded manually for tracking.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Company ownership
- The maker describes VacationRentalDesk.com as privately owned and based in Orange County, California.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company scale claim
- The company claims more than one million nights booked and half a million management hours saved.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Founded
- The company says it has provided online reservations since 2007.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Owner access
- Separate owner logins can expose calendars and selected reports while preventing reservation or booking-setting edits.checked 15 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Independent platform coverage
- GetApp lists Web, Android and iPhone/iPad support, while SourceForge describes the product as cloud software.checked 15 Oct 2026
The full review of Vacation Rental Desk
Vacation Rental Desk combines direct-booking websites with reservation administration for vacation-rental owners and managers. It suits independent operators and budget-conscious property managers who want calendars, guest email automation, and reporting in one system. Its direct-booking and management tools are broad, but incomplete rate synchronization and U.S.-only card processing narrow its fit.
Overview
The website builder brings together a photo gallery, availability calendar, and online booking, while the reservation dashboard handles quotes, phone orders, charges, balances, guest details, and payments. That mix can reduce the need to manage direct reservations across separate tools. Owners who rely on synchronized rates and photos across marketing channels will need another workflow: Vacation Rental Desk synchronizes availability, not those details.
Key features
Bookings and rates
The calendar supports nightly, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates, minimum stays, and date-specific check-in and check-out restrictions. This gives owners useful control over booking rules, though the lack of rate synchronization means channel prices must be handled separately.
Administration and reporting
Reports cover owner statements, reservation charges, occupancy, payments, guest contacts, and rental revenue, with Excel downloads. That breadth is useful for owners who need to review both operations and finances without relying only on booking totals.
Guest communication and access
Automated reservation emails cover confirmations, payment notices, arrival and departure reminders, rental agreements, and welcome messages. The FAQ also names OpenEdge, KeyInCode, Yale, and Igloohome locks sold at RemoteLock as supported models. These features help centralize routine guest communication and access coordination, but do not change the channel-sync limitations.
Payments and privacy
Paid accounts can process Visa, MasterCard, and Discover at a 2.75% flat rate, but only for U.S.-based vacation-rental businesses. Trial accounts cannot accept cards until upgraded and documented as a U.S. business with U.S. rental properties, so non-U.S. operators should not choose the service for its card processing. The company says it does not sell or give third parties visitors’ or members’ email addresses, reservation information, or personal information.
Pricing
The free version costs nothing and has no booking or setup fees. It includes a 30-day trial, but trial accounts exclude credit-card processing and Google Vacation Rentals listings. The free option is a low-commitment way to assess the service, not a full test of those capabilities.
The paid subscription is $12 a month, billed per rental per month, with no booking fees, setup fees, or annual contracts. It is the straightforward fit for a small operation that wants paid-account features without a long-term commitment; larger inventories can use bulk pricing.
Bulk pricing is $150 a month for up to 15 rentals, $180 a month for up to 20, $210 a month for up to 25, $240 a month for up to 30, $270 a month for up to 35, $300 a month for up to 40, $330 a month for up to 50, and $360 a month for up to 75. These monthly tiers give managers a defined ceiling for each price, while the standard subscription is billed per rental. No annual contract is required.
Platforms
Vacation Rental Desk supports Android, iOS, and the web. The maker says its websites and reservation dashboard are mobile friendly and support current iPhones, Android phones, and tablets, making it accessible to owners handling bookings away from a desktop.
Who it's for
This is best suited to do-it-yourself rental owners and professional managers on a budget who want direct reservations, reservation administration, and reporting together. It is less suitable for businesses outside the U.S. that need card processing, or operators who require rates and photos to synchronize across channels.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Direct-booking pages combine a photo gallery, availability calendar, and online booking, giving owners a path to take reservations through their own site.
- Pro: Reports span occupancy, payments, owner statements, guest contacts, and revenue, with Excel downloads for further review.
- Pro: No booking fees, setup fees, or annual contracts make the paid subscription terms relatively straightforward.
- Con: Channel synchronization covers availability, not rates or photos, leaving more upkeep for multi-channel operators.
- Con: Card processing is restricted to U.S. businesses and requires trial users to upgrade and document eligibility first.
- Con: The free trial excludes both card processing and Google Vacation Rentals listings, limiting what prospective users can evaluate before upgrading.
Alternatives
For a wider comparison, browse Short-Term Rental Management Software.
- Uplisting is worth considering if a commission-based Pay As You Go option suits your portfolio better than Vacation Rental Desk’s per-rental monthly subscription; it has no free plan but offers a free trial.
- Zeevou may suit readers who want a free core plan that includes a property management system, direct-booking website, email automation, and automated card payments.
- Icnea is another option for readers comparing paid vacation-rental management software.
- Homes and Rooms may appeal to owners looking for a free owner plan with no subscription charges.
- Hospitable offers a free Essentials plan with unlimited active properties, making it an alternative for readers prioritizing that free-plan structure.
- AirHost is an alternative for readers considering a channel manager and property management system with quote-required pricing.
- CiiRUS is an alternative for readers considering a paid service with a starting plan of $299.99 a month and flat per-property fees.
- GuestWisely is an alternative for readers seeking pricing tailored to portfolio size, complexity, features, integrations, and growth stage.
Verdict
Choose Vacation Rental Desk if you are a U.S.-based owner or budget-conscious manager who wants direct booking, reservation administration, guest emails, and useful operational reports under one roof. Its free option and month-to-month paid pricing lower the commitment, but operators who depend on synchronized rates and photos—or need card processing outside the U.S.—should look elsewhere.
Getting started
- Open the Vacation Rental Desk website.
- Start with the free plan or begin the 30-day trial.
- Use the web service, or access it through Android or iOS.
- Choose a paid subscription if you need paid-account functions such as credit card processing.
- For card processing, upgrade and document a U.S. business with U.S. rental properties.
Limits worth knowing
The free trial excludes credit card processing and Google Vacation Rentals listings. Credit card processing is limited to U.S.-based vacation rental businesses and requires an upgraded account documented as a U.S. business with U.S. rental properties.
Questions
Does Vacation Rental Desk have a free plan?
Yes. The Free version is listed as free, with no booking fees or setup fees.
How much does a paid subscription cost?
The subscription is $12 per rental per month. No annual contracts are required, and bulk pricing is available for larger inventories.
How long is the trial?
The trial lasts 30 days. It excludes credit card processing and Google Vacation Rentals listings.
Which platforms are supported?
Vacation Rental Desk lists web, Android, and iOS platforms.
Can it process credit cards?
Paid accounts can process Visa, MasterCard, and Discover at a 2.75% flat rate. Processing is limited to eligible U.S. businesses and properties.
Which calendars can synchronize?
Availability can synchronize in both directions with major marketing channels, iCalendar, and Google Calendar. Rates and photos do not synchronize.
