CiiRUS From $10/mo · Free plan 9.3 Visit Vacation Rental Desk
vacationrentaldesk.com
What it is
Vacation Rental Desk provides online booking, reservation management, and vacation rental websites for owners and managers. Its site builder combines a photo gallery, availability calendar, and online booking for direct reservations. The calendar handles nightly, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates, minimum stays, and day-specific check-in and check-out rules. Managers can review reservations, send quotes, enter phone orders, track charges and balances, and manage guest and payment details. Reports cover owner statements, charges, occupancy, payments, guest contacts, and rental revenue, with Excel downloads. Built-in reservation emails include confirmations, arrival and departure reminders, rental agreement copies, payment notices, and welcome messages. Availability syncs both ways with major marketing channels, iCalendar, and Google Calendar; rates and photos do not sync. Paid accounts can process Visa, MasterCard, and Discover at a 2.75% flat rate, limited to U.S. properties and businesses. It runs on web, Android, and iOS. Pricing includes a free plan, a 30-day trial, and paid access from $12/mo per rental.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Vacation Rental Desk provides cloud software and websites for direct vacation-rental bookings, reservation administration, payments and guest communication.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Product
- VacationRentalDesk.com provides online booking, reservation management, and vacation rental website services for rental owners and managers.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Security
- The company says hosted rental websites use HTTPS and a standardized SSL certificate by default; custom-domain SSL is available to paying subscribers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Privacy
- The FAQ says the company does not sell or provide visitor or member email addresses, reservation information or personal information to third parties.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Support
- GetApp lists chat, email/help-desk, phone and FAQ/forum support, with live-online training.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Founded
- The company says it has provided online reservations since 2007.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- API and SDKs
- The official pages opened for this research provide no public API reference, SDK download or developer portal.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- 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.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Calendar and rates
- The booking calendar supports nightly, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates, minimum stays, and day-specific check-in and check-out restrictions.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Calendar integrations
- Calendar availability can synchronize in both directions with Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway, FlipKey, iCalendar and Google Calendar.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- 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.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Company ownership
- The maker describes VacationRentalDesk.com as privately owned and based in Orange County, California.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Company scale claim
- The company claims more than one million nights booked and half a million management hours saved.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Coupons
- Owners can create coupons with codes, expiration dates, date windows, fixed-dollar, percentage or free-night discounts, and combination rules.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Documentation
- SourceForge lists documentation, live-online training and in-person training as available options.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- Email automation
- Built-in reservation emails include confirmations, check-in and check-out reminders, rental agreement copies, payment notices, and welcome messages.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Google Vacation Rentals
- Paid subscriptions can list properties on Google Vacation Rentals without a listing commission.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Independent platform coverage
- GetApp lists Web, Android and iPhone/iPad support, while SourceForge describes the product as cloud software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Integration limitation
- The signup FAQ says calendar synchronization currently transfers dates and basic booking details but not rates or photographs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- International limitation
- Credit-card processing is restricted to U.S.-based rental businesses, while the member area and guest communications are English-only.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Keyless entry
- The paid offering advertises keyless-entry integration with unlimited access codes at no extra charge.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Licence
- The official pages opened do not state an open-source licence; the product is presented as hosted commercial software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Mobile access
- The maker says its websites and reservation dashboard are mobile friendly and support current iPhones, Android phones, and tablets.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- 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.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Owner access
- Separate owner logins can expose calendars and selected reports while preventing reservation or booking-setting edits.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- 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.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- 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.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Payments
- Paid accounts process Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards at a displayed 2.75% flat rate for U.S. properties and support electronic checks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- PayPal limitation
- PayPal payments and invoices are not integrated into the booking system and must be recorded manually for tracking.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Praise: automation
- A Software Advice reviewer said the product reduced booking administration from roughly 45 minutes to five minutes by automating contracts, invoices, payments, notifications and reports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
- Praise: calendar and messaging
- The incentivized G2 reviewer praised the intuitive calendar, online booking administration, automated guest emails, social integrations and reporting.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Praise: ease of use
- A second Software Advice reviewer reported no problems and described the product as easy for users at all levels.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
- Rating on G2
- 5.0 out of 5 from 1 reviewRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Rating on GetApp
- 5.0 out of 5 from 2 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Rating on Software Advice
- 5.0 out of 5 from 2 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
- Reporting
- The software offers reports for owner statements, reservation charges, occupancy, payments, guest contacts, and rental revenue, with Excel downloads described on the software page.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Reports
- The service offers reports for reservation charges, occupancy, payments, credit-card transactions, guests, check-ins, check-outs, reserved dates and reservation income, with Excel downloads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Reservation calendar
- The color-coded calendar supports nightly, weekly, monthly and seasonal rates plus minimum-stay and weekday check-in or check-out rules.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Reservation management
- Managers can review reservations, send quotes, enter phone orders, view charges and balances, and manage guest and payment details.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Reservation records
- Reservation summaries combine charges, balances, guest details, signed agreements, payment data and notes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Security and privacy
- The company says it does not sell or give third parties visitors' or members' email addresses, reservation information, or personal information.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Self-hosting
- The product is described as 100% online with no software to download or install, and independent listings classify it as cloud software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Smart locks
- The FAQ lists OpenEdge, KeyInCode, Yale, and Igloohome locks sold at RemoteLock as supported models.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Target users
- The maker describes the product as designed for do-it-yourself vacation rental owners and managers, including professional property managers on a budget.Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Website builder
- Users can create mobile-ready rental websites with templates, HD photographs, custom branding, SEO tools and online booking.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
- Website integrations
- The website builder includes Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel and Google Maps integrations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Plans and prices
Free version Free no booking fees · no setup fees · trial excludes credit card processing and Google Vacation Rentals listings Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Free version Free no booking fees · no setup fees · no annual contracts · trial excludes credit-card processing and Google Vacation Rentals listing Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Paid subscription $12 a month per rental per month website and reservation dashboard · calendar sync · owner logins · keyless entry · credit-card processing · Google Vacation Rentals listing Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Bulk pricing: up to 15 rentals $150 a month per month up to 15 rentals Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Up to 15 rentals $150 a month monthly up to 15 rentals Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Bulk pricing: up to 20 rentals $180 a month per month up to 20 rentals Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Up to 20 rentals $180 a month monthly up to 20 rentals Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Bulk pricing: up to 25 rentals $210 a month per month up to 25 rentals Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Up to 25 rentals $210 a month monthly up to 25 rentals Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Bulk pricing: up to 30 rentals $240 a month per month up to 30 rentals Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Up to 30 rentals $240 a month monthly up to 30 rentals Read 15 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Bulk pricing: up to 35 rentals $270 a month per month up to 35 rentals Read 9 Oct 2026 · vacationrentaldesk.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Direct booking site includes a gallery and availability calendar
- Supports seasonal rates and stay restrictions
- Reports include revenue, occupancy, and owner statements
- Reservation emails cover payments and guest arrival
- Web, Android, and iOS access
Limits
- Rates and photos do not sync with channels
- Card processing is limited to U.S. properties
- Trial accounts cannot accept card payments
- Paid access starts at $12/mo per rental
Who it suits
It suits do-it-yourself rental owners and managers who want direct booking, reservation administration, and guest communications in one service. Professional property managers on a budget are also among its intended users.
Vacation Rental Desk in depth
Read the full write-up
Vacation Rental Desk is booking and rental administration software for independent vacation-rental owners and property managers. It is best for budget-minded operators who want a direct-booking website and day-to-day reservation tools together. The free plan makes it easy to start, but limited channel synchronization and U.S.-only card processing are meaningful constraints.
Overview
The product combines a website builder—with a photo gallery, availability calendar, and direct online booking—with a dashboard for handling reservations. Managers can send quotes, enter phone orders, check charges and balances, and manage guest and payment details. That combination suits operators who want one place for direct bookings and routine administration; businesses that depend on channel-wide rate updates will need to maintain prices separately.
Key features
Booking rules and calendar sync
Rates can be set by night, week, month, or season, with minimum stays and date-specific check-in and check-out rules. These controls help owners adapt to seasonal demand and property-specific arrival policies. Calendar availability syncs in both directions with major marketing channels, iCalendar, and Google Calendar, which helps prevent conflicting bookings. Rates and photos do not sync, however, so channel listings still require separate upkeep.
Guest administration and reports
Reservation emails can send confirmations, arrival and departure reminders, rental agreements, payment notices, and welcome messages. This covers common guest communications without requiring staff to send each one manually. Reports include owner statements, reservation charges, occupancy, payments, guest contacts, and rental revenue, with Excel downloads for further work. That range will be useful to owners who need both operating and financial records.
Payments, locks, and support
Paid accounts can process Visa, MasterCard, and Discover at a flat 2.75% rate, but only for U.S. rental businesses and properties. Trial accounts cannot accept cards until upgraded and documented as a U.S. business with U.S. rental properties. That restriction makes the trial less useful for evaluating payment workflows and rules out this processing option for operators elsewhere. Supported smart-lock models include OpenEdge, KeyInCode, Yale, and Igloohome locks sold at RemoteLock. Members can contact customer care by email or at (949) 385-2118.
Pricing
The Free version costs nothing, with no booking fees or setup fees. It is a practical starting point for owners testing the booking and administration workflow, though the trial excludes credit-card processing and Google Vacation Rentals listings.
The Paid subscription is $12 a month, billed per rental per month. It has no booking fees, setup fees, or annual contracts, and bulk pricing is offered for larger inventories. This per-rental rate fits small operators who want paid features without committing annually, while the monthly total rises with each rental.
Bulk pricing is billed monthly: up to 15 rentals costs $150 a month; up to 20 costs $180 a month; up to 25 costs $210 a month; up to 30 costs $240 a month; up to 35 costs $270 a month; up to 40 costs $300 a month; up to 50 costs $330 a month; and up to 75 costs $360 a month. These tiers give larger managers a defined monthly ceiling for each inventory band. A 30-day trial offers a way to evaluate the product, with card processing unavailable until the qualifying paid-account upgrade.
Platforms
Vacation Rental Desk runs on the web, Android, and iOS. The maker says its websites and reservation dashboard are mobile friendly and support current iPhones, Android phones, and tablets, so owners can access guest and booking information away from a desk.
Who it's for
This is a sensible fit for do-it-yourself rental owners and budget-conscious professional managers who value direct bookings, flexible booking rules, automated guest email, and broad operational reporting. It is a weaker match for businesses that need rates and photos synchronized across channels or that operate outside the United States and require integrated card processing.
Pros and cons
Pros: The free plan has no booking or setup fees, giving owners a low-cost way to start.
Pros: Direct booking, reservation administration, automated guest emails, and downloadable reports cover much of the routine work of a rental operation.
Pros: Two-way availability sync supports major marketing channels as well as iCalendar and Google Calendar.
Cons: Rates and photos do not sync to channels, leaving listing maintenance partly manual.
Cons: Card processing is limited to U.S. properties and costs a flat 2.75% on paid accounts.
Cons: Trial accounts cannot evaluate card processing, and Google Vacation Rentals listings are excluded from the trial.
Alternatives
For a wider set of options, browse Short-Term Rental Management Software. Consider Uplisting if you prefer a commission-based Pay As You Go plan, which charges 3% per booking for 1–4 properties and 1.5% for 5–10. Booking Automation is another option, with a listed $0.20 USD per SMS charge and $4.95 a month for an additional sub-account. Managers looking for a starting price of $299.99 a month and flat per-property fees can consider CiiRUS. Homes and Rooms offers a free owner plan with no subscription charges ever, making it an alternative for owners focused on avoiding a subscription. For a paid option starting at $66.55 a month for one property or unit, see Bookerville. Icnea offers a web-based PMS and channel manager, with a listed Professional version from 300 properties. iGMS has a FLEX plan priced at $1 a month per booked night, with a 20 USD per property monthly minimum and no booking fee. Tokeet is another freemium option with a free plan and a listed AdvanceCM plan at $14.99 a month.
Verdict
Vacation Rental Desk is a strong candidate for independent owners and budget-conscious managers who want direct booking, reservation administration, guest emails, and reporting in one service, with a free plan to start. Choose it when availability sync and U.S.-only card processing suit your operation; look elsewhere if you need channel rates and photos to stay synchronized or require integrated card processing outside the United States.
Verdict
Vacation Rental Desk combines booking, reservation administration, reporting, and guest email tools for rental operators. Its free plan and 30-day trial provide an entry point, while card processing and some channel synchronization have stated limits.
Where Specifiction places it
- Short-Term Rental Management Software#18 of 438.4
