Paradise Found: Vacasa Releases 2021 Vacation Rental Search Report

With summer well underway, there’s no doubt that signs of pre-pandemic travel trends are re-emerging as the new, old normal. Cooped up Americans have some serious wanderlust, and they’re packing their bags in record numbers to make up for long-lost travel time.

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Of the top seven amenities guests search for on Vacasa.com, six are water-related (Pictured: Villa of the Setting Sun in Sugarloaf Key, FL) (Photo: Business Wire)

Summer guest occupancy at Vacasa vacation homes is pacing up a whopping 57% compared to 2019—so the question isn’t if people are traveling, but how they’re deciding on their destination and accommodations.

Vacasa’s 2021 Vacation Rental Search Report, released today, dives deep into 12 months of data from Vacasa.com, narrowing down tens of millions of site visits and thousands of vacation home reservations to 15 key findings about browsing and booking habits that we believe will have a lasting impact on travel preferences. Here’s a sneak peek at what we discovered:

• Squad goals: Family travel remains a popular choice, with 31% of guests who search by home size seeking out 2-bedroom homes.
• Keep it even-keel: Homes that host an even number of guests are preferred to those with odd-numbered accommodations. The most popular searches are for homes that accommodate two adults (38%) and for those fit for four (17%).
• Wide-open spaces: While they may have a specific state in mind, consumers are open to new destinations. Of the top 20 searches, seven are for anywhere within state lines as opposed to specific cities or towns.
• Waterworld: Of the top seven amenities guests search for, six are water-related. Whether the home is beachfront or simply features a hot tub, guests are making a splash this summer.
• Weeks are the new long weekend: Seven-day trips make up 15% of our bookings, up from 10% the previous year. While trips are getting longer this year, guests are looking for homes with lower nightly rates, with 49% of price range-based searches looking between $50 and $249.

“As travel picks back up after a pandemic year, we are confident that several of the search trends we’re seeing will linger—including travel in smaller groups, staying a bit closer to home and interest in outdoor adventure,” said Caleb Donegan, VP of Digital at Vacasa. “However, as more and more states remove restrictions, allowing activities such as races, concerts and live productions to resume, we know changes abound, but expect the increased popularity of vacation homes to stick around for years to come.”

The entire 2021 Vacation Rental Search Report can be found here.

About Vacasa

Whether travelers are looking to book a weekend getaway or the trip of a lifetime, Vacasa is the trusted partner for all things vacation rental. Vacasa homeowners enjoy industry-leading financial returns on their vacation homes, delivered by the company’s unmatched technology platform that adjusts rates in real time and ensures revenue is always maximized. Guests can relax comfortably in one of Vacasa’s professionally managed homes across North America, knowing that 24/7 customer care is just a phone call away. In the past 10 years, Vacasa and its licensed subsidiaries have grown to become North America’s leading vacation rental management platform and employ approximately 6,000 people who are passionate about providing best-in-class service to homeowners, guests, real estate investors and partners. For more information, visit https://www.vacasa.com/press.

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