How to List Your Vacation Rental on Google (And Get More Bookings)

How to List Your Vacation Rental on Google

How do you list a vacation rental on Google without losing your mind?

You’ve got this awesome property—maybe it’s a beachfront house in Phuket, or a cozy spot in Bali—whatever it is, it’s sitting there, and you know it deserves more eyeballs.

The real problem is: How do you get it in front of people on Google?

You’ve heard of Google Vacation Rentals, and now you’re thinking, “Alright, how do I make sure my place shows up there?” The answer isn’t as complicated as it seems, but it does take some steps.

Here’s the deal: Google doesn’t let you directly list your property on their search engine. What they do is pull your listing from platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com.

So, let’s walk through how to list your vacation rental on Google and how to get the most out of it. Ready?

Why List Your Vacation Rental on Google?

Google is where people search.

That’s a no-brainer. You want your property showing up when someone types “best vacation rental in Bali” or “holiday home in Barcelona.”

Here’s what’s up:

  • Exposure: When you list on Google Vacation Rentals, your property shows up in Google Search, Google Maps, and even Google Travel.
  • Simplicity: Users can compare prices and book from various platforms—all in one spot.
  • Trust: Google builds trust. When your property shows up, it gives potential guests confidence that your place is legit.

The Benefits:

  1. More visibility: You’re not just relying on one platform like Airbnb—you’re hitting multiple channels.
  2. One-stop-shop: People can see your property, compare it, and book it—all through Google.
  3. More bookings: By being on Google, you increase the chance of getting booked compared to being on just one platform.

How to List Your Vacation Rental on Google: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Pick Your Platform

Google doesn’t allow you to upload your listing directly. It pulls from partners like:

Choose a platform where you’re comfortable listing your property.

If you already have a listing on any of these platforms, great—you’re halfway there.

Step 2: Optimise Your Listing

Your property’s visibility on Google Vacation Rentals depends on how well it performs on the platforms it’s listed on.

Here’s how to make sure your listing stands out:

  • High-quality photos: The visual game is strong here. People want to see clean, attractive, and well-lit pictures. You’ll need to upload at least 8 photos to meet Google’s guidelines!
  • Detailed descriptions: Talk about what makes your property unique. Location? Near the beach? Pet-friendly? Include all those details.
  • Accurate pricing: Make sure your prices are competitive, clear, and consistent.
  • Availability updates: Keep your calendar updated in real-time. This matters for platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, where Google pulls your listing.

Step 3: Connect with a Property Management System (Optional)

If you want to go pro and make your life easier, consider using a property management system (PMS) like:

  • Lodgify
  • Guesty
  • Rentals United

These tools help sync your property’s availability, pricing, and bookings across all platforms. Bonus? Many PMS systems integrate directly with Google, making sure your listing is accurate.

Step 4: Use Google My Business (GMB)

While Google Vacation Rentals pulls listings from partners, setting up a Google My Business profile helps you dominate local search.

Here’s what you do:

  • Claim your business on GMB.
  • Add photos of your vacation rental.
  • Include descriptions about your property—talk about its amenities, location, and what makes it special.
  • Collect reviews: Positive reviews help your property rank better and build trust with potential guests.

Example: Let’s say someone searches for “best vacation rental near Kata Beach.” With an active GMB profile, your property could pop up right at the top of the page—even before your listing on Airbnb does.

List Your Vacation Rental on Google 1

Boost Your Listing’s Visibility on Google

Want more eyes on your vacation rental? Here’s how to optimise it:

1. Use SEO

SEO stands for search engine optimisation, and it’s how you can make your listing (or your website) more visible on Google.

Quick SEO tips for your vacation rental:

  • Use keywords: Include keywords like “vacation rental in [city]” or “holiday home in [location]” in your listing’s description.
  • Meta descriptions: If you have your own website, make sure your meta descriptions are enticing. Google often pulls this info.
  • Content: If you run a blog or have a website for your rental, write relevant content. For example, “Top 10 things to do near [your rental].”

2. Consider Google Ads

Want to jump the line and show up at the top of Google search results?

Use Google Ads to run targeted ads for your vacation rental. You can set your budget and target keywords like:

  • “best vacation rentals in Phuket”
  • “holiday homes in Rawai”

By paying for ads, you get a guaranteed spot in front of potential guests.

How to Set Up Google Ads for Your Vacation Rental:

  1. Create a Google Ads account.
  2. Choose your keywords: Keywords like “best vacation rentals in [city]” or “holiday homes near [landmark].”
  3. Set your budget: You can control how much you spend each day.
  4. Write your ad: Keep it simple but effective.
  5. Monitor and adjust: Keep an eye on which keywords are performing and tweak your campaign accordingly.

Running Google Ads isn’t just for massive companies—small vacation rental owners can benefit too.

3. Stay Active on Your Platforms

Platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo reward you for being active. The more engaged you are, the higher you’ll rank on Google Vacation Rentals.

  • Update availability regularly.
  • Respond to inquiries fast.
  • Keep your prices accurate and updated.

Pro move: If you get a cancellation, update your calendar right away. This tells Google that your listing is active, which boosts your chances of appearing in search results.

4. Optimise for Reviews

Encourage your guests to leave reviews on the platform where they booked. Reviews matter!

Speaking of reviews—let’s talk about how they play a crucial role in getting your rental on Google’s radar.

Here’s what I’ve seen: Properties with more positive reviews rank better, and that’s just how the game works.

The number one mistake people make? They forget to ask their guests to leave a review after their stay.

How to Encourage Reviews:

  • Make it easy: Send your guests a simple follow-up message with a direct link to leave a review.
  • Remind them in person: If you meet your guests in person, ask them to leave a review as they’re checking out.
  • Offer an incentive: Some platforms allow you to offer discounts or gifts in exchange for reviews. Use this to your advantage.

Pro tip: Google pulls reviews from platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, so make sure you get those 5-star ratings rolling.


Best Platforms to List Your Vacation Rental on Google

You’ve got options when it comes to platforms, but here are the best ones to list your rental on if you want to show up on Google:

  • Airbnb: One of the most popular platforms. High traffic means your property could get seen by millions.
  • Vrbo: Especially good if you cater to families or larger groups.
  • Booking.com: Offers a wide range of properties, including vacation rentals, and is another big player.
  • TripAdvisor: A strong platform for reviews, which can give your listing an edge.
  • Expedia: Another massive platform with international reach.

By listing your property on one or more of these platforms, your vacation rental will automatically appear in Google’s Vacation Rentals search.

Just a heads-up: it usually takes at least 2 to 4 weeks for Google to start showing your vacation rental, so hang in there and give it some time!


What Property Management Systems Should You Use?

If you have multiple vacation rentals—or just want to save time—using a property management system (PMS) is a game changer.

Here’s why:

  • Automated syncing: Keep your availability, pricing, and bookings updated across all platforms.
  • Integration with Google: Some systems like Lodgify and Rentals United integrate directly with Google Vacation Rentals, so you don’t have to worry about updates.
  • Analytics: Most PMS platforms offer insights into how your property is performing.

FAQs

Q: Can I list my vacation rental directly on Google?

No, Google doesn’t allow direct listings. You need to list your rental on a platform like Airbnb or Vrbo, and Google will pull the listing from there.

Q: How do I get my vacation rental listed on Google?

List your property on a partner platform like Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com. Google pulls its listings from these sources.

Q: What platforms does Google Vacation Rentals use?

Google Vacation Rentals aggregates listings from platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Booking.com.

Q: How do I optimise my vacation rental listing for Google?

Use high-quality photos, update your availability, use SEO keywords in your descriptions, and encourage guest reviews.

Q: Can I advertise my vacation rental on Google?

Yes, you can use Google Ads to run paid campaigns targeting people searching for vacation rentals in your area.


Listing your property on Google Vacation Rentals is just the start. To really succeed, you need to optimise your listing, get great reviews, and consider running ads. By following these tips, you’ll not only get listed on Google but also start seeing more bookings rolling in.

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  • Best Places to Invest in Rental Property 2025 – Hawook

    […] Pro tip: check out how to get your rental property show up on Google. […]

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