Summer guest occupancy at Vacasa vacation homes is up 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 analyzes 12 months of data from Vacasa.com, including tens of millions of site visits and thousands of vacation home reservations. Here are some key findings:
- Family travel remains a popular choice, with 31% of guests who search by home size seeking out two-bedroom homes.
- 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%).
- 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.
- Of the top seven amenities guests search for, six are water-related.
- Seven-day trips make up 15% of 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, digital, 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.”