As 2025 travel demand surges, Vrbo predicts 70% of holiday homes in popular destinations will be booked by March – book NOW for Easter and summer spots.

As January Blues sink in and thoughts turn to this year’s travel plans, Vrbo^® has examined British holidaymakers’ booking habits* and released its first-ever 2025 Holiday Booking Guide. Packed with intel on how to beat the booking rush – and make savvy savings – this is the one-stop shop for booking holiday homes in 2025.  

Vrbo’s top recommendation? Book now to snag the hottest homes in the best loved destinations. 

“It’s a mistake to treat holiday homes like hotels. With space for only one group at a time, there’s more competition to book homes, especially those with standout amenities in top locations,” says Melanie Fish, Head of Global PR for Expedia Group brands. “When you find that dream house – beachfront, game room, bunk beds, and a pool steps from the ocean – don’t wait. A week or two can make the difference between being just steps from the beach or on the other side of town.” 

Book Easter in January: 70% holiday homes on Vrbo will be booked by March 

Late January is Vrbo’s recommended time to book Easter trips. At this date, over half of homes should still be up for grabs. Be sure to have booked by early March when less than 30% of homes are expected to be available over the Easter break. 

Book Summer beach trips in February: only 30% of homes will remain in April 

Vrbo has identified mid-February – the start of February half term week – as the best time to book summer trips when 50% of properties are still expected to be available on the site. By late April, more than 70% of summer homes will have been snapped up in the most popular holiday locations.  

Planning an international beach trip this summer? Book in January  

Brits wanting to soak up the sun abroad should move even faster as Vrbo has identified earlier booking dates for beach destinations. Those planning trips to Faro in Portugal, and the Balearics and Las Palmas in Spain should book in January to have the most choice of properties. By early March, Vrbo expects only 30% of homes in these popular locations to remain unbooked on the website. 

Want longer to decide? Try a summer staycation  

Those who want to stay closer to home have slightly less time pressure, but early booking is still recommended. Staycation stalwarts like Cornwall, Devon and Cumbria, Vrbo’s recommended book-by dates of 24 March (just before Easter), while Norfolk is delayed until 7 April and North Yorkshire until 5 May.    

In addition to booking homes by the above dates, Vrbo has shared the following tips to finding the best homes quickly and easily, and how to save while doing it:  

• Explore other beaches and towns to find more availability. Use the Vrbo app to look for the availability of the perfect holiday home, whether it’s at a beach, city, or mountain destination. 
• Keep flexible travel dates to escape the crowds. Toggle between different weeks/months on the app to find more rental options during less busy periods. 
• Book an October trip. Rates drop after the high season, making October the sweet spot when average daily rates are the lowest, such as Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Gloucestershire or Lakeland and Winter Haven in Florida, where the weather remains nice. 
• Score discounts for longer stays. Save an average of 10% on selected weeklong bookings. Find these homes with the “Monthly discount” and “Weekly discount” filters. 
• Try new listings. Be among the first three guests at a new property and save 20%. ** Find these homes with the “New listing discount” filter. 
• Use OneKeyCash. Earn OneKeyCash™, part of Vrbo’s free rewards program and use it on a future eligible Vrbo bookings throughout the year. **** 

Notes to editors:

*Based on an analysis of Vrbo holiday rental demand from UK travellers between 1 January 2023 and 30 November 2024.  

** Price excluding taxes and fees. To find properties that offer this discount in the location, select the “New listing discount” filter from the filter list on the Vrbo search results page. 

***All prices include taxes and fees, accurate on 02/01/2025, subject to availability and terms and conditions of Vrbo. Prices (per night, per person) displayed do not include damage deposit details; prices and availability may change depending on the number of people.    

***** About One Key™ 
One Key™ is the flexible and free loyalty program from Vrbo, Expedia, and Hotels.com. Travellers can earn OneKeyCash, the programme’s rewards currency, on eligible flights, hotels, car rentals and activities, plus 2% OneKeyCash when booking holiday homes on Vrbo. OneKeyCash rewards can then be used on future getaways. You can sign up to the One Key here: https://www.vrbo.com/welcome-one-key