How to pay VRBO before your stay

VRBO (Vrbo.com, owned by Expedia) takes payment during the booking process, not after. When you reserve a property, you enter your payment method before the reservation confirms. The host receives notification that payment is secured, though the money may not transfer to their account until a few days before your arrival or after you check in, depending on the host's settings.

If you booked a property and need to make a payment now—because the reservation is pending, the payment failed, or you're adding a service fee—you'll do that through your Vrbo account under "Trips" or "Reservations." You cannot pay a VRBO host directly by check, bank transfer, or cash unless they explicitly ask you to outside the platform, which violates VRBO's terms and removes your buyer protection.

Payment methods VRBO accepts include credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards, PayPal, and in some countries, local payment methods like iDEAL or Alipay. The currency shown at checkout is the one you'll be charged in; VRBO does not convert automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • VRBO collects payment when you complete the booking, not before arrival, and the money goes into an escrow-like account until after check-in.
  • If your payment fails or the reservation is pending, log into your Vrbo account, go to "Trips," and update your payment method or retry the charge.
  • Never pay a VRBO host outside the platform—you lose the platform's dispute resolution and fraud protection if something goes wrong.
  • VRBO charges the card on file at the time of booking; if that card is declined, you'll receive an email with a link to update it within a set timeframe or the reservation cancels.

Retrying a failed payment on VRBO

If your card was declined during booking, VRBO sends an email with a subject line like "Action Required: Complete Your Reservation Payment." This email contains a link that takes you directly to the payment screen for that reservation. Click the link, enter the same card or a different one, and submit. You have a limited window—usually 24 to 48 hours—to retry before VRBO cancels the reservation and releases the property back to the calendar.

If you don't see the email, log into your Vrbo account, click "Trips" or "Reservations," find the reservation marked as pending or unpaid, and select "Complete Payment" or "Retry Payment." Enter or update your card details and submit. If the card is declined again, try a different card or contact your bank to ask why the charge was blocked (sometimes banks flag travel bookings as suspicious).

VRBO does not charge a fee to retry a payment. If you retry multiple times and the card keeps declining, contact VRBO customer service through the app or website—they can sometimes extend the payment window or troubleshoot with your bank.

Updating your payment method for an existing reservation

If your reservation is confirmed but you want to change the card VRBO has on file, go to "Trips," select the reservation, and look for "Payment Details" or "Manage Reservation." Not all hosts allow payment method changes after booking, so you may see a message saying the payment method is locked. If it is locked, you cannot change it unless you cancel and rebook—and the new booking may have different pricing or availability.

If the payment method is editable, click "Update Payment Method," enter the new card, and save. VRBO will not charge the new card immediately; it will use it if the original card fails or at the time the host's payment settings trigger a charge (usually a few days before check-in or after check-out).

What happens after you pay

Once VRBO processes your payment, the money does not go directly to the host. VRBO holds it in a holding account (similar to escrow) until after your check-in date. This protects you: if the property is not as described, you have time to dispute the charge before the host receives the funds. The host can see that payment is secured and will not cancel on you.

After you check in and the holding period ends (usually 24 hours after check-in), VRBO releases the payment to the host's bank account. This transfer takes 1 to 3 business days depending on the host's bank. If you dispute the charge during the holding period, VRBO freezes the payment and investigates before releasing or refunding it.

Disputing a VRBO charge if something goes wrong

If you arrive and the property does not match the listing, is dirty, lacks promised amenities, or the host cancels after you paid, open a dispute through VRBO before the holding period ends. Log into your account, go to "Trips," select the reservation, and click "Report an Issue" or "Contact Host." Describe the problem and attach photos if possible. VRBO's Resolution Center will contact the host and attempt to resolve it—usually by offering a refund, a credit toward another stay, or a partial refund.

If VRBO's resolution does not satisfy you, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company or bank. This is a chargeback, and it overrides VRBO's decision. However, chargebacks can result in VRBO banning your account, so use this option only if VRBO refuses to help or if the property was a clear scam.

Paying for additional services or fees through VRBO

Some hosts charge extra fees for late checkout, pet fees, parking, or cleaning that are not included in the nightly rate. These appear as separate line items at checkout. You pay them as part of the same transaction—there is no separate payment step. If a host asks you to pay an additional fee after booking (by email or text), verify it through VRBO's messaging system first. Never send money outside the platform, even if the host claims VRBO won't let them collect it through the site.

If you're charged a fee you did not agree to, report it to VRBO immediately. VRBO can reverse unauthorized fees and issue a refund before the holding period ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my card is declined and I don't see the retry email?

Check your spam folder first. If it's not there, log into Vrbo.com, go to "Trips," find the pending reservation, and click "Complete Payment" or "Retry Payment." You can enter the same card or a different one. If you still can't find the option, contact VRBO support through the app or website.

Can I pay VRBO with a gift card?

VRBO does not accept gift cards directly. You can use a gift card to load funds onto a prepaid card or virtual card number, then use that card to pay VRBO. Some credit card companies also offer virtual card numbers for online purchases, which works the same way.

Does VRBO charge my card right away or closer to my check-in date?

VRBO charges your card immediately when you complete the booking. The money is held by VRBO, not released to the host, until after you check in. Some hosts have settings that trigger an additional charge (like a damage deposit) a few days before arrival, but the main reservation payment happens at booking.

What if the host asks me to pay them directly instead of through VRBO?

Do not do this. Paying outside VRBO means you lose VRBO's dispute resolution, refund protection, and fraud safeguards. If something goes wrong, you have no recourse. If a host insists on direct payment, it's a sign of a scam—cancel the reservation and book elsewhere.

Can I get a refund if I cancel my VRBO reservation after paying?

Refund may be able to access depends on the host's cancellation policy, which is shown before you book. Strict policies offer no refund if you cancel within a certain window. Moderate policies offer partial refunds. Flexible policies offer full refunds up to a certain date. Check your reservation details to see which policy applies to your booking.