Can you negotiate on VRBO? Have you?

Certainly can't hurt to try, but I would do it gently. Don't want the unless the owner to get offended and refuse to rent to you.

Oops, that should have said, "You don't want the owner to get offended..."

I can't answer for Hawaii, but we have negotiated with owners on VRBO in Colorado during ski season, and a beach house in Florida.

Our travel plans are often last minute, so if an owner still has a vacant unit, they have usually worked with us.

We've only had one owner who took offense that we asked, and after a couple of emails, it became apparent she was more than a little high strung...

I advertise my BI condo on vrbo and can tell you my experience.

Some condo owners HAVE already reduced their prices--many times its reflected in the heading. If one owner in that complex has done so, chances are that other owners will.

This is especially true on last minute bookings.

I personally have lowered my price by 20% already and reflect that in my heading.

I'm heading to HI myself this winter and will try to snag some last minute deals on the other islands as well.

Thanks for spending your dollars in HI! It's appreciated!

Thanks! I'll be very cautious and respectful.

Try it - bi=ut don't go too far

kgh9m
We have rented many times VRBO and they are usually my first chice to check out. We were going to Hawaii for 5wks ( have since cancelled) this winter. I found many that I liked both in Oahu and the BI. I would email with additional questions and ask what their price is for the time we wanted. Once I received all my answers, we would make a decision. I email everyone who sumitted an offer to tell them thanks but we selected another facility and usually price was the reason why. I've had many email me with a better offer should we want to reconsider.

Here is one that I can recommend on the BI if you're interested. The owners were wonderful to work with and promply returned our deposit when we cancelled. The house is new, attached to their home. It has a hot tub overlooking the ocean which was a draw for me.:http://www.vrbo.com/198935

We tried asking for lower rates than posted on vrbo on this year's visit and were politely referred to other units with less features than the unit we were responding to, but within our desired price range.

We found that paying the rental by check rather than paypal may offer a modest savings.

Occasionally when I've said that I decline the rental because I say I didn't want to pay that much, an owner has come back and asked what I would pay.

I've used VRBO many times for my Hawaii trips & for the last couple, I didn't ask for a lower price, but did indicate that I was debating between 8-10 nights & asked if I chose 10 nights, could I get a free night. Both times the owner readily agreed to give me a free night. Dianne

Thanks to all. So far, I've asked one owner if the 7 nt rate could apply to my 4 nt stay (no; but a lower rate for the 4 nts was offered).

I've now made an inquiry on another and will see what that turns up.

I'm trying to choose the units that don't have as many bookings, hoping that they will be more flexible to at least get the property occupied.

We always negotiate and have been lucky enough to find some willing owners. One would think that, with tourism so far off, some $$ would be better than none. Good luck.

kgh8m: I just went through the process of booking a VRBO rental for our trip to Oahu in April. I found that you can't trust the booking calendars for many of the VRBO listings. When I contacted the owners about the availability of units that were open on the calendars, many told me that they don't bother keeping the calendar current. I sent out about 30 requests and only got back six that were actually available. So, don't let the calendars drive your choices.

Two years ago I negotiated on a VRBO home in Sonoma (Wine Country)California.