Roads to drive, sights to see, things to do, places to visit, tips and interesting tidbits - all about your Smoky Mountains vacation

Trip Planning

Is “Booking Direct” Really Direct? What Smoky Mountain Travelers Should Know

Over the past few years, travelers planning trips to the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville have become much more aware of booking fees. Platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo now often add significant service charges for both guests and hosts.
As a result, many budget-conscious travelers are asking a simple question: Can I save money by booking direct? The answer is most of the time is absolutely yes, but there’s an important distinction many travelers don’t realize.

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Trip Planning

Why Smart Travelers Are Ditching Airbnb and Vrbo

Airbnb and Vrbo trained travelers to think they’re the only game in town. They’re not. They’re just the most expensive middlemen in travel history. 
Next time you fall in love with a vacation rental, take five extra minutes to search the property name or run the photo through Google Lens. You’ll almost certainly find the owner’s direct site - and pocket hundreds of dollars that were never necessary to pay in the first place.

 

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