A rural house on Airbnb, Booking.com or Vrbo does not cost the same as one booked with the owner: each platform keeps between 15% and 25% in commission, and that money comes out of the price you pay. Here are the fees of the main booking platforms in 2026 and the reasons to book a holiday home direct.
We are Carmen and Dani, and for over 26 years we have been renting Can Micos, an 18th-century farmhouse in Riudarenes (Girona, Catalonia), to groups of 16 to 25 people. We are listed on several platforms and know what each one charges, so here it is in numbers.
| Commission when booking direct | 0% |
| Price | Cheaper direct than on any platform |
| Quote | Exact, in about 30 minutes |
| Payment | Deposit to hold the dates, the rest later |
| Security deposit | Credit card guarantee, nothing charged |
| Tourist licence | PG-00273-ARI |
| Experience | Over 26 years as a rural guesthouse |
| Contact | Carmen and Dani, by WhatsApp or phone |
Airbnb, Booking.com and other platform fees in 2026
This is what each platform charges. Even though the commission is paid by the owner, it ends up in the final price the group sees.
| Platform | Commission paid by the owner | Extra fee paid by the guest |
|---|---|---|
| Direct booking (Can Micos) | 0% | None |
| Airbnb | ≈15.5% (single host fee, mandatory for most hosts since 2026) | None on top: built into the price |
| Booking.com | ≈15% on average (10–25% with visibility programmes) | None on top: built into the price |
| Vrbo | 5% + 3% payment processing (≈8%) | Service fee of 6–15% |
| Expedia | 15–20% depending on country and contract | Varies |
| Agoda | Usually 15–20% (12–25%) | None on top: built into the price |
| Holidu / Clubrural | 6% + 17% if the booking comes via Airbnb, Booking or Vrbo (≈20–23%) | None on top: built into the price |
| Escapada Rural | Annual owner subscription (no published fixed commission) | Usually none |
Figures from November 2026, taken from each platform’s fee pages and industry guides (Holidu, Hostfully, Smoobu, Hostex). They may vary by country, contract and programme.
What it means in euros for a group
A simple example: an owner who needs to earn €2,000 for a weekend. To receive that same amount, this is the price they have to list on each site:
| Where you book | Price for the group | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Direct | €2,000 | — |
| Booking.com (15%) | €2,353 | +€353 |
| Airbnb (15.5%) | €2,367 | +€367 |
| Vrbo (8% + guest fee) | €2,304–2,500 | +€304 to +€500 |
| Agoda (15–20%) | €2,353–2,500 | +€353 to +€500 |
| Holidu via channel (20–23%) | €2,500–2,597 | +€500 to +€597 |
Split between 20 people, that is €15 to €30 more per head in commission alone. It is an example to show the scale, not our price: we give you yours, exact, with your dates and group size on the availability page.
10 reasons to book direct with the owner
Some are general and some are simply how we work. All of them are real.
Cheaper, no commission
- 0% commission
What the platform does not take, you do not pay. At Can Micos, booking direct is always cheaper.
Talk to the people who know the house
- Visit first
No automated chats: Carmen or Dani reply. If you like, come and see it before booking.
Exact quote in 30 minutes
- No surprises
Tell us your dates and group size and we send a closed price with everything included.
Pay in two parts
- Deposit + balance
A deposit to hold the dates and the rest later. No one person has to pay the whole stay up front.
Flexible times
- Check-in
- Check-out
If there is no group before or after you, we bring check-in forward or push check-out back. On a platform that can hardly ever be arranged.
Deposit with nothing charged
- Credit card
The security deposit is a credit card guarantee and not a single euro is charged if all is well.
Whatever you need, sorted in advance
- Catering
- Dogs
- Events
We have a catering option, accept up to 7 dogs (€5 per dog per night) and set up the table for 30. It is all agreed beforehand, not in a form.
Honest information
- No small print
We tell you the good and the less good: for example, the pool is looked after all year, but out of season it is at ambient (cold) temperature.
The money stays local
- Local economy
What you pay goes to a family in La Selva, not to a multinational. And we recommend restaurants and things to do that we know first-hand.
26 years, legal and verifiable
- 26 years
- PG-00273-ARI
We have been running Can Micos as a rural guesthouse for more than 26 years, with tourist licence PG-00273-ARI and over 220 Google reviews. We are not yesterday’s listing: you can check it all before paying.
When does a platform make sense?
To be honest, platforms have their strengths. Verified reviews help you decide, and if you have never rented a holiday home it is reassuring to pay through a well-known site. That is why Can Micos is on Airbnb, Booking.com, Escapada Rural, Holidu, Agoda and others.
What we usually suggest is this: look at the house and the reviews wherever you like, then book direct. Same house, better price, and you deal with the people who look after it.
How to book direct safely
Booking direct is safe if you check these things before paying:
- The house shows a tourist licence number (in Catalonia it is issued by the regional government; ours is PG-00273-ARI).
- It has real Google reviews, not only testimonials on its own website.
- You receive a written confirmation with dates, price, deposit and cancellation terms.
- Payment goes to an account in the name of the business or owner, never through money transfer services.
- You can talk to the owner by phone or visit the house.
If you want to keep the budget down, see our guide to a cheap rural house in Girona for groups. Everything about the farmhouse is on the Can Micos whole-house rental page.
Can Micos: book direct, no commission
Can Micos is an 18th-century Catalan farmhouse in Riudarenes (Girona) rented in full to groups of 16 to 25 people, between the Montseny and the Costa Brava.
4.8 out of 5 on Google, with more than 220 reviews from groups who have stayed.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to book a holiday home direct than on Airbnb or Booking.com?
Usually, yes. Platforms charge the owner a commission of 15% to 25% per booking, and that commission ends up in the price the group pays. At Can Micos, booking direct is cheaper than on any platform.
How much commission does Airbnb charge in 2026?
Airbnb has moved most hosts to a single fee of around 15.5% of the booking amount, deducted from the owner. Guests no longer see a separate service fee, but that percentage is built into the price.
How much does Booking.com charge properties?
Booking.com charges around 15% per booking on average, rising to 20–25% if the property joins visibility programmes. Guests do not pay a separate fee, but the price includes it.
Is it safe to book directly with the owner?
Yes, if you check three things: that the house has a tourist licence number, that it has real Google reviews and that you get a written confirmation with the amount, dates and terms. Can Micos has licence PG-00273-ARI and more than 220 Google reviews. On top of that, we have been running Can Micos as a rural guesthouse for over 26 years, and many groups come back and book direct.
How do you pay for a direct booking at Can Micos?
With a deposit to hold the dates and the rest later, so you do not pay everything at once. The security deposit is a credit card guarantee and nothing is charged if all is well.
If booking direct is better, why are you on Airbnb and Booking.com?
Because many people find us there and read the reviews. That is fine: look at the house wherever you like and, once you are sure, message us for a direct quote.
Shall we send you a quote?
Tell us your dates and how many you are and we will reply in about 30 minutes with the exact price.
Ask for a quote Message us on WhatsApp