Yes, there are several alternatives to Booking.com and Airbnb. If you are an apartment or hotel owner and want to reduce your dependence on commissions or attract a different audience, then this article is for you.
Here are some of them that are relevant for the Czech Republic, as well as more niche platforms:
Czech websites:
- CS-Chalupy. A platform for renting country houses, cottages, apartments, glamping, etc. Advantage: direct contact with the owner, no commission (“bez provize”). Well suited for secluded or rural properties.
- Chata.cz. A large catalog of houses, cottages, apartments, including vacation rentals.
- e-Chalupy.cz / e-Chalupy.eu. Portal for recreational housing: cottages, chalets, etc.
- ČeskéApartmány.cz. A platform specifically for apartments, private homes, retirement homes, etc.
- ePobyty.cz. Czech website for posting “secondary rental” ads: apartments, chalets, campsites, hotels.
- Chalupy-Ubytovani.cz. A similar portal with a catalog of cottages, apartments, country houses, etc., with direct contact to the owners.
- AC Ubytování. A platform covering various types of accommodation: pensions, apartments, private houses, etc.
International platforms:
- Holidu. A meta search site that aggregates housing offers and redirects to different platforms.
– You can choose an option with lower fees or book directly with the owners through certain channels.
– This is a good option if you want to reach a wider pool of tourists while reducing your “dependence” on Airbnb/Booking.
Commissions for listings on platforms such as Booking and Airbnb in the Czech Republic:
| Platform / service | Site type | Commission on bookings for apartment owners | Fixed placement fee (estimated) | Contact with guest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS-Chalupy | Czech catalog of cottages and country houses | 0 % | Yes, annual rate, amount not publicly disclosed | Direct contact |
| e-Chalupy.cz / .eu | Recreational housing catalog | 0 % | Approximately 980–2,480 Kč / year per object | Direct contact |
| Chalupy-Ubytovani.cz | Catalog of cottages and apartments | 0 % | Yes, annual rate, no public price | Direct contact |
| ČeskéApartmány.cz | Apartment catalog | 0 % | Yes, annual rate, no public price | Direct contact |
| e-Pobyty.cz | Residential property catalog | 0 % | Approximately 490 CZK/year per property | Direct contact |
| e-Ferienhäuser.eu | Catalog for foreigners | 0 % | Approximately 990 CZK per year per property | Direct contact |
| AC Ubytování | Catalog of various objects | 0 % | Yes, fixed fee, no public price | Direct contact |
| Booking.com | Large OTA | Approximately 10–25 % | No, only the commission | Through the platform |
| Airbnb | Large OTA | Approximately 15.5% for host-only fee (previously ~3% for split fee) | No, only the commission | Through the platform |
| Expedia / Hotels.com | Large OTA | Approximately 15–30% | No, only the commission | Through the platform |
Conclusions and recommendations: what to choose
- If your apartment is located in a tourist center (city, tourist destination), it is worth combining large platforms (such as Airbnb and Booking) with meta search engines like Holidu. This will give you greater visibility, but you can save on commissions for some bookings.
- If your property is located in a quieter area or in the countryside, or if you want to target local or European tourists, choose local portals (CS-Chalupy, ČeskéApartmány): they are more niche and often cheaper for the owner because there is direct contact with guests.
It is also important to have your own hotel website with a booking system: this will minimize commission costs and increase your margin.
BoWeb will help you develop a website for your hotel and build an effective promotion strategy. Contact us!