Vrbo Launches Reserve Now, Pay Later — With a Twist on Airbnb’s Approach

Photo Caption: A still image from a Vrbo video ad. Source: Expedia Group. Vrbo on Wednesday launched a feature that lets travelers reserve eligible vacation rentals with no money due at booking, adopting a payment option that Airbnb has credited with lifting its business since it launched last year. The Reserve Now, Pay Later option is part of an Expedia Group fall product release covering more than 30 new and enhanced features across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. Expedia says it will also help group planners confirm who is coming, collect contributions and manage the cost of the whole stay. The feature is live on Vrbo’s website and will roll out to the Vrbo app over the coming weeks, Expedia said. What Airbnb Learned Airbnb launched Reserve Now, Pay Later for U.S. domestic stays in August 2025 and expanded it globally in February. The option is available on listings with flexible, moderate, limited or firm cancellation policies. Airbnb charges guests the full amount before the free cancellation window closes: 24 hours