You have found the dream villa in Provence, settled on your dates, and are ready to book. But how should you do it — through Airbnb or directly on the owner's website? For many travelers, Airbnb has become synonymous with accommodation booking, but when renting an expensive villa, the cost difference between the platform and direct booking can amount to hundreds of euros. Let us break down what is more cost-effective, safer, and more convenient.
The key figure: 15-17% commission
Airbnb earns through commissions. The platform charges a service fee from the guest (typically 14-17% of the accommodation cost) and an additional commission from the host (3%). Let us do the math using a specific example of our villa in Bonnieux.
Suppose the weekly rental in high season is 4,500 euros. When booking through Airbnb, a service fee of 630 to 765 euros is added to this amount. Total: 5,130-5,265 euros. When booking directly on our website, you pay exactly 4,500 euros — no hidden commissions or surcharges. The difference — from 630 euros — is enough for several dinners at a Michelin restaurant or a full airport transfer from Marseille for the entire family.
Direct communication vs platform filter
When booking through Airbnb, all correspondence goes through the platform. This means you cannot call the owner, exchange messages via WhatsApp or Telegram, or quickly resolve an issue by voice. Airbnb intentionally restricts direct contact until payment — understandable from their business model perspective, but inconvenient for you.
With direct booking, you communicate with us directly from the first minute. Want to check if a baby cot fits in the bedroom? Ask about the best route from the airport? Request groceries for your arrival? All of this is resolved with one message — without platform delays and formalities. We respond within an hour, and more often within a few minutes.
Flexible cancellation terms
The cancellation policy on Airbnb is standardized and often turns out to be stricter than either party would prefer. The host selects one of the offered schemes, and changing it for a specific guest is not possible.
With direct booking, we can discuss terms individually. Unforeseen circumstances? Rescheduling dates instead of cancelling? Partial refund with early notice? We approach each situation on a human level and always seek a solution that works for both sides. Our standard policy: full refund for cancellations 60 days ahead, 50% refund for cancellations 30 days ahead, and individual consideration in other cases.
Payment security
One of the main arguments in favor of Airbnb is payment security. And that is a fair point. But direct booking has long ceased to be a risky affair. We use the Stripe payment system — the same one used by Booking.com, Shopify, and thousands of other major services. Your card details are protected with bank-level encryption (PCI DSS Level 1), payments are processed securely, and in case of a dispute you can always initiate a chargeback through your bank — just as with any other online purchase.
Additionally, we offer staged payments: 30% at booking and 70% thirty days before check-in. This reduces risk for both you and us.
Personal service
Airbnb is a platform. It cannot arrange a private chef for the evening, order a basket of local delicacies for your arrival, or recommend a specific restaurant based on your preferences. The platform provides booking infrastructure but not on-the-ground service.
With direct booking, our care for you begins long before arrival and does not end after departure. Here is what we do for our guests:
- Before arrival: personalized recommendations for restaurants, routes, and activities tailored to your interests and group composition
- Transfer: we arrange pickup at the airport or train station with a trusted driver
- Groceries on arrival: we stock the fridge to your specifications — from basics to local delicacies
- During your stay: we book restaurants, organize wine tastings, recommend the best walking routes
- Special occasions: we arrange a private chef, organize a photoshoot, decorate the villa for a birthday or anniversary
Full price transparency
On Airbnb, the final price often comes as a surprise. Added to the base cost are: the platform service fee, cleaning fee, and sometimes additional taxes. The total can exceed the price that caught your eye in search results by 20-25%.
On our website, the price is the price. You see the weekly cost that includes everything: accommodation, cleaning, bed linen, towels, basic amenities, Wi-Fi, pool, parking. No hidden fees. The only addition is the tourist tax set by the municipality (about 2 euros per person per day), which is charged regardless of how you book.
When is Airbnb still better?
Let us be honest: Airbnb has its advantages. If you are booking accommodation from an unknown host without a website or reviews, the platform provides additional protection. The review system helps assess quality. If the host does not respond, Airbnb support can help find an alternative.
But if the villa owner has a professional website with photographs, genuine reviews, transparent terms, and a secure payment system — all these platform advantages become irrelevant. You get the same level of reliability but without overpaying.
The bottom line: save more and get more
Direct booking of our villa in Bonnieux means savings of 600 euros or more per week, direct communication with the owners, flexible terms, personal service, and complete transparency. You do not sacrifice security — payment via Stripe is protected just as reliably as on any major platform. And the money you save is better spent on wine tastings, a sunset dinner, or an excursion through the lavender fields.
Check the available dates and prices on our website — and see for yourself.