This article provides a clear overview of which fees are permitted and which are not when using integration tools to manage listings across these major booking platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO, and booking.com.

✅ Airbnb Allowed fees

1. Cleaning Fee
   • One-time fee per reservation.
   • Must be clearly disclosed.
2. Extra Guest Fee
   • Charged per guest above a set number.
   • Configurable via integration.
3. Security Deposit (Hold/Authorization Only)
   • Airbnb does not charge this directly but allows hosts to specify a security deposit.
   • If damage occurs, you must use Airbnb's Resolution Center.
4. Pet Fee
   • Can be added as part of the listing or house rules.
   • Some integrations allow syncing this explicitly; otherwise, it's handled via manual charges or resolution.
5. Resort/Community Fee (only if it's a required, verifiable charge)
   • Must be added as part of the nightly rate or clearly explained.
   • Can sometimes be synced via custom fee fields depending on the PMS.

❌ Airbnb Not Allowed fees

1. Unlisted or Undisclosed Fees
   • Any fee not clearly shown in the final price before booking is not allowed.
2. Taxes Charged as Separate Line Items
   • Airbnb typically collects and remits taxes automatically in most regions.
   • You cannot add your own tax line unless explicitly permitted by Airbnb and supported via integration.
3. Payment Processing or Administrative Fees
   • These are prohibited. Airbnb considers them a cost of doing business.
4. Late Check-In/Check-Out Fees
   • Cannot be pre-charged or added via integration.
5. Utility Fees (e.g. electricity, gas, water)
   • Airbnb does not allow charging guests separately for basic utilities.
6. Cleaning Fees That Violate Guidelines
   • Excessive cleaning fees (e.g., not matching property size or local norms) can trigger listing warnings or removal

VRBO is generally more flexible than Airbnb when it comes to fees.

✅ VRBO Allowed fees

1. Cleaning Fee
   • One-time, clearly disclosed fee.
   • Synced via API.
2. Extra Guest Fee
   • Charged per additional guest above a set threshold.
   • Configurable through integration.
3. Pet Fee
   • Can be a flat fee or per night.
   • Supported and synced through most integrations.
4. Security Deposit (or Property Damage Protection)
   • VRBO allows actual security deposits or damage protection insurance.
   • Managed via integration, depending on your setup.
5. Resort Fee / Community Fee / Management Fee
   • These are allowed and can be listed as line items.
   • Must be clearly disclosed and supported in your PMS.
6. Custom Fees
   • VRBO allows several custom fee types (e.g. linen fee, hot tub fee, parking fee).
   • These must be explicitly defined and approved, but can be synced via API.

❌ VRBO Not Allowed fees

1. Undisclosed Fees
   • Any fee not included in the total price breakdown is prohibited.
2. Duplicate or Misleading Fees
   • Charging a “cleaning fee” and then also a “sanitization fee” separately (for example) may be flagged.
3. Taxes as Fees
   • Taxes must be correctly mapped through tax settings, not added as custom fees.
4. Unreasonable or Inflated Fees
   • VRBO may block or review listings with unusually high or suspicious fees.

Booking.com gives hosts and property managers extensive control over fees via integration, though they must be transparent and follow platform rules.

✅ Booking.com Allowed fees

1. Cleaning Fee
   • Can be configured as a mandatory or optional service fee.
   • Synced via PMS integration.
2. Extra Guest Fee
   • Charged based on occupancy rules.
   • Fully supported via API.
3. Pet Fee
   • Can be configured as a flat fee or per night/per pet.
   • Allowed and synced.
4. Tourism/City Tax
   • Often collected separately from the guest, depending on local regulations.
   • Can be configured via integration.
5. Custom Fees
   • Booking.com allows various fees like linen, towels, parking, etc.
   • These must be clearly listed and synced through your PMS.

❌ Booking.com Not Allowed fees

1. Hidden Fees / Non-transparent Charges
   • All fees must be included in the final price or clearly labeled.
2. Unauthorized Extra Charges
   • Any charges outside of the platform (e.g., asking the guest to pay cash on arrival) are against Booking.com’s policy.
3. Service Fees Added by Host
   • Booking.com charges its own service fee; hosts cannot add a “service” or “platform” fee to guests.
4. Double Taxation
   • If Booking.com handles taxes in your region, you can’t charge them separately as a fee.