Airbnb vs Direct Booking: What the Fees Actually Add Up To

Let's talk about the real cost of booking a Genova apartment through a major platform versus booking directly.

We're not going to tell you the platforms are dishonest. They're not. But the pricing structure is built in a way that most travellers don't fully understand until they've looked at it carefully.

What You Pay on a Major Platform

A typical booking includes: the nightly rate, a service fee (usually 12-16% of the total), a cleaning fee charged once regardless of stay length, and in some cases a currency conversion markup if you're paying in a different currency. On a 5-night stay, the platform fees alone can add 20-30% to the base nightly rate you saw when you first searched.

What You Pay Booking Directly

The nightly rate. That's it. No service fee, because there's no platform in the middle. Our cleaning is included. Our communication is direct — which means if anything comes up before, during, or after your stay, you're talking to us, not to a support ticket system.

What You Get That Platforms Can't Offer

When you book directly with No Vacancy Genova, we know who you are before you arrive. We know if it's your first time in Genova. We know if you want restaurant recommendations or prefer to explore without guidance. We send you a personalised set of notes — current, specific, updated for your travel dates — that no algorithm generates.

The platforms are useful for discovery. For the actual booking, direct is better for everyone except the platform. Book at novacancygenova.com.