SearchaStay.comReviews of searchastay.com

I made a booking with them last January for a booking the last week of December this year. When I inquired about changing dates with the owner in September, the owner said that they don't accept VRBO reservations any more. They already had nearly $5K from me. I asked how this reservation could no longer exist. No reply. I then asked for a refund. No reply. I have sent over 20 emails and made over a half dozen calls. No one has helped me. This is a pure scam. I thought that this was a legitimate company, but I can't see how they get away with this. This is the worst online shopping experience that I have ever had. Please stay away!

DO NOT USE!! I had a HORRIBLE experience using searchastay. Searchastay had a property listing on VRBO (who, as I understand, has since cut ties with searchastay), which I booked for my bachelorette party. I booked my reservation seven months before my stay. Two days before my stay, after I reached out to ask a question about the rental, Searchastay informed me that the reservation was cancelled because someone else reserved the property. Despite paying them in full (several thousand dollars) months in advance, they said there was nothing they could do and told us to take it up with VRBO. If we didn’t reach out to ask a question, we would never have known they cancelled our reservation. The VRBO platform on which searchastay listed the property said our reservation was confirmed, even after searchastay told us via the VRBO messaging app that it was cancelled (in fact, we got an email after the weekend asking us to review our stay — well, here is our review). Since the rental was for my bachelorette party and I had friends flying in from around the country, I had to find a replacement. Given the last-minute nature of the situation, I ended up spending more money for a smaller house on Airbnb (consider this free advertising for Airbnb; I had no issues with that reservation). Despite searchastay’s (and VRBO’s) extreme negligence, searchastay was reluctant to refund me for the reservation they cancelled. Only after emailing them incessantly, threatening legal action and calling VRBO did they agree to refund the money, unaffected by our pointing out to them that if they didn’t return the money they would be stealing. Since they ultimately returned the money, I can’t confirm whether this was a failed scam attempt or an example of a horribly run enterprise. They did not offer to pay the difference between our new rental and the one they took from us, and even threatened to withhold our money if we continued to characterize their actions as theft (ironic, I know). Exercise extreme caution when booking a property managed by searchastay.

If I could give zero stars, I would. I reached out to them four times over a week regarding an upcoming rental. It wasn't until the fourth time that they finally responded, letting me know my reservation was being canceled. They also won't refund my payment despite multiple requests and are telling me to dispute the charge on PayPal to get my money back. The customer service is horrendous.

SO DISAPPOINTED. I emailed with the Search a Stay team in February that I wanted to cancel my May reservation. They confirmed I would receive a full refund based on the insurance I bought and that they would initiate the refund process. I still have NOT received my payment back and have had VERY little response via email with Search a Stay. I keep calling but no one picks up. They take days to respond to email and haven’t been helpful for my situation yet. AVOID!!!! And beware of them on vrbo. I am hopeful their team will get back to me, and will update this review if they do.

Absolutely avoid! I had booked at 6 bedroom place in Miami for a company sales incentive trip only to have it cancelled 10 days before the trip. We had booked 4 months in advance. The companies only fix was to book us in a far inferior place and location. The place was listed as $1000 cheaper/night than the one we originally booked and they had the audacity to offer $300 off in total. They treated the whole situation like a joke and as if this happens regularly. Little to no empathy for the situation they put us in. Our only option was to cancel the entire trip and book hotel rooms. Very bad experience. I also ended up with a lot of egg on my face within my company being the one responsible for booking a place.

We booked with SearchStay.com. 6 weeks after we booked, they canceled, saying it was already reserved. Thank you SearchStay.com for ruining the trip we were looking forward to for years.

The same thing has happened to me 3 weeks to go cancelled villa.the phone number does not exist.because firm is in India.complained to Vrbo and have pointed out that others since the month of may have complained

Can I give zero stars? Booked a property for a visit in Miami in December. Reached out to the company multiple times to confirm reservation. Was told TWO MONTHS later in February that the house we booked was not available... and instead offered another house for $2000 more than what we initially booked for. Now I am left scrambling last minute for a place to stay.