Skip to content
Elliott Report

Elliott Report

  • Home
  • Features
    • Advocacy
    • Destinations
    • Problem Solved
    • On Travel
    • Safe Travels
    • The Travel Troubleshooter
    • Red List/Green List
    • Ultimate Consumer Guides
  • Company Contacts
  • Sites
    • Elliott Advocacy
    • Christopher Elliott’s books
    • Elliott Confidential
    • EA Facebook Group
  • Newsletters
    • Elliott Advocacy Today (Daily)
    • Elliott Confidential (Premium)
    • Elliott’s E-Mail (Weekly)
    • Media Leads (Weekly)
  • Advocacy
  • About
  • Contact Us
Get Help
Elliott Report

Elliott Report

  • Home
  • Features
    • Advocacy
    • Destinations
    • Problem Solved
    • On Travel
    • Safe Travels
    • The Travel Troubleshooter
    • Red List/Green List
    • Ultimate Consumer Guides
  • Company Contacts
  • Sites
    • Elliott Advocacy
    • Christopher Elliott’s books
    • Elliott Confidential
    • EA Facebook Group
  • Newsletters
    • Elliott Advocacy Today (Daily)
    • Elliott Confidential (Premium)
    • Elliott’s E-Mail (Weekly)
    • Media Leads (Weekly)
  • Advocacy
  • About
  • Contact Us

VACATION RENTAL

Tom Mason gets locked out of his vacation rental in Italy. Why is Booking.com ignoring his requests for help?

Locked out of my rental in Italy. Why won’t Booking.com help me?

April 26, 2025March 26, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Tom Mason gets locked out of his vacation rental in Italy. Why is Booking.com ignoring his requests for help?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
When Jeff Wickstead's vacation rental manager demanded that he cancel his Booking.com reservation in London, he had every reason to believe he'd get his money back. But he didn't -- and now he's not sure what to do.

My vacation rental owner told me to cancel. Why can’t I get a refund from Booking.com?

April 26, 2025March 17, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When Jeff Wickstead’s vacation rental manager demanded that he cancel his Booking.com reservation in London, he had every reason to believe he’d get his money back. But he didn’t — and now he’s not sure what to do.

Categories Advocacy
Someone is already occupying Elizabeth Kimpel's Vrbo vacation rental. Why won't the company refund her stay?

There’s another guest in our vacation rental! Can we get a refund, please?

March 11, 2025February 26, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Someone is already occupying Elizabeth Kimpel’s Vrbo vacation rental. Why won’t the company refund her stay?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
How do you deal with a problem with Booking.com and Affirm? Discover how to fix it.

I lost $6,074 after Booking.com canceled my vacation rental. Can you get it back for me?

June 12, 2025November 18, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Jennifer Book’s problem with a canceled Booking.com vacation rental and Affirm — and the heartbreaking loss of $6,074 — looks like an open-and-shut case. 

Categories Advocacy
Scarlett Kelly’s Paris vacation rental turned into a nightmare when a $300 damage deposit and a missed check-in window led to her being marked a no-show. Booking.com sided with the rental owner, who kept her money despite Kelly’s claims she was there on time. Now, Kelly is fighting back, alleging fraud, breach of contract, and even obstruction of justice. Should Booking.com refund Kelly, or is this a lesson in reading the fine print? With a $100 refund offer on the table, Kelly refuses to back down.

She lost her Paris vacation rental on a technicality — should I take this case? 

February 7, 2025October 14, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Scarlett Kelly paid for a vacation rental in Paris through Booking.com, but she never got to stay in it. Booking.com wants to keep her money on what appears to be a technicality.

Categories Advocacy
When Priya Engel checked into her San Diego vacation rental, she was met with cold water and no heat. Despite numerous calls to Vrbo and the property owner, the issues remained unresolved, forcing her to vacate early. Vrbo initially denied her refund claim, stating she didn't qualify under their Book With Confidence guarantee. Engel's persistence and documentation finally led to a full refund, raising questions about the necessity of explicit guarantees for basic amenities like heat and hot water in rental agreements.

No hot water and no heat in my Vrbo rental. Why can’t I get a refund?

August 31, 2024August 5, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When Priya Engel turned on the shower in her San Diego vacation rental, the water ran cold and there was no heat. Repeated calls to the owner changed nothing, and now she wants her money back. 

Categories Advocacy
Mark Hartwig's vacation rental in Montreal was "such a bizarre experience" that he has trouble putting into words. 

“Such a bizarre” rental experience on Vrbo — but do they even care?

March 11, 2025March 4, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Mark Hartwig’s vacation rental in Montreal was “such a bizarre experience” that he has trouble putting into words. 

Categories Advocacy
Dustin Baltis encountered a roach infestation during his Airbnb stay in Austin, leading to a complex situation with the host and Airbnb. Despite initial challenges, the issue of whether Airbnb's AirCover would cover such incidents and the subsequent negotiation for a fair resolution became key elements of his experience.

What to do if you find roaches in your Airbnb rental

January 10, 2024January 8, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Dustin Baltis thought he knew what to do when he found a roach in his Airbnb rental in Austin. He called the owner and contacted Airbnb — and finally vacated the property.

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
The vacation rental Carol Wilson books for her group through Vacasa is infested with rats and insects. Vacasa offers to refund one night. Can they get all of their money back?

This Vacasa rental is a dump. Can I get my money back?

October 27, 2023September 25, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

The vacation rental Carol Wilson books for her group through Vacasa is infested with rats and insects. Vacasa offers to refund one night. Can they get all of their money back?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Angela Hall finds cameras pointed at the bed in her Hawaii vacation rental. She checks out and Vrbo offers to refund her for a hotel and the remainder of her stay. But it never does. What's going on?

My vacation rental had cameras in the bedroom. Can I get a refund?

March 20, 2024June 26, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Angela Hall finds cameras pointed at the bed in her Hawaii vacation rental. She checks out and Vrbo offers to refund her for a hotel and the remainder of her stay. But it never does. What’s going on?

Categories Featured, The Travel Troubleshooter
Older posts
Page1 Page2 Page3 Next →

What’s Your Problem?

If you have a consumer problem, please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. We’re always here to help. Our help is free.

Get Help

Our Newsletter

Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. Did we mention it's free?

Sign Up

What's This Site?

The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers.

Join Us

Follow Us

© 2025 Elliott Report | Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Features
    • Advocacy
    • Problem Solved
    • On Travel
    • The Travel Troubleshooter
    • Ultimate Consumer Guides
  • Company Contacts
  • Sites
    • Elliott Advocacy
    • Elliott Confidential
    • EA Facebook Group
  • Newsletters
    • Elliott Advocacy Today (Daily)
    • Elliott Confidential (Premium)
    • Elliott’s E-Mail (Weekly)
    • Media Leads (Weekly)
  • Advocacy
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Get Help

Don't Miss a Story!

Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. 

Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!