Short-term rental bookings through services like Airbnb and Vrbo are back to pre-pandemic levels after seeing a 25% increase in demand since 2019 nationwide, according to short-term rental research firm AirDNA.
Madeline Barkin, AirDNA public relations specialist, said the number of listings available for Sonoma County is slightly lower than it was in 2019, but it’s still seeing increased demand. The Denver-based company tracks vacation rental data across the country.
“Sonoma County is a beautiful seasonal destination, with a strong summer season, which has extended and increased since before the pandemic, as many of us searched for car travel destinations to enjoy our vacation,” Barkin told The Press Democrat.
Average daily rates for short-term rentals in Sonoma County have also increased 24% since 2019, with the average daily rate in October of $577.50 per night.
Now that families are more comfortable traveling together, Barkin said, larger accommodations are being booked.
“(Travelers) are also influenced by the concept of ‘revenge travel,’ where guests are willing to spend a little bit more for a more luxurious stay after several months without vacations,” she said.
Sarah Edwards is a small business and consumer reporter at The Press Democrat. You can reach her at 707-521-5487 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter Lord save her.