The Site: iStopOver.com
- Vacation rentals in unique spaces located in over 14,000 cities in 92 countries
- iStopOver.com is known as the “un-hotel” booking site
- iStopOver connects travelers with people who have extra space to share for a night, a week or longer
The Good:
iStopOver allows you to rent an entire house during your next trip for super cheap. Yes, we’re talking uber-cheap vacation rentals for less than $50 a night in many instances! Where else can you book an “Artsy Red Light Studio” in the heart of Amsterdam for less than 100 bucks? We found a wide variety of unique and private vacation rentals, ranging from downtown studio apartments to luxury high-end homes.
iStopOver’s system gives you (the guest) an opportunity to communicate with the property owner (the host) prior to booking. You can always use this opportunity to politely ask for a “deal” or a cheaper rental rate (custom quote). iStopOver.com begs the question, why stay in a boring hotel when you travel? For the price of a run-of-the-mill luxury hotel, you can book a private two-story penthouse and be the envy of your friends.
The Bad:
iStopOver is not for the shy. Be aware that not all vacation rentals are private and you may be literally couch surfing in a stranger’s house. Nonetheless, the vast majority of rentals are private apartments and homes that you do not share with anyone. Just make sure to read the property description carefully so that you aren’t surprised when a guy named “Earl” shares the bathroom.
iStopOver isn’t for everyone as some people simply like corporate hotels and the amenities they provide. But, for those of us that like something unique, iStopOver is a ray of sunshine. We think it would be fun if they showcased their most unique properties on one page, for those of us who are truly adventurous. Try as we might, we did not find much negative about iStopOver.com and we’d be insincere if not to admit we’re huge fans of this website. To sum it up, iStopOver = Awesome.
The Fees *:
- iStopOver.com Service/Booking Fee: 15% per booking, and up
- iStopOver.com Cancellation Fee: varies per listing, set by the property owner (host). Should a guest find upon arrival that the listing did not properly describe the property, a guest can immediately leave the property without giving the host the “reservation code”, upon which the guest will receive a full refund for the reservation.
*Based solely on research done by TravelSiteCritic.com, these figures may be inaccurate and are subject to change. Read iStopOver’s policy on their website before you book anything.
The Deals:
Recent User Reviews