[category]
[title]
Home rental platform Vrbo has released its 2026 Vacation Rentals of the Year, a global list of standout stays that range from architectural showpieces to full-on entertainment compounds.
Now in its fifth year, the roundup highlights more than 50 properties across the U.S. and abroad, all vetted for consistently high ratings, reliable hosts and that elusive “wow” factor. These aren’t just pretty listings with good lighting—they’re the ones people actually rave about after the trip.
This year’s picks lean heavily into group travel, with larger homes designed for multi-generational getaways and friend reunions. Think private pools, hot tubs, game rooms and, in one case, an entire nine-hole golf course. Many of the homes have racked up dozens (sometimes hundreds!) of perfect guest reviews and all carry Vrbo’s “Loved by Guests” badge, reserved for the top tier of listings in each destination.
The U.S. lineup alone is a dream itinerary: there’s a 22-acre ranch in Big Sky, Montana, complete with a party barn and saloon; a geodesic dome in Palm Desert built for stargazing; and a historic Savannah home that once hosted George Washington. Over in Missouri, a lakeside retreat called “The Lighthouse” is basically its own resort, with a pool, movie theater and that aforementioned golf course.
For beach lovers, an eight-bedroom house in Seacrest Beach, Florida, comes with rooftop Gulf views, while a Cape Cod cottage in Yarmouth leans into classic New England charm just steps from the water. And if you’re feeling ambitious, the list also stretches internationally, with properties in places like Cabo San Lucas, Saint-Tropez and the English countryside.
What ties them all together is a shift in travelers' expectations of a rental. Travels don’t just need space anymore—they also expect places that are well-designed, thoughtfully run and equipped for how people actually travel now. Big groups, longer stays and homes that feel like a destination in their own right.
Suddenly, booking a “normal” rental feels like a missed opportunity.