We’re eliminating the middlemen in vacation rentals.
“We’re building the world’s first direct booking registry for vacation rentals. No platform fees. No middlemen. Just hosts and travelers connecting directly.”
The Problem
The vacation rental industry is dominated by platforms that charge guests up to 15% in “service fees” and take another 3% from hosts — while doing almost nothing to earn it. The host owns the property. The guest wants to stay there. The platform just sits in the middle, extracting value from both sides.
Our Solution
BypassStay is a direct booking registry — a searchable directory where hosts list their properties with their own direct booking links. Travelers can find the exact same properties they discover on Airbnb or VRBO, then reach out and book directly with the host. No platform. No fees. No middlemen.
🏡 For Hosts
List your property for free. Keep 100% of every booking. Build direct relationships with your guests. Own your business again.
✈️ For Travelers
Find the same properties at lower prices. Talk directly to the owner. Get flexible terms without algorithm-driven restrictions.
Why Now?
Travelers are frustrated. Hosts are exhausted. Platform fees have increased year after year, while the “service” being provided hasn’t changed. The technology for hosts to accept direct payments has never been better. The moment is right for a better way.
We’re also building a Chrome extension that will show a green badge on Airbnb listings when a direct booking option exists — so travelers can always find the bypass with one click.
Who We Are
BypassStay is a startup founded by people who’ve been on both sides of this equation — as hosts who were frustrated watching platforms take an ever-larger share, and as travelers who couldn’t understand why a “service fee” kept appearing at checkout. We’re building the tool we always wanted.