What is Book Direct Day?

Book Direct Day is a special online movement on a mission to educate guests about the many advantages they can experience when they book their vacation rentals directly through a professional management company or the owner of the property, as opposed to a third-party platform such as Airbnb or VRBO. These platforms may seem popular and convenient when planning your vacation, but there are multiple reasons to consider booking direct instead!

What is booking directly exactly?

You may have heard the term “book direct and save” either while discussing your next vacation with family and friends or while doing research online, but what does it actually mean? It means making a reservation for your accommodations directly through the property management company or homeowner instead through a third-party online travel agency (OTA).

These third-party platforms, like Airbnb and VRBO, are popular due to their extensive marketing campaigns and paid online search advertising budgets. However, most of those websites now charge users additional “traveler fees” and don’t offer as many benefits as booking through a management company like us. Keep reading to learn about some of the top perks of booking direct!

What are the advantages of booking direct?

By booking directly, rather than going through the third-party sites, travelers can save money and enjoy various benefits that would otherwise be unavailable. These perks include access to more personalized customer service from knowledgeable staff members, greater flexibility in payment options and cancellation policies, special discounts and promotions, and more transparency in pricing and availability.

Advantages of Booking Direct - ESPM Vacation Rentals

To go into more detail, here are 4 of the top reasons to book directly with ESPM:

1. Get the best price available and avoid hidden fees

You may be surprised to find out that you’ve been paying up to 20% more than you should on your accommodations if you’ve been using a platform like Airbnb and Homeaway! If and when these listing websites remove the fee, there’s a high chance they have passed the cost onto the property manager, which may increase the rates of the property you are booking. By booking directly through a property management company like ours, you’ll save money and eliminate extra costs!

2. Work directly with our local team

Our team has the local knowledge you’re looking for to not only help you find the perfect vacation home but also to help you with any other plans during your stay! When you contact us, you’ll be speaking with someone who knows the island and our properties better than anyone else — not someone thousands of miles away who may have never been to the island or stepped into the property once.

We can even help you with personalized recommendations for activities, restaurants, and entertainment. And, we’re always only a call or email away and can even come to the property should you need assistance while you’re here.

3. A better experience with clear communication

Most third-party booking services only offer accommodation options. That means after you complete your reservation, you will get little help. At ESPM Vacation Rentals, we’re here to help our guests through the entire process! Once you book with us, we don’t just leave you on your own — we are in touch with various resources before your stay to help make sure that your trip to Kiawah Island is exactly what you dreamed it would be.

4. Gain access to special offers

As an added bonus, you gain access to special offers and discounts available to those who have stayed with us before! If you’re interested in staying up-to-date with the latest happenings, be sure to sign up to receive our email newsletter.


So, as you can see, there are several distinct advantages to booking your next Kiawah Island vacation rental through us instead of a third-party platform! Ultimately, when you book direct, you get higher quality service for a more enjoyable vacation rental experience.

When you’re ready to start planning your next getaway, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or for personalized recommendations on how to make this the most extraordinary vacation you’ve ever had.