Editor's note: VRBO is now part of the One Key travel rewards program, which you can read more about here. This article is being updated to reflect that change.

Depending on your travel style, family size and destination, you might opt in for a vacation rental property instead of a hotel. More often than not, you’ll have access to a kitchen, more shared space than in a hotel, and possibly a lower price.

Vrbo (pronounced VER-bo) is an online marketplace featuring vacation homes available for short-term rental. If you’re wondering whether Vrbo is safe to use to book a vacation home, the answer is yes.

Here’s what you should know about the website and how to find the best deals on Vrbo.

How Vrbo works

Is Vrbo legitimate? That depends on what you mean by "legitimate." Vrbo is an established company with a website that connects homeowners with travelers looking for vacation lodging. Vrbo offers houses, condos, cabins and cottages for family vacations anywhere in the world. But Vrbo has its pitfalls.

Properties aren’t always as described. Some aren’t as clean as a brand-name hotel, and others are in a shabbier shape than their pictures indicate. Check-in can be inconsistent — and thus complicated. Some hosts become unresponsive if issues arrive — and some hosts might cancel your reservation entirely at the last minute with few repercussions (even though you get hit with a penalty if you cancel on them last-minute). Fees are aplenty.

However, that doesn’t mean Vrbo is terrible. In fact, for many travelers, Vrbo can be great. This is especially true for those who want an entire home rather than an individual room, those visiting areas where hotels are nonexistent, or those seeking a unique vacation experience.

To book on Vrbo, type your desired destination into the Vrbo search tool, select your travel dates, indicate the number of guests, and tap "search."

Once options are displayed on your screen, you can filter results by factors such as:

Price.

Reviews.

Location.

Access to nearby activities.

Instant confirmation.