The Problem: A Broken Booking System

Necessity is often the starting point for great ideas. For Scott, the idea behind Stay came from real frustrations experienced on both sides of the travel experience. As both a guest booking vacations and a host managing properties, he saw the same problems appear again and again. As a result, it became clear there had to be a better way to travel.

Travel should feel exciting from the very beginning. Ideally, booking a place to stay should be the first step of a great experience. However, many travelers quickly discover that the process can be stressful and expensive.

Over time, Scott began noticing a consistent pattern in the vacation rental industry. Guests would find the perfect property and prepare to book, then suddenly, additional platform fees would appear at checkout, often adding hundreds of dollars to the total price.

Even more frustrating, two travelers could book the exact same home, in the same city, on the same dates, yet pay very different prices depending on the platform they used. Those extra costs don’t improve the property or the stay itself. Instead, they simply exist as platform fees.

Because of this, the need for a better way to travel became obvious.

What Is Stay With Stay?

Stay With Stay is a direct booking platform built to give travelers and hosts a fairer, smarter way to connect. Instead of relying on large marketplaces that charge multiple service fees, Stay connects travelers directly with professional property managers.

This model avoids hidden platform costs and gives travelers clearer, more transparent pricing. Hosts, meanwhile, gain greater control over their properties and guest relationships.

The result is a more straightforward booking experience that benefits both travelers and hosts.

Seeing Both Sides: Why a Better Way to Travel Was Needed

Property managers often pay significant commissions just to list their homes on major platforms. Meanwhile, guests are charged additional fees on top of the rental price, meaning both sides lose money without gaining a better experience.

Over time, the problem became impossible to ignore. The same homes were being rented to the same travelers, yet unnecessary layers continued to increase the cost and complexity of every booking.

That realization ultimately led to the creation of Stay.

Why Stay Is a Better Way to Travel

Stay isn’t about offering cheaper homes, it’s about giving travelers a smarter, more transparent way to book the same properties they already love.

Many of the homes on Stay are the same ones you’d find on major booking platforms. The difference is in how travelers connect with them. At its core, Stay is designed to create a fairer system, where travelers pay what a stay is truly worth, and hosts retain more of the value they create.

Better for travelers.
Better for hosts.
The same homes, with a smarter way to book them.

Why Direct Booking Is a Better Way to Travel

Direct booking also improves communication. Guests can ask questions, confirm details, and receive personalized recommendations directly from the host. As a result, the booking experience becomes more flexible and transparent.

Hosts benefit as well. With streamlined communication, they can provide better service and build stronger relationships with guests, encouraging repeat visits.

Ultimately, this direct connection creates a more straightforward and balanced travel experience for everyone involved.

Start Planning Your Next Trip

If you’re looking for a smarter way to book vacation homes, Stay makes it easy to discover incredible properties while connecting directly with professional hosts.

Explore unique homes, avoid unnecessary platform fees, and enjoy a smarter way to plan your next trip. Visit StayWithStay.com to browse listings and start planning your next stay.