Best Guest connects to VRBO in two ways:

  • Automated messages — VRBO’s scheduled messages deliver your registration link before arrival.
  • iCal sync — Best Guest imports every VRBO reservation from your calendar.

Estimated setup time: 5 minutes.

Before you start

  • An active VRBO host account with a published property
  • A Best Guest account
  • Your Best Guest registration link, e.g.
https://app.bestguestapp.com/l/your-listing?channel=vrbo

(Use your real link. ?channel=vrbo records the reservation origin.)

Using the right link: every listing — each apartment, room, tent, RV, or whatever counts as your smallest bookable unit — has its own unique registration link. If you manage more than one listing, double-check you’re copying the correct one. Find all your links in Best Guest under Properties → [property] → Listings → Copy listing link, or grab them during the Listings step of onboarding.

Path 1 — Automated pre-arrival message

VRBO supports scheduling messages relative to reservation and stay events.

  1. Open your VRBO Inbox / Owner Dashboard.
  2. Go to Templates → Scheduled Messages.
  3. Create a template named “Best Guest Registration”.
  4. Set the trigger to 2 days before check-in (1 day for short stays; immediately for same-day bookings).
  5. Add your message and insert VRBO’s guest-name placeholder from the editor.

Recommended message:

Hello (guest first name),

Before arrival, please complete your online guest registration:
https://app.bestguestapp.com/l/your-listing

It takes about 2 minutes. Safe travels — we look forward to hosting you.

Don’t exclude short stays. VRBO bookings often happen close to arrival; make sure same-day and short stays still receive the message — missing this is the most common reason guests never get the link.

Best Guest automatically reminds the main guest if they started registration but haven’t finished it. If a guest never opens the form at all, though, that reminder can’t reach them — so it’s worth scheduling a second Scheduled Message, timed 1 day after arrival instead of before it, using only the link:

Hello (guest first name),

Everything alright? Did you fill out all your forms and is the data correct?
Please follow this link if you still need to add/change some information:
https://app.bestguestapp.com/l/your-listing

Path 2 — iCal sync

To import VRBO reservations into Best Guest’s Reservation Verification:

  1. In VRBO, open the property Calendar.
  2. Find Export calendar / iCal and copy the .ics link.
  3. Paste it into Best Guest for the matching property.

VRBO automation can differ depending on whether the listing uses a native, API, or PMS connection. If your VRBO listings are managed through a channel manager, set up automation there instead — see all integrations.

  • Reservation confirmed → confirmation only
  • 2 days before arrival → registration link
  • Arrival day → access instructions
  • 1 day after arrival → reminder for guests who haven’t completed registration
  • Evening before departure → checkout instructions

Keep the registration request separate from access instructions.

Troubleshooting

Guest never received it — check the scheduled message is enabled, the timing, trigger conditions, and that short stays are included.

Reservation missing in Best Guest — verify the URL and ?channel=vrbo.

Next steps

Frequently asked questions

What's the most common reason VRBO guests never get the registration link?

Excluding short stays from the scheduled message. VRBO bookings often happen close to arrival, so make sure same-day and short-stay reservations are still included in the trigger conditions.

I manage VRBO through a channel manager — where do I set this up?

Set up the automation in your channel manager instead of VRBO's native tools — automation can differ depending on whether the listing uses a native, API, or PMS connection.

How do I find my VRBO iCal export link?

Open the property Calendar in VRBO, then look for "Export calendar / iCal" and copy the .ics link.

Informational only

This page is provided for general information and is not legal or tax advice. Rates, deadlines and exemptions are set by law and municipal ordinances and can change — always verify current requirements with your municipality or a qualified advisor.