You have found the ideal apartment for your holiday in Roses (Roses). But when it comes to finalising your booking, a question arises: should you go through a large platform like Airbnb Booking, or booking directly with the owner? The answer is simple – and it will save you money. Here's why booking directly is almost always the best option.
💸 Platform fees: what you don't see straight away
This is the first argument, and it's a significant one. The major rental platforms are not free – neither for you, nor for the owner.
In 2026, the total fees charged by short-term rental platforms will amount to an average of 17.21% of the total rental amount.
Concretely, here's what that looks like for a €1,000 booking:
| Platform | Traveller's fee | Landlord fees | Total deducted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbnb | ~14% | ~3% | ~17% |
| Booking | 0% displayed | 15 to 18% | passed on to the price |
| Abritel | 12 to 15% | 8% | ~20-23% |
| Direct booking | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Over a week with a €1,000 budget, Airbnb fees represent around An additional 140€ paid by the traveller. By booking directly, this sum stays in your pocket.
✅ 6 good reasons to book directly with Roses Rentals
1. Best price guaranteed
By booking directly on our website, you gain access to the lowest possible rate – no added commission. We operate a best price guarantee policy: our direct rate is always lower than or equal to what you would find on the platforms.
2. Direct contact with the owner
With Airbnb or Booking, your point of contact is often an outsourced customer service that doesn't know your accommodation. By booking directly, you communicate with Philip, the owner, who knows every flat, every detail of the residence, and the surroundings like the back of his hand.
«We respond to our travellers reactively to any request before, during and after their stay.»
3. Flexible arrival at any time
Thanks to our system secure key box, You can access your apartment at any time – without needing to rely on a key handover schedule or platform customer service. Whether your flight lands at 11pm or you arrive early in the morning after a road journey, your apartment will be waiting for you.
4. Secure 100% payment
Our payment system uses the Bank-level AES-256-bit encryption provided by Stripe – the same level of security as your online bank. No reason to prefer the intermediary platform on this point.
5. No nasty surprises on the final bill
On Airbnb, the service fee (around 14%) only appears at the end of the booking process – a practice that often comes as an unpleasant surprise. By booking directly, The displayed price is the final price, with no hidden last-minute fees.
6. You support a local business owner
By booking directly, you avoid a significant portion of your holiday budget going into the coffers of American multinationals. You directly support a local landlord who manages their apartments with care and passion.
But the platforms are more secure, aren't they?"
This is a persistent misconception. Here's the reality:
Regarding payment: Our Stripe system offers exactly the same level of security as Airbnb or Booking – they all use the same banking encryption protocol.
On the reviews: Our customer reviews are available directly on our website and on Google. Transparency is total.
On Warranties: Our general terms and conditions of sale, available on the website, clearly define the rights and obligations of each party.
💰 Concrete savings simulation
Let's take the example of a week in July in our apartment in Canyelles Petites:
| Through Airbnb | Via Roses Rentals | |
|---|---|---|
| Room rate | 1 200€ | 1 200€ |
| Service charge | +168€ (14%) | 0€ |
| Total paid | 1 368€ | 1 200€ |
| Economy | — | 168€ |
€168 saved, that’s:
- 🍽️ Several dinners in Canyelles restaurants
- 🚣 Kayaking trips for all the family
- A boat trip to Cape Creus
📞 How to book directly?
It's simple and quick:
- Check availability on our booking page
- Select your dates, the number of travellers
- Proceed with secure payment via Stripe
- Receive your confirmation and access information
In case of any questions before booking, please contact us directly via our Contact page – we respond quickly, 7 days a week.