Collect guest registration automatically for VRBO bookings. Best Guest connects 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://bestguest.app/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 Inbox in your VRBO Owner Dashboard.
  2. Go to Templates.
  3. Select Create a new template and enter the template name “Best Guest Registration”.
  4. Write your message and use Personalize to insert VRBO’s guest-name tag, then select Next.
  5. To schedule it, choose a time before check-in, e.g. 2 days before check-in, and select Always send for last-minute bookings and short stays. Choose the properties, select Next, review, and Save. (On an existing template, select Scheduled for to add the schedule.)

Recommended message:

Hello (guest first name),

Before arrival, please complete your online guest registration:
https://bestguest.app/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; keep Always send for last-minute bookings and short stays selected so 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://bestguest.app/l/your-listing

Path 2 — iCal sync

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

  1. In VRBO, open the property Calendar, then Settings → Availability.
  2. Under Calendar sync, select Connect calendars → Export calendar, then Copy URL.
  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, and that Always send for last-minute bookings and short stays is selected.

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

Next steps

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.