WeatherPromise: Vrbo Now Lets Guests Get a Refund If It Rains

Online travel agencies (OTAs) are growing fast and becoming the norm for travelers, especially Gen Z and Gen X. But some guests still hesitate before hitting the reserve button.

That's why Vrbo and Airbnb are working hard to reduce that friction.

For Airbnb, it meant flexible cancellation policies and "Reserve Now, Pay Later" options.

Now it's Vrbo's turn.

Their strategy? A partnership with WeatherPromise that lets guests get a refund if the weather turns ugly during their stay.

Let's break down how it works and how it will impact your short-term rentals.

What Is WeatherPromise?

Simply put, WeatherPromise is a startup that does one thing: pay people when the weather ruins their trip.

The company raised $12.8 million in January 2026 (bringing its total funding past $22 million) and already partners with big names like Marriott, JetBlue Vacations, and HomeToGo.

Now Vrbo is joining that list.

Here's the idea: instead of making guests file insurance claims with pages of fine print, WeatherPromise uses weather data to trigger payouts automatically.

The tech behind it pulls from 350 million weather data points daily—think NASA, NOAA, satellite images, radar, and ground stations. An algorithm trained on 20 years of rainfall history sets a threshold for each location and watches the forecast in real-time.

How WeatherPromise Works with Vrbo

This isn't travel insurance you file claims against. It's a weather guarantee, and the distinction matters.

For guests:

• At checkout on eligible Vrbo properties, guests can add WeatherPromise for roughly 3–8% of their trip cost
• They get a dashboard to track the weather before and during their stay
• If rainfall crosses the threshold for their destination, WeatherPromise pays out automatically within 2–3 business days
• The payout is direct cash, not a credit
• If the rain threshold is met, guests still have the right to stay in the Airbnb
• Guests can cancel the add-on within 72 hours for a full refund
• It's automatically canceled if the Vrbo booking itself is refunded

How WeatherPromise works for hosts:

• Your payout is completely unaffected
• The guest still checks in, still pays for the booking in full, and you get your normal payout
• There's no opt-in or opt-out

How to Claim a Refund from WeatherPromise?

Here's the cool part: you don't claim anything. It's fully automated.

If rainfall exceeds the threshold set for that destination, the money is paid into the guest's account within a few days. No arguing with support.

The Takeaway

This new feature—along with other recent policy updates from Vrbo and Airbnb—shows a clear pattern: OTAs are laser-focused on guest ease and convenience.

They're trying to remove every possible hurdle that stops someone from booking.

The good news for hosts? This is an add-on that doesn't affect you at all. It probably won't lead to more cancellations (looking at you, Reserve Now, Pay Later...) And it won't eat into your payout.

But if you host in a market where rainy or unpredictable weather plays a big role in bookings, this might actually help.

Guests who might have worried about booking your beach stay in shoulder season can now get a safety net.

Will this have a big effect on Vrbo vs. Airbnb's market share? Only time will tell.

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