Alternatives to Airbnb in Malta: The Platforms Most Visitors Don’t Know About
Last updated: 16 February 2026
Why trust this guide: I am a Malta-based host who lists a Gzira apartment across multiple platforms and sees how pricing, availability, and policies differ week to week.
Jump to:
Quick selection guide
TL;DR
Malta watchouts
What to compare
Vrbo
Travelstaytion
Other options
20-minute method
Worked example
FAQ
Quick selection guide
| FOR FAMILIES | FOR PEACE OF MIND |
|---|---|
|
Vrbo |
Travelstaytion |
| FOR REWARDS | FOR BUDGET RANGE + REVIEWS |
|
Vrbo (OneKeyCash) |
Airbnb |
| FOR HOTEL-LIKE RELIABILITY | |
|
Aparthotels / serviced apartments |
|
TL;DR
Airbnb is the default for Malta, but the same apartment can cost different amounts on different platforms.
Shortlist on Airbnb (best photos, most reviews), then compare the final checkout total on Vrbo, Travelstaytion, and Booking.com before you book.
That one extra step can save you money, earn you loyalty rewards, or get you better cancellation terms.
Most Malta travel guides assume you’ll book on Airbnb. Fair enough. It has the widest selection, the most reviews, and the name everyone knows.
But if Airbnb is the only place you check, you might pay more for the same apartment, miss a loyalty programme that saves you money across your whole trip, or overlook a platform with better cancellation terms for your dates.
I list my own apartment on three different platforms. Not because any one is bad, because they serve different kinds of travellers. This guide explains what each platform actually offers, what to watch out for in Malta specifically, and how to compare them properly.
If you are weighing Airbnb specifically, see our Malta-focused breakdown:
Airbnb in Malta.
Transparency note: We list our own Gzira apartment on multiple platforms. The guide section is platform-neutral; a comparison using our listing is clearly marked in the worked example.
Malta watchouts
Safe booking checklist (Malta scam filter)
- Does the listing have at least 5 reviews, and do the reviews look consistent over time?
- Is the booking link a real platform domain (airbnb.com, vrbo.com, booking.com)? Redirects are fine as long as you land on the real platform page.
- Did anyone ask you to pay outside the platform (bank transfer, WhatsApp payment, “deposit by Revolut”)? Walk away.
- Is the price far below everything else for the same area and dates (for example, 40% cheaper)? Treat it as suspect.
- Do the photos look mismatched (different styles, different lighting, no continuity)?
Booking lead times matter more than you’d expect. For Easter week, July, August, and Christmas, the better apartments book out months ahead. If your dates overlap Italian school holidays (late June through mid-September) or Isle of MTV week, last-minute availability disappears fast. Checking Vrbo and Travelstaytion as well gives you more options because fewer people look there.
Fee gotchas. Some Malta apartment listings mention extra charges only in the fine print: heavy air-conditioning use, late check-in fees, and the environmental contribution (rate can change). On some short-lets, the environmental contribution is collected on arrival rather than at checkout. Read the full description, not just the highlights. Reference:
Environmental contribution info.
Construction reality check (use this question). Malta has active building sites, especially in Sliema, Gzira, and St Julian’s. Message the host and ask: “Is there an active DA (development application) site within two doors of the apartment?” Then verify by scanning recent reviews for noise mentions.
Other things to check before booking: Does the listing include parking, and where? (Street parking in Sliema and Gzira fills up fast.) Is air conditioning included in the price, or charged as an extra? Does the host require a security deposit or passport scan on arrival?
Location trade-offs by area (quick read)
- Sliema / St Julian’s: walkable, well-connected, pricier.
- Gzira: quieter and often better value, next to Sliema, easy promenade access.
- Valletta: stunning, but parking is difficult and many buildings are walk-ups.
- Mellieha / North: best for beach holidays with a car.
- Gozo: ferry required, lower prices and less noise.
Related reading:
What to compare before you book anywhere
Use this checklist on every platform
- Total price at checkout: not the nightly rate. Compare the final number with cleaning fees, service fees, and taxes included.
- Cancellation terms: refundable vs non-refundable, and the cutoff date. The same property can have different rules on different platforms.
- Payment timing: pay now vs pay later vs split payments.
- Who manages the stay: professional manager with local support vs individual host.
- Deposit and ID requirements: security deposits and passport scans can appear on some listings.
- Support if arrival goes wrong: platform support varies a lot, especially for last-minute rebooking.
Vrbo Malta: whole-home stays with loyalty rewards
Vrbo is part of the Expedia Group (same company as Expedia, Hotels.com, and Travelocity). It only lists whole properties, no spare rooms and no shared apartments. If you are booking for a family or a group, that filter alone saves you time.
- The loyalty angle: book on Vrbo and you earn OneKeyCash, redeemable on Expedia, Hotels.com, and future Vrbo stays. If you are already booking flights or car hire through Expedia, the rewards can stack.
- Total price earlier in the flow: Vrbo typically shows an all-in cost view earlier than some platforms, which helps comparisons.
- Rebooking help: if something goes seriously wrong on arrival, Vrbo has rebooking support options (details vary by case and listing).
Malta-specific note: Vrbo’s Malta inventory is smaller than Airbnb’s, but the quality floor often feels higher because hosts are more established managers. Vrbo listings also do not typically appear inside Google’s holiday rental module, so you need to search Vrbo directly.
Travelstaytion: the professionally managed option
Travelstaytion is a smaller platform focused on professionally managed holiday rentals. The selection is curated, not comprehensive.
- Who it is best for: travellers who would rather choose from vetted options than scroll through hundreds of unknown listings. Corporate travellers. Families who prefer professional management.
- It can show up in Google: some platforms feed inventory into Google’s holiday rental results. Travelstaytion is one of the platforms that can appear there. Airbnb and Vrbo generally do not.
- Limitation: smaller Malta inventory than Airbnb, and fewer reviews per property. If extensive guest reviews are your main decision tool, Airbnb wins on volume.
Search Travelstaytion for Malta
Other options worth knowing about
Booking.com. A large and growing apartment selection. If you already use it for hotels, Genius benefits apply to eligible stays. Cancellation policies often feel more flexible than Airbnb’s. One caution: read the cancellation terms closely and confirm whether you are booking a professional short-let or an informal sublet.
Aparthotels and serviced apartments. If you want apartment space with hotel-like reliability (reception, housekeeping, on-site support), aparthotels can be worth the extra cost, especially for short stays or family trips.
Local Maltese property managers. Some established agencies manage dozens of apartments with actual offices and phone numbers. They are not always on Airbnb. If you find one with a proper website, real photos, and verifiable reviews, you may get better rates and faster local support.
Meta-search engines. Sites like Holidu and HomeToGo compare prices across platforms and redirect you to the best rate. Useful for price-checking, not for booking directly.
Direct booking with the host. No platform commission can mean a better price, but you trade platform payment protection for a direct relationship. Best for properties you already trust.
How to actually compare (the 20-minute method)
Power user workflow
- WINDOW-SHOP on Airbnb: pick 5 to 10 apartments you like (best photos, most reviews).
- SHORTLIST your top 2 to 3: note a street name (or nearby landmark) and one distinctive feature (a gallarija balcony, a unique color scheme, a specific piece of furniture).
- REVERSE-SEARCH the same places on Vrbo, Travelstaytion, and Booking.com (visual matching helps when exact addresses are hidden).
- COMPARE the final checkout total for the exact dates (fees and taxes are where the difference hides).
- CONFIRM cancellation terms and arrival rules (ID, deposit, late check-in), then book where the overall deal is best.
Behind the scenes: one apartment, three platforms (worked example)
Worked example (clearly marked): We list our own Gzira apartment on multiple platforms. This section is a worked example to show how comparison works in practice. Skip it if you only needed the platform guide above.
The apartment
Designer-finished two-bedroom apartment (100m2) on Triq Manoel De Vilhena in Gzira, next to the Church, metres from the seafront. Prime location near restaurants, shopping, and transport links.
The living area has a 65-inch Smart TV, an electric fireplace, and modern furnishings. The fully equipped kitchen includes a dishwasher and a coffee machine. Both double bedrooms have air conditioning and TVs. Two bathrooms (one en-suite) with modern designs and fresh towels.
A separate games and workroom has a soccer table and a blackboard wall for kids. It doubles as a workspace with high-speed WiFi and air conditioning throughout. Laundry facilities include a washing machine, ironing board, and cleaning essentials.
Three outdoor spaces: a traditional Maltese gallarija balcony at the front, a large back terrace, and an internal yard with a painted mural.
The same apartment on each platform
| Platform | Link | Why someone chooses it |
|---|---|---|
| Airbnb | manicmalta.com/gzira | Most reviews and the most familiar booking flow. |
| Vrbo | manicmalta.com/gzirav | OneKeyCash rewards and whole-home audience. |
| Travelstaytion | manicmalta.com/gzirat | Professionally managed positioning and curated inventory. |
Different platforms suit different travellers. If you care most about reviews and familiarity, Airbnb is usually the easiest. If you are stacking Expedia/Hotels.com rewards, Vrbo makes sense. If you want professionally managed listings, Travelstaytion is worth checking. Same apartment, different booking logic.
Want to explore Gzira before you book? We have published a 9-chapter audio story series about the neighbourhood’s history on YouTube. Find it linked from our Gzira page.
FAQ
Is Vrbo available in Malta?
Yes. Vrbo lists whole-property rentals across Malta and Gozo. The selection is smaller than Airbnb’s, but Vrbo focuses on entire homes rather than spare rooms, and you can earn OneKeyCash on eligible bookings.
Why do some platforms not show up in Google holiday rental results?
Some platforms feed inventory into Google’s holiday rental module, while others generally do not. In practice, you will often see Booking.com and sometimes Travelstaytion there, while Airbnb and Vrbo usually are not included.
Is Travelstaytion legitimate?
Travelstaytion is a smaller platform focused on professionally managed rentals. As with any booking site, rely on the listing terms, cancellation rules, and host responsiveness, not just the brand name.
Should I book directly with a host in Malta?
If you have found a host with a verifiable website and genuine reviews, direct booking can sometimes be cheaper. The trade-off is that you do not get platform payment protection or dispute resolution. Best for properties you already trust.
The short version
Airbnb is a great starting point for Malta, but it is not the only option, and it is not always the cheapest.
Shortlist on Airbnb. Compare checkout totals on Vrbo, Travelstaytion, and Booking.com. Book on whichever gives you the best combination of price, cancellation terms, and rewards. That one extra step is the whole trick.
More Malta planning from ManicMalta
Discover Your Perfect Stay in Malta: Gzira's Hidden Gem Apartment
- 2 Bedroom Apartment with 2 double beds + 1 Games room with spare bed a Table Soccer + Blackboard. It has 3 Separate Desk Areas.
- It's on the first floor, has a Maltese Balcony and is Fully Airconditioned.
- It has three external areas: a Maltese Balcony, Back Terrace with hanging sofa, and a small internal yard with a Mural.
- 3 TVs. The living room TV is a 65” with backlight.
- Maltese themed with nice pictures and art.
- Central location in Gzira, one of the best tourist areas on the island.
- A large living room with an Electric Fireplace, sofa, fully equipped kitchen, a Separate Armchair area, a Physical Book Library and a sofa bed.
Google Travel Direct Bookings (Cheapest) Booking.com Airbnb
