What is “Plum Guide”? | The Ultimate Guide to List your Vacation Rental

Everyone wants their vacation rental to live up to the images. But when you're faced with pages of impersonal holiday rentals, it's hard to know what you're really walking into.

The truth is, not every platform is built with excellence in mind. That's where Plum Guide felt different. This London-based company offers more than just listings — it curates a selective list of the world's top homes, each one verified for comfort, consistency and high standards.

Whether you're a host with a chic home to showcase or a guest seeking something beyond standard hotels, Plum Guide rental is the platform built to meet real expectations and deliver an upgraded stay.

What Makes Plum Guide Different?

Most OTAs prioritize quantity. Plum Guide is all about quality.

The platform is famously selective — fewer than 1% of homes in a given destination typically make it through their full vetting process. It’s not just a claim — it’s a structured process that filters for high standards, verified details and comfort-focused features.

Each home is subjected to a 500-point checklist, looking at over 150 key features. Think shower pressure, WiFi speed, mattress comfort, noise levels, nearby attractions and even the fluffiness of your pillows. A trained Home Critic actually visits the property to verify it all — no guesswork, no unpleasant surprises.

So, when guests book a Plum Guide rental, they know exactly what to expect: consistency, style and exceptional service.

How Plum Guide Works: From Vetting to Booking

The Plum Guide vetting process starts with data and ends with human evaluation. First, listings are filtered through an algorithm that analyzes reviews, location and design. Then, shortlisted available rentals go through an interview and a visit from a Home Critic. This expert evaluates access, cleanliness, amenities and dozens of experience-focused points.

Only once a home delights a Plum Guide guest and passes all stages of review does it become accepted onto the platform. The end result is a curated site of impressive homes in Paris, London and top destinations around the globe.

What Is the Plum Award

The Plum Award is like a gold seal — it confirms that your listing has passed all vetting stages and is one of the finest rentals available globally.

To earn it, your property must:

• Be shortlisted and reviewed

• Pass the interview and in-person inspection

• Host a real Plum guest with stellar feedback

• Prove that it offers a top-tier experience — free of unwanted surprises

Homes that meet 3 of the 4 criteria are marked as “Nominated,” while homes that meet all 4 earn the full Plum Award.

Why List Your Property on Plum Guide?

Here’s what makes listing your house, apartment or vacation rental on Plum Guide a strategic move for modern hosts looking to stand out in a competitive industry:

Elevated credibility & reputation

Plum Guide stands for quality and being part of its collection instantly elevates your status as a trusted, service-oriented host. With the platform’s reputation for meticulous quality checks and curated listings, your property gains built-in trust with discerning guests.

Broader visibility to the right audience

Because many Plum Guide guests don’t use other OTAs, listing your home here exposes it to a completely different, high-value guest profile.

Thanks to their international reach and focused marketing, your listing page is seen by travelers you likely wouldn’t access elsewhere — ideal guests seeking meaningful stays, not just a place to sleep.

Dedicated expert support

Once accepted, you’re not on your own.

Plum Guide offers personalized support, tools and guidance to help you fine-tune your listing, optimize the guest experience and consistently meet the platform’s high standards. Whether it’s pricing advice, service tips or photo prep — they help you get it right.

Exceptional guests

Guests reserving through Plum Guide aren’t just after a quick trip — they’re seeking something exceptional. These are thoughtful travelers who appreciate design, comfort and high-quality hospitality.

They tend to stay longer, cause less wear and tear and are more likely to return, resulting in less turnover and more satisfaction for hosts.

Exclusivity that drives demand

Getting listed on Plum Guide is a badge of honor. It sets your space apart from the crowd and signals to guests that this is no ordinary rental.

This distinction and exclusivity lets you attract higher-quality reservations, charge premium rates and be more selective about who stays in your home.

How to List Your Home: A 5-Step Guide

Step 1: Submit your home info

To begin, head over to the Plum Guide website and click on “List My Property.” You’ll be prompted to enter basic information about yourself and your property. This includes your full name, email address and phone number, as well as a link to any existing listing (such as Airbnb or Vrbo). You’ll also need to provide your property’s full address, ZIP code and country.

In this stage, you’ll outline house rules and specify any additional services you offer to guests. Finally, you'll need to review and sign the official Host/Plum Agreement, which sets the terms for your participation on the platform.

Pro Tip: Find your property on Google Maps using their quick guide to ensure accurate information.

Step 2: Add policies and images

Once your property details are submitted, the next step is to define your booking policies and upload high-quality images of your rental. You'll choose a cancellation policy, with “Relaxed” or “Reasonable” being the most popular among guests.

You'll also decide whether to enable Instant Book, which can significantly boost your booking rate by allowing guests to confirm a stay without manual approval.

At this point, you should upload professional-quality photos of your property, though in some cases, Plum Guide may send a photographer to capture your space at its best.

Step 3: Set your pricing

Pricing your vacation rental competitively is key. Start by entering your default nightly rate and consider offering weekly or monthly discounts to help attract longer stays.

Plum Guide recommends keeping your pricing consistent with what’s shown on other OTAs, as discrepancies can cause trust issues or missed reservations. Remember, homes with thoughtful pricing and flexible discounts tend to receive more interest and ultimately drive higher revenue.

Step 4: Sync your calendar

To prevent scheduling conflicts and double bookings, you’ll need to sync your Plum Guide calendar with other booking channels you’re using. This is done by adding your iCal link, which ensures your availability is always up to date.

A well-synced calendar helps you avoid administrative headaches and gives guests a smooth and reliable reservation experience.

Step 5: Set up payments

In the final step, you’ll provide your bank details so you can receive payouts for completed stays. If you're based in the UK, you’ll also need to enter your VAT number and your property’s registration or touristic license number.

For hosts in the US, you’ll be asked whether the listing is being managed personally or as a commercial property. Once your payment information is verified and everything is submitted, your setup is nearly complete.

After you’ve completed all five steps, a member of the Plum Guide team will reach out to schedule your Plum Test and host interview.

This final phase includes a deep dive into your home’s key features, service quality and home truths — bringing you one step closer to becoming a Plum Guide-approved host.

Why Hosts Choose Plum Guide Over Other OTAs

Plum Guide attracts a niche but premium audience. Compared to other OTAs, hosts report higher-quality guests, longer stays and fewer issues.

Additionally, your listing is crafted by the Plum Guide team using the insights gathered during your interview and home visit. They ensure every detail — from the copy to the visuals — reflects the character of your home.

Note: Plum Guide owns the rights to any images, text, or information developed about your accommodation. You’ll need permission to reuse these materials elsewhere.

What About Fees?

Here’s the breakdown:

• 3% host service fee per booking, plus any applicable taxes

• One-time £300 ($411) fee is deducted from your first booking

• If you never get booked, you don’t pay the fee

No hidden charges. No subscriptions. Just pay when you succeed.

How Hostaway Can Help

Managing your Plum Guide listing alongside Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and other channels can quickly become overwhelming, especially as your business grows.

Hostaway is an all-in-one channel manager for vacation rentals designed specifically for vacation rental professionals. It enables you to seamlessly manage bookings, sync calendars, update rates and control availability across multiple platforms from a single, centralized dashboard.

But it doesn’t stop there — Hostaway also offers scalable tools for automation, guest communication, analytics and performance tracking, helping fast-growing property managers streamline operations, save time and increase revenue.

As a trusted partner integrated with the world’s biggest names in vacation rentals, Hostaway helps you stay competitive and efficient without compromising on guest experience or service quality. Schedule a free demo with one of our product experts to get actionable insights tailored to your needs and discover how Hostaway can simplify your daily management and fuel long-term growth.

A Platform That Delivers What It Promises

If your vacation rental is thoughtfully designed, loaded with great amenities and you’re committed to high-quality hospitality, Plum Guide could be your perfect match.

Joining means aligning with a service that values consistency, design and guest satisfaction. It connects you with guests who appreciate attention to detail and expect more from their stay. No more impersonal holiday rentals. No more disappointing reviews. Just a smarter way to rent.