For a trip last year, Mayer used VRBO to find a great apartment in Paris and a villa elsewhere in France.

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On VRBO since 2010, the property is more homespun luau than generic Margaritaville, with rooms blending contemporary furnishings with native artwork.

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It aims to take on HomeAway (which has its own iPad app, launched in August 2011 ) and its portfolio of websites, including the popular VRBO.

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