skills.rest
borski
borskiCOMMUNITY
Explore all skills by this author →
GitHub

vrbo

Search VRBO vacation rentals via Patchright browser automation and return listings with pricing.

650|67|Updated Mar 21, 2026
Search Tags:#Browser Automation#patchright#vacation rental#vrbo#travel search#Web scraping#akamai bypass
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/borski/travel-hacking-toolkit --skill vrbo
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: vrbo
Source: https://github.com/borski/travel-hacking-toolkit/tree/main/plugins/travel-hacking-toolkit/skills/vrbo
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/borski/travel-hacking-toolkit --skill vrbo

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires patchright, and includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

VRBO sits behind Akamai Bot Manager, so plain HTTP requests and standard Playwright get a 429 bot wall, making vacation-rental search results inaccessible to automation. This Skill bypasses that wall using Patchright (an undetected Playwright fork) running headed, returning structured whole-home, condo, and cabin listings with all-in pricing.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Akamai Bot Manager bypass: Uses Patchright with a persistent profile and homepage warm-up to earn the _abck cookie, with configurable retries and clear block detection.
  • Structured listing extraction: Three-layer extraction (embedded Redux/Apollo state, data-stid DOM cards, anchor fallback) returning bedrooms, bathrooms, sleeps, ratings, coordinates, per-night and total prices with taxes included.
  • Filtering and JSON output: Client-side filters for minimum bedrooms, pets, children, and result limits, with --json output for orchestration by trip-planning or hotel-comparison workflows.
  • Use Case: Ask your AI to compare Airbnb vs VRBO for a 3-bedroom condo in Canmore for a group ski trip; it runs this Skill and returns listings with all-in totals and booking links.

Quick Start

Ask your AI assistant to search VRBO for whole-home rentals in your destination with your check-in and check-out dates, for example "search VRBO for a 3-bedroom condo in Canmore from June 26 to July 2 for 3 adults".

Frequently Asked Questions about vrbo

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I search VRBO vacation rentals programmatically?▼

Run the search_vrbo.py script with a destination, check-in and check-out dates, and guest counts. It uses Patchright browser automation to load VRBO search results and returns listings as JSON with prices, bedrooms, ratings, and booking URLs.

Why does Playwright get blocked on VRBO?▼

VRBO sits behind Akamai Bot Manager, which returns a 429 bot wall to plain HTTP, standard Playwright, and headless browsers. Patchright, an undetected Playwright fork running headed with a persistent profile, passes Akamai's sensor and earns the _abck cookie.

Can I run VRBO search in Docker or on a headless server?▼

Yes, the included Dockerfile runs Patchright headed inside an Xvfb virtual display, since Akamai detects headless browsers. Build the image from the skill directory and pass the same search arguments to docker run.

Does VRBO search require a login or API key?▼

No login or API key is required because VRBO search results are public. The persistent browser profile only caches the Akamai cookie so repeat searches re-challenge less often.

Why does VRBO search return a 429 error even with Patchright?▼

Akamai rate-limits by IP, so datacenter, CI, and VPN IPs are frequently blocked regardless of the browser. Run on a residential connection and space searches a few minutes apart; rapid repeat searches from one IP can trigger 429s.

When should I use VRBO search instead of Airbnb?▼

Use VRBO for whole-property stays such as multi-bedroom condos, cabins, and homes, especially in resort and mountain towns where professional managers list properties not on Airbnb. For private rooms in shared homes, use Airbnb instead.

Related Skills

Explore More Personal & Entrepreneur Skills→
aiunlocked1412aiunlocked1412
14

travel-planner

Plan travel itineraries and budgets for Thai travelers.

Community
Advanced
borskiborski
616

compare-hotels

Compare hotel and vacation rental pricing across multiple travel portals.

Community
Advanced
taracodlabstaracodlabs
779

google-hotels

Automate hotel search and price checks on Google Hotels via browser automation.

Official
Intermediate
cellarwoodcellarwood

recipe-create-vacation-responder

Configure Gmail vacation responder settings with subject, message, and date range.

Official
Basic