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Seneca Lake sunset — pink cumulus over the east shore, Burdett NY
Morning drone view of the east shore with private dock visible
Mid-day wide shot of Seneca Lake between the two shores
Evening golden-hour light over Seneca's east shore

THE DIRECT-BOOKING PAGE

The math on booking us direct.

The short version: on a $1,600 Airbnb night, direct costs you around $1,360. The savings are real, the math is public, and Airbnb's fee changes make direct booking the clear play.

Airbnb built the market this business runs in. It's where most guests find us the first time, and it will keep being that. But Airbnb has been changing how it charges hosts and guests, and the new math makes booking direct cheaper for the guest and healthier for the operator — so if you already trust us, this is the case for the direct path.

The rest of this page is the arithmetic. No pressure, no urgency games, no fake discounts. Just what a direct booking looks like, and why we think it's the right play for both sides.

THE ARITHMETIC

A $1,600 Airbnb night.

Same night. Same house. Same host. Two ways to book. Here's the actual money.

LineAirbnbDirect
Nightly rate · Lakeside Landing (weekday)$1,475$1,375
Nightly rate · Smooth Sailing (weekday)$475$425
Guest savings per night$100 (Lakeside) · $50 (Smooth)
Example: 5-night Lakeside stay (3 weekday + 2 weekend)Save $500 on the nightly base

The savings are a flat portion of the Airbnb host fee that we pass back to direct guests — $100/night on Lakeside, $50/night on Smooth Sailing. Cleaning and tax stack identically on both channels; the nightly rate is the only line that changes.

The 2026 Fee Shift

In 2026, Airbnb moved from a split-fee model — where hosts paid roughly 3% and guests paid 14–16% on top of the listed rate — to a host-only model where the platform fee is charged entirely to the host. Guests no longer see a separate service fee line at checkout, but hosts now absorb the full platform cost.

When you book direct, that fee isn't collected. We pass a flat portion back to you — $100/night on Lakeside Landing, $50/night on Smooth Sailing — and keep the rest to fund the linens, the dock chairs, and everything else that makes the properties what they are.

This is why the direct-booking math has only gotten clearer in 2026. The fee didn't shrink — it shifted entirely onto the host, and we're passing a real, honest slice back to the guest who books here instead.

WHAT DIRECT LOOKS LIKE

Three things that are different.

The person who books you in is the person who owns the house.

Not a call center. Not a shift worker. Ben or Sarah replies to your text — usually inside the workday, always inside 24 hours. When something needs a decision (early check-in, a specific request, a late-arrival window), the answer comes from the person with the authority to say yes.

The rate is the rate.

No stacked service fees, no line items that appear at checkout. What you're quoted is what you pay — cleaning + local occupancy tax added transparently. Card processing runs on Stripe, the same processor Airbnb and VRBO use, with the same security standards.

The house gets better every year.

Direct-booking economics are what fund reinvestment. The new PolyWood dock gliders that landed in June. The second set of fine linens. The matched bath towel sets that replaced the Airbnb-standard mismatched batch. On Airbnb margin alone, that reinvestment doesn't happen at the same pace. When you book direct, you are literally paying for the property to keep improving.

NOT A KNOCK ON AIRBNB

Airbnb built the market this business runs in. It's where most of our guests find us the first time, and we still keep an active listing there. If direct booking isn't right for you — you like the Airbnb cancellation protection, you have credits to spend, you prefer the review system there — book on Airbnb without hesitation. The lake will still be there either way.

This page exists for the guests who already know us, and are already coming back. That guest, this is the case for the direct path.

HOW

Three steps.

  1. 1

    Check the calendar

    The direct-booking calendar lives at /book — same live availability we push to Airbnb and VRBO.

  2. 2

    Text or email Sarah

    Direct inquiries go to a person, not a bot. Reply usually inside the workday. She'll send you the quote — Airbnb rate × 0.85, cleaning, tax, ready to sign.

  3. 3

    Stripe checkout, standard terms

    Same payment experience as any online purchase. Standard cancellation policy (full refund up to 60 days out; details on /faq). No different technical friction than Airbnb — better economics.

READY

Direct. From the operator.

Direct booking runs on the same processor, the same insurance, the same standards — with better math for you and healthier economics for the house.

Check Dates →FAQ →

GUEST REVIEWS

Direct-booking guests, in their own words.

5.0 ★ average · 6 guest reviews

★★★★★

“What a wonderful stay we had at Lakeside Landing. The home is beautifully decorated and spacious, clean, and inviting. Both indoors and outdoors were perfect for us and the kids, with the entire surrounding area a great place to drive and explore. The kids enjoyed the games, playing on the beach, and making s'mores over the fire pit. And the views of Seneca Lake from the house were spectacular — especially in the colder months when the trees have no leaves. Would absolutely recommend for a family getaway.”

Lakeside Landing · · Airbnb
★★★★★

“An absolute gem! Private, lots of amenities, and a spacious place. No shortage of areas to sit outside to enjoy the lakefront property and views. We took advantage of the available kayaks, paddle boards, and tubes at the dock, and the family enjoyed the office/library and games. Just a short drive to Watkins Glen where we hiked on the trails and enjoyed more scenery and waterfalls. Sarah was very responsive to our messages and questions. Will definitely book again!”

Lakeside Landing · · Airbnb
★★★★★

“We loved our stay at Sarah and Ben's home on Seneca Lake! It was an amazing location with beautiful views, and centrally located to the best wineries in the Finger Lakes. Well stocked with anything you would need for your stay. They were very responsive and attentive to our questions. We definitely would stay here again in a heartbeat for future visits to the area. Thank you Sarah and Ben!”

Lakeside Landing · · Airbnb