Tampa Bay’s Gold Standard in Vacation Rentals
Over 100 handpicked homes across Tampa Bay — booked direct, cared for by a local team who actually lives here.
Featured stays
Signature homes across Tampa Bay
The Neighborhood
Tampa Bay, at your doorstep
Sugar-sand beaches, a buzzing arts scene and Gulf sunsets — our team lives here and will point you to the good stuff.
Guest Reviews
★ 4.90 · 7,986 reviews on Airbnb
“The home had a nice peaceful vibe, my family loved it we all had a good time, Good hospitality.”
Palm Paradise
“My family and friends stayed here for the weekend, and we had a wonderful experience! The home was spacious and comfortably accommodated everyone. The kids especially enjoyed the pool, and the kitchen was fully equipped with everything I needed to prepare meals. The host was very responsive and helpful throughout our stay, making sure we had everything we needed. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend it!”
Sunny Brandon Escape
“This was the perfect place for our family vacation. My son's family had their own spaces and so did I. The house was spacious and comfortable. I would stay again!”
The Blue Heron
“My family and friends stayed here for the weekend, and we had a wonderful experience! The home was spacious and comfortably accommodated everyone. The kids especially enjoyed the pool, and the kitchen was fully equipped with everything I needed to prepare meals. The host was very responsive and helpful throughout our stay, making sure we had everything we needed. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend it!”
Sunny Brandon Escape
“We stayed here for a week for my 2yr old’s first time flying and to visit my best friend in the area. The house was wonderful, and we especially loved the pool! Everything was very clean, spacious, and comfortable. We had a great stay and would definitely recommend this home to others!”
Apollo Bay Retreat
“We had a wonderful stay with Emperor Rentals. Mark was incredibly kind, responsive, and accommodating throughout our stay. We were in Tampa for my mom’s surgery, and having a comfortable, clean, and peaceful place to stay made such a difference during a stressful time. Communication was always quick and helpful, and they were very understanding when my mom was cleared to go home earlier than expected and we needed to check out early. We truly appreciated the hospitality and would absolutely stay with Emperor Rentals again. Highly recommend! ❤️”
Modern Palm Escape
Before you book
Questions guests ask
Does Emperor Rentals charge a service fee?
No. Booking direct on this site skips the platform service fee that Airbnb and Vrbo add at checkout — you pay the nightly rate plus taxes and the property's own fees, and every quote shows that all-in total before you commit. Each property page also compares the same dates against Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com so you can see the difference yourself.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is after 4:00 PM and check-out is before 10:00 AM. Access is by keyless smart lock, and your door code and directions arrive by email before arrival — there is no key pickup and no front desk.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation for 48 hours. Full refund 30+ days before check-in. 50% refund up to 14 days before. Review the full policy at checkout. The exact policy for your dates is shown at checkout before payment.
Are pets allowed?
Many of our homes are pet-friendly, but it is set per property — the pet policy is listed on each property page, and you can filter the browse page to pet-friendly homes only. Where pets are welcome, a pet fee may apply and is included in your quote.
Is there a minimum stay?
It varies by home and by date — weekends and holidays often carry a longer minimum than midweek. Pick your dates on any property page and the booking widget tells you immediately if that stay needs more nights.
Where in Tampa Bay are your homes?
Across the bay on both sides: Tampa, Temple Terrace, Brandon, Valrico, Riverview, Seffner and Lutz on the Hillsborough side; Clearwater, Seminole, Largo, Indian Rocks Beach, Treasure Island, St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Crystal Beach and Tarpon Springs on the Pinellas side; plus Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Hudson and Port Richey. Browse by city on the properties page.
How many homes does Emperor Rentals have?
Over 100 privately owned vacation homes across Tampa Bay, all managed by our local team. They are the same homes you will find on Airbnb and Vrbo — booking here just removes the platform's cut.
How do I reach a real person?
Call or text (813) 575-7777, or send a message from the contact page. The team is local to Tampa Bay and available 24/7 during your stay; enquiries outside a stay normally get a reply within one business day.
Are the reviews on this site real?
Yes, and they are not curated. Every review is synced straight from the platform the guest actually booked on — Airbnb, Vrbo or Booking.com — with the guest's own wording and date. Nothing is hand-picked or filtered, which is why low ratings appear too.
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