Staycae 2025 Review for Short Term Rental Management in Dubai

Before handing over your property to a vacation rental company, one question that should guide your decision is… what is their return on investment (ROI) like?

From our experience at Homevy; Dubai’s leading Airbnb management company, ROI is driven by four key factors:

1. Setting the right rental prices
2. Consistent property maintenance
3. Strategic marketing to boost exposure and occupancy
4. Guest experience: ensuring guests leave satisfied

If you’re wondering how Staycae performs across these areas, this 2025 review will help you decide.

Let’s dive in.

An Overview of Staycae’s Holiday Home Management in Dubai

Screenshot from Staycae’s Website

Staycae is one of Dubai’s well-known vacation rental management companies, offering short-term rental services for property owners who want to generate income without handling day-to-day operations.

Their approach is straightforward.

As a homeowner, you hand over your property and they manage the rest. This includes bookings and guest check-ins to cleaning and ongoing maintenance.

Staycae positions itself as a full-service management company, appealing to property owners who prefer a hands-off experience in Dubai’s short-term rental market.

“But reputation alone doesn’t guarantee results. I want to know if Staycae is a good choice to manage my short-term rental in Dubai.” 

You’re right…

And that’s exactly what we’ll dig into in the sections ahead.

Staycae’s Property Management Fees & Pricing Strategy

Photo by Kaboompics

Before trusting any property management company, you want to know exactly what they charge and whether their pricing approach would maximize your ROI.

How does Staycae handle management costs and rental rates?

1. Staycae’s Management Fees and Costs in Dubai

Property management fees in Dubai are a big deal in short-term rentals because they directly determine how much you take home.

With Staycae, however, the exact fee isn’t stated anywhere on their website. For owners trying to calculate ROI, Staycae’s lack of transparency can feel like a red flag.

What we do know is that Staycae charges guests AED 1,000 security deposit.

While this is fairly standard in Dubai’s holiday home market, vacation rental companies like Homevy take a different approach by placing AED 500 hold instead.

The difference? With a hold, guests aren’t charged unless damage occurs, which gives guests peace of mind that their money is safe.

The thing about security deposits is how quickly they’re returned. Delays in refunds can leave guests frustrated, which can lead to bad reviews and then hurt your property’s booking potential in the long run. 

2. Staycae’s Property Management Pricing Strategy: How They Set Rental Rates

Staycae describes its pricing model as “performance-based and competitive,” promising to deliver the highest yields for property owners.

On the surface, this sounds great but the mechanics aren’t explained.

Do they use dynamic pricing tools that track demand, seasonality, and local events? Or are rates set manually, potentially leaving money on the table?

From an ROI perspective, this matters a lot. For example:

• During peak events like Expo 2025 or New Year’s in Downtown Dubai, dynamic pricing could push nightly rates 2–3x higher. 
• In slower months, flexible pricing helps keep occupancy steady instead of leaving your property empty.
  

This is why owners want clarity: “Is Staycae truly using data-driven pricing, or is performance-based more of a marketing phrase?”

Later in this Staycae review, we’ll look at what property owners have experienced.

How Staycae Markets and Lists Dubai Properties for Maximum Bookings

Photo by Yan Krukau

Even if your property is priced perfectly, it won’t make a steady income without good marketing. Your property needs to be visible to the right guests, in the right places, at the right time.

Staycae highlights that they use both online and offline marketing to promote properties and that they also list homes across major booking platforms, giving homeowners exposure beyond just Airbnb.

You’d agree that’s the foundation of a solid marketing plan.

But here’s where things get a little thin. While Staycae does cover the basics – platform presence, booking management, and general visibility, they don’t go the extra mile in areas that often give your rental maximum exposure, which includes:

• Airbnb professional photos and staging that make your property look its best and attract more guests.
• Smart listing optimization, with SEO, keyword-rich descriptions, and attention-grabbing titles.
• Extra marketing features like paid ads or advanced targeting to get your rental in front of the right audience.

It’s not just us pointing this out though.

We’ve combed through what other property owners are saying about Staycae’s property management in Dubai.

Many owners aren’t satisfied; some mentioned getting fewer bookings than expected. This could be tied to the lack of advanced marketing efforts.

Source: Staycae’s Google Profile

Source: Staycae’s Google Profile

In a city as competitive as Dubai, basic isn’t enough; it’s the quality marketing and listing optimization that ultimately drives ROI.

Staycae 2025 Review: Property Maintenance for Dubai Property Owners

Staycae offers property maintenance by covering the essentials – regular cleaning, AC servicing, and general upkeep. 

But several homeowners have voiced concerns about poor maintenance. One shared that; “the AC kept running for an entire month with no one in it, neither was it cleaned.”

Source: Staycae’s Google Profile

For an Airbnb, this level of inconsistency can hurt guest satisfaction and directly eat into your ROI over time.

Be honest, if you booked an Airbnb and found it unkempt the first time, would you go back? Of course not.

Bottom line: Staycae’s property maintenance quality isn’t always consistent. And with Airbnbs, inconsistent cleaning or unchecked issues quickly show up as bad reviews.

Vacation rental companies like Homevy prioritize consistent cleaning, timely repairs, and proper checks to help your property perform better.

Staycae Review: Does Staycae Offer the Best Airbnb Guest Experience in Dubai?

Photo by Jonathan Borba 

Guest satisfaction is one of the biggest drivers of a successful Airbnb because once a guest is happy with their stay, they’re likely to book again.

To enhance the guest experience, Staycae provides services like:

• A digital setup with WiFi and Netflix for guests to stay connected and entertained.
• Tips for exploring Dubai like a local, from beaches to traditional eateries.
• Food delivery straight to the door for any craving, anytime.

Still, the ratings say a lot.

Staycae sits at 4.4 stars on Google and about 4.13/5.0 on Airbnb. Decent, but not impressive.

In short-term rentals, reviews are your currency. If you’re not consistently hitting 5 stars, it can directly impact bookings and your ROI.

On the flip side, Homevy has built a strong reputation for guest satisfaction by focusing on consistent cleaning standards, 24/7 communication, and smooth check-ins.

These are the exact factors Airbnb rewards with higher ratings, making Homevy a stronger alternative for homeowners who want reliable guest experiences.

At the end of the day, happy guests = higher ROI. 

2025 Staycae Reviews: What Airbnb Guests Are Saying About Staycae 

Here’s the truth though…not every guest has reported a bad experience with Staycae.

Some praised Staycae for the convenience of their locations, noting that the apartments were easy to locate and explore Dubai. For many travelers, being close to malls, restaurants, and attractions was a plus.

Guest review of Staycae from Google

However, the positive comments are often outweighed by recurring complaints that raise questions about consistency. Here are the key issues guests have pointed out:

1. Security Deposit Delays

A recurring frustrating issue for guests is how long it takes to get their security deposit back. Some mentioned waiting weeks, and another mentioned chasing a refund after two years.

Guest review of Staycae from Google

This kind of experience can easily harm future bookings.

2. Unprofessional Staff

Another recurring complaint is poor communication and how staff interact with guests. Words like “disrespectful” or “rude” keep coming up.

Even if the apartment itself is beautiful, a guest won’t forget how they were treated, especially if it was bad.

Guest review of Staycae from Google

3. Poor Property Maintenance

Maintenance is where many property managers struggle, and Staycae is no exception.

Guests have pointed out issues ranging from water leakage and broken furniture to poor overall cleanliness. Another mentioned they found a mouse in the fridge – enough to turn any guest away for good.

Guest review of Staycae from Google

4. Booking Mishaps and Professionalism Issues

Some guests also shared frustration with how bookings were handled.

One described confirming an apartment, only to be told upon arrival it had been rented out.

Since it was peak season, they were offered a replacement at a higher price and in poor condition. The guest called it “terrible professionalism” and even went as far as to call the experience a scam.

Guest review of Staycae from Google

On the other hand, homeowners have also raised concerns about revenue not matching expectations.

Often, this boils down to how pricing and marketing are managed. Without proper data-driven pricing, dynamic adjustments, and well-optimised listings, properties risk sitting empty or underperforming. And when occupancy is inconsistent, it’s the owners who see the impact in their earnings.

Guest review of Staycae

All these issues, from delayed deposits to low revenue, trace back to guest experience. And in the short-term rental market, guest experience drives reviews. Reviews drive occupancy. Occupancy drives ROI.

A Reliable Airbnb Management Alternative in Dubai to Staycae in 2025: Homevy

The best alternative to Staycae in 2025 is Homevy, the most intentional short-term rental company in Dubai.

With a solid 4.9-star rating on Google, plus features in trusted publications like MENA FM, Homevy consistently delivers higher guest satisfaction, better occupancy, and a smoother experience for homeowners.

Here’s how Homevy’s property management outperforms Staycae in ways that directly impact guest satisfaction and owner returns:

1. Delivering Consistent ROI for Property Owners in Dubai

Homevy strives to transform your property into a guest magnet. Here’s their approach to keeping your rental profitable.

• Through Airbnb interior design & furnishing, Homevy curates every detail of your home. They enhance your space with accent walls, lighting, and carefully sourced furniture to create a guest-ready sanctuary.
• Professional Photography: Their in-house team stages and shoots your property with professional quality to ensure a great first impression.
• Optimizing listings across platforms, refreshing them regularly, and running A/B tests to keep your property competitive. Homevy takes marketing like a full-time job, unlike Staycae, whose reviews often highlight weak marketing efforts.
• Vacation Rental Price Optimization: Homevy’s AI-powered tool, ProphetBot, adjusts nightly rates in real time to match seasonal demand and even shows whether your unit performs better as a short- or long-term rental.

2. Homevy Offers the Best Airbnb Guest Experience in Dubai

Homevy’s Superhost status and positive reviews say it all.

Guests often describe their stays as calm and cozy, with thoughtful touches like fresh cotton sheets and a neatly stocked fridge that make the Airbnb feel instantly like home.

Guest review of Homevy

Homevy guest services include:

• Expert tour guides for city exploration
• Personal chefs and trainers on request
• Airport transfers
• Daily maid services
• A digital guest guidebook with curated local recommendations

Plus premium amenities like:

• Fully stocked essentials and luxury linens that measure up to 7-star hotels
• Smart locks for seamless check-in/check-out
• Pinterest-worthy bathrooms with curated toiletries and plush towels

Every detail is designed to give guests a true home-away-from-home experience.

3. Homevy Provides Consistent, 24/7 Guest Support

One recurring Staycae complaint is poor communication. Homevy flips that narrative.

Their multilingual support team replies instantly “as fast as a cheetah,” as one guest put it… no matter the language or time of day. Because quick, helpful support doesn’t just keep guests happy; it earns you better reviews and repeat bookings.

Guest review of Homevy

4. Homevy Manages Homes That Stay in Pristine Condition

Where Staycae has received complaints about professionalism, Homevy stands out for being consistent and reliable. Here’s how they make this happen:

1. Preventive Care: Homevy regularly checks AC, plumbing, and electrical systems to stop problems before they start.
2. Post-Stay Maintenance: After every guest leaves, the Homevy team sanitizes the space, changes linens restocks amenities, and inspects everything to make sure it’s perfect for the next visitor.
3. Mid-Stay Cleaning: For longer bookings, they step in to keep the property spotless throughout the stay.

Guests notice the difference. A guest shared that their Homevy apartment was “more than clean,” which is the result of Homevy’s commitment to keeping homes in top condition.

Guest review of Homevy

Homevy vs Staycae: Head-to-Head Airbnb Management Comparison in 2025

Final Verdict: Is Staycae the Best Short-Term Rental Management Option in 2025?

Guest reviews and property owner feedback show that Staycae’s property management isn’t consistently dependable, which can turn out costly for homeowners in the long run.

Holiday home companies like Homevy focus on maximizing ROI for property owners while ensuring guests enjoy a memorable stay. Compared to Staycae, Homevy consistently delivers a higher level of reliability and results.

If you value transparency, consistent performance, and an exceptional guest experience, Homevy is the smarter Airbnb management choice in 2025.

Reach out to them at +971 50 146 1100 to get started with hassle-free vacation rental management in Dubai.