If you’re a frequent vacationer or a first-time traveler, it’s likely possible that you may have heard about Airbnb. This revolutionary and social-loving website connects people who have a property to rent with travelers looking for a place to stay.
The options Airbnb provide range from a spare room in a villa to a full access to an entire house. The choices are so varied that in some countries, you can actually rent a private island for you and your travel buddies.
Airbnb, a site that started in 2008, has elevated the “room for rent” business to something more with its offers of full-on rentals of houses with multiple bedrooms and amenities.
When you search for a property to rent in the site, you can stay as conservatively or as crazy as you like. For the former, you can search for typical houses, apartments and rooms. For the latter, you can search for castles, earth houses, tipis, caves and even treehouses.
Due to the wide selection of these properties and the intense growth of the site, Airbnb has included a number of “Trust and Safety” features and conditions to the properties it offers.
Benefits of Airbnb
In the past, when a person travels, his only options were hotels or B&B lodgings. While these lodgings are still popular and sought-after, Airbnb provides new players to the game. It progressively becomes the go-to site of travelers – solo or with companions – because:
- It’s relatively affordable than staying in hotels.
- Many of the choices are kid-friendly like homes with a backyard or a playground.
- The majority of the properties listed can accommodate more people and often without the extra charge.
- It allows travelers to experience and stay in homes that are architecturally one-of-a-kind.
- It gives off a “sense of home” vibe where guests can be more at ease and comfortable with their surroundings.
Airbnb also provides a unique personal connection between the host of the property and the guests. If you choose to stay with a host, he or she can provide reliable tips and guidelines on how to fully enjoy the local sites and destinations.
Your host may also give tidbits about rarely discovered sites near the property.
Security at Airbnb
One of the concerns that every traveler thinks about is the security of the place.
This is one of the top priorities of the site as well. To provide a safe service all the time, the site provides:
- 24/7 hotline for “Trust & Safety” concerns or queries.
- Round-the-clock concierge service added to every booking.
- Unfiltered feedback and comments from previous guests.
- It’s also worth noting that a number of the “Trust & Security” features of the site are constructed to protect the host as well. These include an occasional host guarantee (money), privacy regulations, and assistance in screening guests.
Etiquette for Airbnb Guests
All travelers and vacationers that use the site to book a property is considered an Airbnb guest. As such, certain rules and regulations are expected to be followed once a guest stays at the property offered by Airbnb. These include:
- Keeping your personal belongings to yourself. Remember that you’re essentially living in someone else’s home so regardless if you’ve just rented a room or the whole house, you need to be respectful of the things that belong to your host.
- Minding your own business. The contract that you signed-up for is to rent the place for a short period of time. It doesn’t have a clause where you can butt in to the personal business of your hosts or the other guests. It’s okay to be friendly, after all connecting with others is one of the perks of travelling. However, it’s not okay to be intrusive and be an overbearing guest.
- Respecting the rules. Some Airbnb listings demand certain rules to be followed, like a no-smoking policy or a curfew to adhere to. Don’t play the “tourist card” or the “I’m just here for a short while” excuse to break the rules. Also, to avoid the “I didn’t know that’s not allowed” reasoning, make sure to read the contract or agreement form first before signing-up.
Airbnb provides a different experience for travelers. It’s something that every traveler needs to try, even just once. It opens a whole new world for exploration, for connecting with others, for experiencing new things and for making every journey a memorable one.
And being mindful of the fact that you’re renting a place for a short while and respecting the agreement you have agreed to will make your vacation stress-free and more enjoyable.
Extravagant Airbnb Properties
One of the strongest selling points of Airbnb is its selection of unique properties. Travelers can choose normal looking houses or homes with conceptualized designs.
Some Airbnb apartments are traditional and simple, while others are out-of-this world and luxurious. Below are just ten of the most extravagant properties that Airbnb offers. Take a look at them and who knows, maybe on your next travels, you can book one or all of them.
1. The Seashell House
The Seashell House is a one-of-a-kind two-bedroom, two-bathroom property in Isla Mujeres, Mexico.
What makes this house extravagant is its amazing seashell contour sitting prominently against the nature’s backdrop. It is also located in a gated property on a cliff side off a tiny island so privacy is a sure thing.
The north beach, undoubtedly the best beach in Isla Mujeres, is merely 15 minutes away from the house.
- View Property
- Get $25 off your first booking at Airbnb
2. Off-grid itHouse
Awarded as one of the “Best Homes in America” by Dwell, the Off-grid itHouse in California is an architectural masterpiece.
As the name implies, the property is literally off-grid, and only powered by solar panels. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom property is deliberately devoid of television and Wi-Fi.
It’s the perfect nest for travelers who wish privacy and tranquility while enjoying nature’s beauty.
3. Villa in Iceland
Located in the north part of Iceland, this villa is a part of three stunningly built apartments in Vaðlaheiði named Villa Lola.
The massive four-bedroom, two-bathroom villa is just a 10-minute drive away from Akureyri, north Iceland’s capital, that offers all kinds of restaurants, shopping malls, cafes, and galleries.
From the villa, travelers can also take hiking tours up to Mt. Sulur, do horseback riding, visit heated swimming pools, and take part in professional scuba diving.
4. Your Own Fiji Island.
When it comes to Airbnb extravagance, one of the luxuries that top the list is the Nanuku Island in Fiji.
Here, the traveler doesn’t merely rent a house or an apartment, but a private ISLAND. Vacationers will definitely escape the stress and the buzz of the city in this island with the magnificent display of nature in its rarest form.
The potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity offers two basic bures – a Fiji-style home – complete with private bedrooms and bathrooms, outdoor dining area and even a sleep-out space.
- View Property
- Get $25 off your first booking at Airbnb
5. King of the Castle
Vacationers need not have a royal blood to stay in true-blue castle thanks to the King of the Castle in Galway, Ireland.
This beautiful, enigmatic, medieval castle can be booked just for a weekend or for as long as the guests want. Refurbishments were made to the castle in the past decade, making it updated with modern conveniences like solar water heating.
The castle offers the master bedroom to its guests, along with two more bedrooms, living and dining rooms, storage spaces, and access to the turret.
6. Cube House
- View Property
- Get $25 off your first booking at Airbnb
Rotterdam in South Holland, is one of the most beautiful and modern cities in the Netherlands; it also offers the Cube House. As the name implies, this unique two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is shaped into cubes.
The artistically-built edges of the property along with a cozy “chillroom” on the top floor makes it one of the most popular extravagant houses Airbnb offers.
7. Italian Hilltop Villa
Podere Palazzo is a stunning country villa in Italia that is smack between Rome and Florence. The rustic splendor of the villa that is located atop a hill provides vacationers the pristine beauty of the surroundings.
This includes rows after rows of orchards, vineyards, oak woods and pastures. The huge five-bedroom villa that accommodates up to ten guests requires at least seven nights as minimum stay.
8. Ocean Front Villa in Thailand.
For serious waterbugs and beach lovers, the Ocean Front Villa in Phuket, Thailand is the place to be. This six-bedroom, five-bathroom villa is literally just a few steps away from the ocean.
It’s also a short walk away from the stunning Kamala Beach where the water is deep blue and the food is praise-worthy. The exclusive villa also provides access to the amenities of the nearby Cape Sienna Hotel.
- View Property
- Get $25 off your first booking at Airbnb
9. Vegas Luxury Palm Place Penthouse
When it comes to extravagance, Las Vegas will never be out of the list. The Sin City offers the luxurious two-bedroom, three-bathroom Vegas Luxury Palm Place Penthouse to travelers who wish to vacation like royalties. Fittingly designed with king and queen beds, kick-ass Jacuzzi tub and en suite bathrooms, this is THE house to rent and enjoy.
- View Property
- Get $25 off your first booking at Airbnb
10. Airplane Suite
- View Property
- Get $25 off your first booking at Airbnb
Vacationers who wish an extraordinary extravagant place to rent need to stop searching now with the Airplane Suite in Gelderland, Netherlands.
The one-bedroom property is a real-deal airplane that is converted into a luxury suite. This amazing space is furnished with a Jacuzzi, sauna, mini-bar, and pantry. It also offers guests with a free Wi-Fi connection.
They look pretty amazing, right? And they are just ten of the most astounding, clearly extravagant properties that you can rent via Airbnb.
For more awesome, weird, gorgeous, unique, lovely and popular home or room-for-rent properties all over the globe, try booking your next accommodations with Airbnb.
