When Airbnb began in San Francisco in 2008 the name was inspired by private hosts providing air mattresses for paying guests to stay in their living rooms – and offering B&B stays.
Things have moved on a little since then, with some properties costing more than £42,000 a night. Admittedly, this would get you a villa sleeping 16 on a beach in the Turks and Caicos islands with a two-level pool, cocktail lounge, private dock and home-theatre.
There are now more than eight million listings worldwide, with 220,000-plus in the UK alone.
Founders Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk and Joe Gebbia – who struggled initially to raise investment, resorting to selling gimmicky cereal boxes with pictures of Barack Obama and John McCain during the 2008 US election campaign in order to fund the company’s early operations – had clearly been on to something.
Here we round up some of the most spectacular properties, covering all budgets.
Europe
ROOFTOP IN ROME
Tuck yourself away in Rooftop Campo dei Fiori, a two-bedroom apartment sleeping four in Italy’s capital, enjoying views across church domes and steeples from a terracotta-tiled terrace with potted plants. This is a tranquil haven with exposed beams and avant-garde modern art, offering a chance to live like a local (one with great taste, at that). There’s air-conditioning and the main sights are within walking distance.
Rooftop Campo dei Fiori is a tranquil haven which enjoys views over the Italian capital
How much? From £255 per night.
SCANDI CHIC
Half an hour’s drive east of Oslo, Norway’s capital, you can relax by a splendid lake at WonderINN, near Stotterudvegen, sleeping up to four. It comprises two structures: a mirrored-glass cabin with a sleek interior and a master bedroom facing the water, while the second sleeping area is in a separate, rustic-style A-shaped hut. There’s a fantastic outdoor hot tub – plus great local hikes.
Relax by a splendid lake at WonderInn, Norway
How much? From £183 per night.
PERFECT PORTUGAL
On a rugged coast south of Lisbon, Sesimbra Beach House, sleeping two, is a short walk from the shore and comes with a clean, whitewashed look – enjoying fantastic Atlantic Ocean balcony views. The ‘beach house’ is more like an apartment and has a simple kitchenette. But it’s extremely good value for such a stylish hideaway complete with air-conditioning, Smart TV, wifi and an espresso machine.
The Sesimbra Beach House apartment sleeps two and has spectacular views
How much? From £75 per night (two-night minimum).
SUBLIME SANTORINI
Sleek lines and graceful curves with a pared-down style, plus decor in neutral colours, combine to create a soothing feel at Santorini Sky: The Lodge. It’s perfect for romantic couples, with its infinity hot tub, sweeping views to the coast and king-size bed. There’s a brilliant rooftop terrace with a day-bed too.
Santorini Sky: The Lodge is perfect for romantic couples
How much? From £475 per night (two-night minimum).
TUSCAN HIDEAWAY
With ten bedrooms sleeping 16-plus guests, Villa Laura in Cortona, in the Tuscan hills, is a traditional stone building that featured in the Hollywood romantic-comedy film Under The Tuscan Sun. It’s elegantly decorated with antiques, chandeliers and exposed beams, as well as designer lighting and modern art. The beautifully kept garden has a pool and a hot tub. The kitchen is huge, with an adjoining dining room.
Villa Laura featured in the Hollywood romantic-comedy film Under The Tuscan Sun
How much? From £1,888 per night (seven-night minimum).
SUSTAINABLE IN SWEDEN
Fancy living off-grid in style? Sleeping up to five, this three-bed home in Bralanda, southern Sweden, is designed like a greenhouse, with glass for walls. The A-framed property offers panoramic views of Lake Vanern and is located close to a lake beach and harbour. Guests can pick their breakfast, lunch and dinner from the Mediterranean garden before relaxing under the stars in the property’s wood-fired hot tub.
This unique property in Bralanda offers panoramic views of Lake Vanern and is located close to a lake beach and harbour
How much? From £412 per night.
NORWEGIAN WILDERNESS
Views don’t come much better than those at Birdbox. Perched high on a mountainside in Fauske, northern Norway, the chic-but-small wooden cabin, which sleeps two, has sensational views of Blegja mountain range and the Forde fjord from three of the box’s four sides. In winter, watch the snow fall while sipping a glass of wine in bed. During summertime, hike in the surrounding mountains and take dips in the fjord.
Views don’t come much better than those at Birdbox in Fauske, northern Norway
How much? From £280 per night.
United Kingdom
SCOTTISH CASTLE
Play at being kings and queens in your very own castle when staying at 16th-century Kilmartin Castle, which has been converted into a sumptuous Airbnb with stone walls and a mix of antique furniture and original art. Relax by the fire in the grand hall or in the whisky snug. There’s a wood-burning stove, a garden pool and five bedrooms sleeping ten. It’s located near Lochgilphead in Argyll and Bute.
Kilmartin Castle has a wood-burning stove, a garden pool and five bedrooms sleeping ten
How much? From £950 per night (three-night minimum).
SOUTH DOWNS DREAM
If you fancy a dip when staying at ‘Luxury Cabin on Private Lake’ in Hassocks, West Sussex, the clue is in the Airbnb name. It’s easy to drop off the jetty leading from the wooden deck into the water of your private, four-acre lake. This fabulous A-shaped wood cabin property sleeps four in a master bedroom and another with bunks. You’re supplied with a punt, raft, canoe and paddleboard. There’s a log-burning fire and a rustic chic interior.
This fabulous, A-shaped, luxury wood cabin property sleeps four
How much? From £839 per night (two-night minimum).
PEAK PERFECTION
Close to the charming market town of Bakewell and Chatsworth House (the seat of the Duke of Devonshire), Mere View Cottage is in the village of Monyash, a minute’s walk from a pub, the popular Bulls Head. This ivy-clad Grade II-listed cottage, sleeping two, has a cosy lounge with a fireplace (with plenty of fuel), a vinyl record player (with a large selection of records) and a television featuring Amazon Prime and Netflix. There’s a well-tended garden and you’re within the Peak District National Park for hikes.
How much? From £114 per night.
LOVELY IN THE LAKES
Sleeping four in two bedrooms in a 17th-century Grade II-listed cottage in the hamlet of Hartsop, near Ullswater in the Lake District, Green Bank is a treat. Gorgeous views of rolling fells, including Gray Crag and Hartsop Dodd, are to be had from the back garden – it’s a walkers’ paradise. Expect a log-burner, thick stone walls and a feeling of tranquillity in a remote setting; you’ll need a vehicle to reach it down a farm track. This is a blissful spot to for a peaceful (and comfortable) escape.
How much? From £130 per night.
EAST SUSSEX SENSATION
Within the grounds of Oastbrook Vineyard in Rother Valley, near Bodiam Castle, Vineyard Hollow is an unusual, extremely comfortable grass-roofed two-bedroom bungalow/villa, sleeping four. An upside-down horseshoe-shaped entrance leads to a circular main room with a lounge featuring a wood-burning fire. Exposed beams and wooden furniture give an earthy feel. There’s a garden hot tub.
Vineyard Hollow is an unusual, extremely comfortable grass-roofed two-bedroom bungalow/villa, sleeping four
How much? From £360 per night (two-night minimum).
COTSWOLDS TREAT
You could walk by this corrugated structure in the peaceful village of Woodmancote, four miles north of Cirencester, and hardly glance its way, yet inside is a bijou hideaway with an open-plan living space, soft lighting, throw rugs and leather armchairs. Listed as ‘Beautifully Eclectic Cotswold cabin’, sleeping two, the feeling is of having stepped into the pages of a tasteful design magazine.
This cabin gives the feeling of having stepped into the pages of a tasteful design magazine
How much? From £182 per night (two-night minimum).
BATH BEAUTY
The price tag may be high but The Maisonette Abbey Green is a huge apartment in a Georgian townhouse sleeping 12 in four bedrooms: perfect for a family get-together in Bath. The elegant living room is the highlight with chandeliers, gilded mirrors, objets d’art and high sash windows facing a cobbled square – Jane Austen would, surely, have felt quite at home. You’re right by the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey.
The Maisonette Abbey Green is a huge apartment in a Georgian townhouse sleeping 12 in four bedrooms: perfect for a family get-together in Bath
How much? From £526 per night (two-night minimum).
POSH BOTHY
Stay in a former shepherd’s bothy in rolling countryside in the remote hamlet of Donkleywood, North Tyne Valley – while enjoying a slick hideaway that’s a far cry from its old farming days. At Black Reiver Bothy – tagged ‘Pure peace and quiet in beautiful Northumberland’ by Airbnb – you’re surrounded by sheep farms, while inside you’ll find two smart little upstairs bedrooms, sleeping two. You’re 1.5 miles from Falstone village, with a pub and tearoom.
Black Reiver Bothy is a former shepherd’s bothy in rolling countryside in the remote hamlet of Donkleywood, North Tyne Valley
How much? From £129 per night.
Rest of the world
MOROCCO IN STYLE
Half an hour from the centre of Marrakech in the village of Tagadirt – with superb Atlas Mountains views – Dar Itrane is a standalone house with a sleek, contemporary interior featuring splashes of modern art, two comfortable bedrooms (sleeping four) and a peaceful garden with a lawn and a small pool. Dar Itrane translates from Berber as ‘house of the stars’ – and you get excellent sightings at night.
Dar Itrane is half an hour from the centre of Marrakech in the village of Tagadirt – with superb Atlas Mountains views
How much? From £127 per night (three-night minimum).
MEXICAN LOVENEST
How about booking a huge mirrored-glass house on the edge of an extinct volcano in Mexico? ‘Mirrored house on Volcano’ is near San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato. It sleeps two and comes with an outdoor plunge pool surrounded by cacti. The remote property is off-grid, facing arid slopes. The interior is minimalist, dotted with artistic photography. There’s a lovely, stand-alone copper bath.
‘Mirrored house on Volcano’ is near San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato
How much? From £535.50 per night (two-night minimum).
THAI BARGAIN
Sleeping up to six in a tropical nature reserve on a quiet hillside on the island of Koh Samui, The Naked House has a saltwater pool on a sea-facing terrace. Ceiling-to-floor glass windows and an open-plan arrangement provide a minimalist feel, hence the villa’s name. It’s spread over four floors, with designer furniture and modern art throughout, plus a swinging sofa and outdoor bathtub.
The Naked House Sleeps up to six in a tropical nature reserve on the island of Koh Samui
How much? From £250.50 per night.
COOL IN COLORADO
Live out your log-cabin dreams in this designer version of a forest retreat, tucked away in the US state of Colorado. Alpenglow is close to Twin Lakes, 120 miles south-west of Denver, and surrounded by mountains offering amazing hikes. There’s a smart interior with a large lounge with leather sofas and a wood-burner. It sleeps up to six in three cosy, wood-panelled bedrooms.
Live out your log-cabin dreams in this designer version of a forest retreat, tucked away in the US state of Colorado
How much? From £477.50 per night (two-night minimum).
INDONESIA FOR LESS
Hole up in a tiny treehouse with a thatched roof, plunge pool and hammock at Lumbung House in the tiny town of Ubud on the island of Bali, Indonesia. The curious-looking (but comfortable) wooden property’s garden overlooks a ravine and enjoys fantastic sunsets. You’re given a welcome drink, and a daily cleaning service as well as breakfasts included.
How much? From £105.50 per night (two-night minimum).
SOUTH AFRICAN STAR
A five-minute walk from popular Camps Bay Beach in one of Cape Town’s most sought-after seaside suburbs, 008 Villa is a seven-bedroom modern home, sleeping 14, with two infinity pools facing the Twelve Apostles mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean. Staffed with cleaners, chefs and a concierge, recent reviews include ‘this was hands down the best Airbnb I’ve ever stayed in’ and, simply, ‘wow’.
008 Villa is a seven-bedroom modern home, sleeping 14, with two infinity pools facing the Twelve Apostles mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean
How much? From £3,695 per night.
REMOTE NEW ZEALAND
Set in a secluded spot in Ben Lomond, New Zealand, LUC 22 offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountain range and Lake Wakatipu. Sleeping two, the remote cabin-like structure was designed in harmony with the alpine environment, using exterior corten steel that blends in with the iron colour of the mountains. The interior is rustic-looking with cedar walls.
Set in a secluded spot in Ben Lomond, New Zealand, LUC 22 offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountain range and Lake Wakatipu
How much? From £275 per night.
NICARAGUAN ISLAND
How about your own private island in Nicaragua? Book a villa sleeping eight in four bedrooms on El Coyol island, part of the Isletas de Granada, and luxuriate in beautifully decorated, elegant rooms with whitewashed walls, four-poster beds and ceiling fans. There’s a 12-metre infinity pool, a yoga platform and hanging daybed amid tropical gardens. It’s a ten-minute boat ride to Granada on the mainland.
This property on the private island of El Coyol has a 12-metre infinity pool, a yoga platform and hanging daybed amid tropical gardens
How much? From £575 per night (two-night minimum).
COSTA RICAN RETREAT
On Santa Teresa Beach, on Costa Rica’s west coast, the palm trees and tropical fronds surrounding Jungle House give rise to its name. This is a modern apartment with an outdoor terrace for alfresco dining and a hammock. A path leads to a swimming pool (shared with other apartment-block guests) with sunloungers facing the sea. It’s 300m from the beach as well as restaurants and cocktail bars.
Jungle House is a modern apartment with an outdoor terrace and a hammock
How much? From £235 (two-night minimum).
MOROCCAN PALACE
Sometimes only a palace will do … so Airbnb has signed up Chahar Mahal Palace in Morocco – set in countryside 15 miles south-east of Marrakesh. Sleeping ten in five bedrooms, this is a splendid ochre-coloured structure with sweeping lawns and a long pool, plus a hammam (a traditional steam bath). The huge, oasis-like garden is home to well-tended rose bushes and enjoys Atlas mountains views. Rooms are en suite with marble fittings, fine art and carpets.
How much? From £2,023 per night (three-night minimum).
BALI BAMBOO HOUSE
Just north of Denpasar town on Bali in Indonesia, Aura House has two bedrooms sleeping four in an ‘eco bamboo house’ featuring a pool and a view of River Ayung. It looks a bit like a tall, decorative hat – coming with a pointy roof and bamboo support beams shooting every which way. There’s also a little oval-shaped pool and a balcony with sofas and good sunrise views. Food, including traditional Balinese dishes, is available at an on-site restaurant.
How much? From £273 per night (two-night minimum stay).
TURKS & CAICOS BLOWOUT
If you’ve won the lottery, or just fancy blowing a fortune, Emerald Cay – listed as ‘entire villa in Providenciales’ – on a white-sand beach in the Turks and Caicos could be for you. It sleeps 16 and comes with a two-level pool, cocktail lounge, firepit area, private dock, hot tub, tennis court, gym – plus a chef and a butler.
How much? From £42,140 a night.
