Skip to main content

The Manual’s Top 5 Airbnb’s

If you’re a keen traveler and you still haven’t heard of Airbnb, this post may just change your life…or at the very least, help you save a ton of money on kick-ass accommodation in the future.

The online Airbnb community was founded in 2008. Since then, its members have enjoyed both advertising their own spaces for short-term holiday lets and renting other desirable homes around the globe for a slice of the price of a hotel. Now in its seventh year, word has spread to the furthest corners of the world and a portfolio of over a million breathtaking properties are now available to rent. Here, we’ve trawled endless pages to find the coolest five.

1. The Seashell House, Isla Mujeres, Mexico

This place is beyond awesome. Built by architect Eduardo Ocampo, The Seashell House offers a very unique pit stop that sleeps four people comfortably. Aside from its idiosyncratic design, the little house promises a dreamy stay with tons of privacy – excluding passing tourists keen to snap the kooky exterior – and chill factor, thanks to the private pool and lounge area.

2. ElquiDomos Astronomic Hotel, Coquimbo, Chile

If you’re searching for a truly cosmic trip, this astronomic hotel is an epic choice. Pitch up in a fully furnished, geodesic igloo and stargaze from the comfort of your own bed. Or if you’re itching to get out, join in on one of the regular astronomic tours or nighttime horse rides. The perfect place for a romantic getaway, circa 2015.

3. Aegean Island Villa, Athens, Greece

If you’ve been secretly dreaming of living out your own Peter Pan fantasy, listen up. This Greek villa can totally play the Neverland to you and your band of lost boys. This pad offers five bedrooms spread throughout three buildings, a salt water pool, a bamboo-surrounded pergola, a Turkish steam room and even a resident parrot, all nestled on the coast of south Evvia, Greek’s second largest island. Complete with a friendly host of staff, we can’t think of a better place to revisit your boyhood.

4. Augill Castle, Cumbria, England

Four-poster beds, roll top baths, open fireplaces…this magnifficent castle has everything you need to live out an olde English dream. Built in 1841 as a Victorian gentleman’s folly, prepare for some serious folly of your own. You can rent the entire castle for a maximum of 30 people and the live-in family and staff are sure to meet your every need.

5. Nanuku Island, Fiji

Ok, how about a stint on your own private island? This listing offers the paradise island of Nanuku as an entire rental. Situated in the midst of the South Pacific, this 10-acre island is all white sands and coconut trees. There are two beautifully basic bures (Fijian-style homes) for you and your companions to sleep in before exploring the breathtaking reef and fishing for supper. A local guide and housekeeper will be on hand to show you the ropes.

Editors' Recommendations

Jodie Kharas
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jodie Kharas is a style, art and culture writer who lives in London. She has contributed to the online platforms of POP…
Top 5 Travel Trends to Watch for in 2021
worlds best micro hotels citizen m guest room 1

Travel has changed more in the last two decades than in all of the 20th century combined (well, except for that conquering flight thing). With more people traveling now than ever, the ways we fly, cruise, and overnight are going to change in even bigger ways in the next decade. As we look specifically at 2021, here are five trends we expect to impact travel more than any others.
Space Tourism Is Seriously Heating Up

As recently as five years ago, space tourism seemed like a pipe dream. Companies like Space X and Virgin Galactic are making good on their promises to take regular (albeit well-heeled) travelers beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Courtesy of his Blue Origin project, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is promising to launch the first crewed test flights of its New Shephard shuttle into orbit this year. Space X already has plans for 2023 to take one lucky Japanese billionaire around the moon. Last summer, NASA announced that the International Space Station was officially open for business to paying overnight customers. Beyond that, the first-ever purpose-built space hotel -- the Von Braun Rotating Space Station -- is set to open by 2025. The new space race is clearly on.
Designer Micro Hotels Are Officially a Thing

Read more
Nowaday Reignites the Roaring ’20s With Bespoke Vintage Car Tours of NYC
nowaday vintage car tour nyc 1

Paris, Sydney, Los Angeles -- some cities are so iconic that it’s difficult to imagine seeing them “in a new light.” Likewise, New York City has been written about, serenaded, philosophized over, and explored from nearly every angle for more than a century. Now, one startup company is offering fresh, one-of-a-kind tours of the city in beautifully restored vintage cars.

These aren’t the typical Big Apple double-decker bus tours designed to herd tourists around by the dozen. Nowaday whisks guests through Manhattan in stunning classic cars from the 1920s and early 1930s. The fleet includes a dozen models like a 1932 Chrysler Imperial, a 1931 Chevrolet Series AE, and a rare 1928 Ford Model A. All have been meticulously restored to their original Jazz Age glory, but with updated safety and tech conveniences like air-conditioning, seat belts, and modern sound systems.

Read more
How to Be a an Airbnb Host That Earns 5-Star Reviews
how to be an airbnb host apartment front door with bike

Airbnb has become a de facto part of traveling in the 21st century. If you own an apartment, house, or riverfront RV, you could be funding all of your travels by renting out your own space. Here’s the low-down on how to be an Airbnb host.
Be Thorough, Honest, and Accurate
Like selling a hotel room, the key to a good Airbnb listing is honesty and accuracy. Manage guests’ expectations. Read and reread your listing with a critical eye toward anything that might seem confusing. A “kitchen,” for example, can mean different things to different people. Does yours literally have all major appliances, or is it just a toaster oven, a tiny sink, and a mini-fridge?

Highlight every feature, even the seemingly minor ones. If you offer free gourmet coffee pods, million-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, a pet-friendly space, and heated bathroom floors, include it all in your description. Even in semi-popular tourist destinations, you could be competing with hundreds of similar listings. What makes yours stand out?
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Bookings
Of course, a detailed description is key to a great Airbnb listing, but human beings are visual creatures — especially when it comes to travel. Don’t tell us what your lovely downtown Tokyo flat looks like; show us. Take wide, bright, well-composed shots of every space that your guests might encounter. Bedrooms are most important, along with anything that makes your property special. This includes a pool, an ocean view, or a nearby mountain range.

Read more