Airbnb’s quirkiest listings, from treehouses to an actual plane
To celebrate the homestay network’s 10th anniversary, we round up some of the coolest places to stay
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Your support makes all the difference.Airbnb is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this August. In the last decade the online accommodation network has expanded at an unbelievable rate, and now boasts more than five million hosts in 81,000 cities across 191 countries.
With the number of listings growing every year, the diversity of offerings has increased too. Tourists don’t have to settle for some bog-standard holiday let – they can access a whole host of weird and wonderful options they’d struggle to find elsewhere.
Here are 10 of the wackiest Airbnb listings for a trip with a difference.
Stay in a plane
Taking plane spotting to a new level, this unique rental is housed in an actual aircraft. It appears to have been a small jet rather than a commercial plane and, as such, can fit just four guests rather than several hundred passengers. Offering all the features of a self-catering apartment, a notable highlight is the toilet, built into what was once the cockpit. It’s located near Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef on the west coast of France and is “two minutes from the sea” according to the listing. From £80 per night.
Stay in a railway carriage
Train enthusiasts are also catered for. Located in St Austell, Cornwall, this converted carriage makes for a pretty off-the-wall glamping experience. It’s 60ft long and is divided into three separate bedrooms, with another room located in The Toad brake van a few yards away. This is off grid living: solar power provides electricity for lighting and charging mobile phones and there’s an eco waterless toilet. From £100 a night.
Stay in a sculpture
For a stay with a difference, this off-the-wall pad 20 minutes from Rome offers the chance to sleep in an actual work of art. Located on the roof of the host family’s villa, the apartment has its own bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, all located inside a dazzling white sculpture and adorned with colourful tiles. From £31 a night.
Stay in a treehouse
Treehouses are all the rage these days, but this one in San Salvatore Monferrato in Italy’s Piedmont region is particularly beautiful. Sleeping two, it offers panoramic views of the surrounding hills, plus a garden with a solarium and swimming pool. The garden is packed with cedars, magnolias, hollies and tamarisks; nature walks, cycle trails and wine tours can all be found nearby. From £126 a night.
Stay in a nest
This giant ball suspended in the trees is accessible via climbing nets, which can also be used as an outdoor space for reading and relaxing. There are five of these “nests”, just big enough to fit a circular double bed, set in an extensive park in France’s Loire region. Facilities onsite include a heated pool, tennis and petanque courts, ping pong and table football. From £90 a night.
Stay in a Dragon House
It’s easy to see why this huge pile in Suffolk earned the nickname of “the Dragon House” locally – a huge dragon sculpture sits atop a chimney stack on the roof. The interior is no less characterful, with eclectic styles and odds and ends making each room distinct. The owners are renting out just two bedrooms for short stays, but guests are treated to a full tour of the property as part of their stay. From £295 a night.
Stay in a gypsy caravan
These one-of-a-kind digs are housed in an antique gypsy car, which, in Tardis-like fashion, manages to encompass a double bedroom and bathroom, including full-length tub. It’s littered with antique pieces, while outside there’s a swimming pool free for guests’ use. Nearby lies the village of Sainte Foy, from where guests can catch a 10-minute bus into Lyon city centre. From £123 a night.
Stay in a geodome
Hidden among the trees in a small village in Andalusia, Spain, this wooden strutted dome provides a back-to-nature experience. The dome itself is dressed in canvas and has ample room for a double bed, while an outdoor deck has a table and benches for alfresco dining. The facilities are somewhat rustic – the “bathroom” consists of an outdoor shower and Moroccan-style toilet. “Squatting like in the old days,” reads the listing… From £47 a night.
Stay in a piece of architecture
An ultra-modern apartment near Akureyri in Iceland, this listing looks like it came straight out of the Grand Designs back catalogue. Huge windows make the most of the insane view, while a mezzanine double bedroom cleverly utilises the space. From £118 a night.
Stay in a tower
In Italy’s Umbrian countryside, this restored tower is completely round, making for a unique holiday home. It’s a cosy space divided into two floors – a kitchen and dining table on the ground floor, and a double bedroom on the first floor, connected by a spiral staircase (just to keep with the spherical theme). There’s a private garden and pergola outside, too. From £67 a night.
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