When I got married many years ago, we spent a week of our month-long Italian honeymoon in Florence in a vacation rental. We planned the trip this way to catch our breath, do the laundry, cook our meals from the local markets and get a feel for what life in Italy might be like full time. My husband at the time also worked in the travel business, so hotels meant work, not vacation for him. We were hooked. On our second anniversary, we met close friends from New York and San Diego at a vacation rental home in Santa Fe.
My point?
We used vacation rental homes when Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky was a toddler and long before VRBO launched in 1995. There have ALWAYS been short-term rentals. We just didn’t call them that. We rented through real estate companies, and they were available from a few nights to a few months. They have always been a great option.
I still use short term rentals exclusively because I want a quiet neighborhood and the ability to cook. Above all, I want to get together with friends like I would at home for a quiet dinner and reconnecting with people I love and haven’t seen in a while. Over the past few years, my high school girlfriends and I have met regularly and stayed in apartments in beautiful historic neighborhoods in Amsterdam, Prague, Vienna, and most recently in a historic old factory in Chicago.
We just can’t have the same experience in a hotel.
Hotels have their place and don’t get me wrong, give me a night or two at the Four Seasons Georges V in Paris and I won’t turn you down. However, no hotel offers the privacy of a vacation locationso once the holiday frenzy has passed, you know you’ll be craving a relaxing getaway.
Airbnb has a service called Luxury retreats it’s light years away from Chesky’s original concept of couch surfing. I did a search for Jan 15-30, but as we know these luxury retreats book up fast. Here are some luxury vacation rentals that fit the bill.
Luxury Telluride Retreat for Your Post-Holiday Getaway
This beautiful luxury vacation rental in Telluride is perfect for those of you who want a snowy getaway. sunset ridge is in Telluride, Colorado. It’s called a mid-century masterpiece with a pond and vistas, and I think it’s perfect. You can accommodate 14 people here in six bedrooms and add a host of private services, from a chef and driver to a butler or nanny. It’s $13,333 per night, so count around $213,904 for two weeks.
A gentle stream feeds the peaceful pond surrounding this designer mountain estate with panoramic views of the San Juan Mountains. Grab a glass of wine on a walkway and sip around the sunken fire pit, or head inside the dizzying interiors to admire the wild beauty of the West through floor-to-ceiling walls of glass. You are minutes from the slopes, with the Alta Lakes a short drive away.
Airbnb
A vacation rental in Long Bay Hills of the Turks and Caicos Islands
If you fancy a beach vacation, head to the Turks and Caicos Islands, especially Long Bay Hills in Providenciales. This 12,000 square foot luxury beachfront villa includes a chef, butler and housekeeper, and sleeps 12 in five bedrooms.
TIP is a celebrity-caliber luxury villa with nearly 500 feet of spectacular beachfront and in an enclave of 40 coconut trees. TIP sits at the “tip” of a peninsula which is one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Turks & Caicos called Turtle Tail Drive. This safe and exclusive residential area is on the beautiful south coast of Providenciales.
With water views throughout and sea access from both sides, TIP has a private island feel. The Grace Bay action is just 15 minutes away. It’s a paradise where the only neighbors are the colorful fish, turtles, stingrays and lobsters that inhabit this natural wonderland.
TIP is like a small private station but exclusively available for a group. There is enough space and unique areas for guests to find their own piece of paradise if they so choose. Features are plentiful, including a glass-walled swimming pool, huge built-in lounger bed, fire pit, private beach, palapas, dock and decks, volleyball court, putting green, Crystal Clear kayaks (yes, you can see right below you), paddle boards, games room including pool table, darts, video games, etc.
The villa is staffed by two professionals with years of experience in the luxury hotel industry.
VRBO
Africa is calling you with this glamping retreat in the Serengeti
If you really want to get out of town, Africa is calling. There is no better glamping experience than A nature Nyaruswiga Serengeti within a national park. This is a great hybrid vacation rental, offering privacy but with the amenities of a resort. For two weeks, that’s about $70,000 to enjoy a 1,163-square-foot luxury tent that sleeps five.
The natural beauty of the area can be seen by visiting Serengeti National Park and Seronera Information Centre. Discover the region’s wildlife on a nearby game drive or try your luck with wildlife viewing.
You can expect a free cooked-to-order breakfast, free round-trip airport shuttle, and swim-up bar at One Nature Nyaruswiga Serengeti. Treat yourself to a massage or other spa services. Be sure to enjoy international cuisine at the onsite restaurant. In addition to a poolside bar and a terrace, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Expedia.co.uk
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