Whether we’re planning our next Joshua Tree bend or wheel chair crossing Europe on our lunch break, we usually – OK, always – do it with the help of Airbnbit’s endless roommate announcements. It’s just easier to plan a vacation if you know where you’re staying first, and it’s hard to imagine life before the home rental site, which was founded nearly 15 years ago and grew has since grown to include not just affordable apartments in expensive cities, but unique experiences such as eat fire. We appreciate you, Airbnb. But we were beginning to wonder what lurks beyond your pearly doors in terms of rental opportunities – and boy, did we find any sleeping gems.
The best Airbnb alternatives can take you to just as many epic places, but with even more options tailored to your specific needs. You can find luxury mid-century rentals on über-curated sites such as Plum Guide to go on summer vacation, celebrate the New Year or celebrate a big birthday. There is a whole network of affordable castles and converted follies you can rent across the UK that no one is talking about, and there are some pretty amazing listings on rental sites such as Vrbo who have excellent hassle-free cancellation policies. Variety is the spice of life, traveler, and these Airbnb alternatives have something for everyone, from the RV-obsessed road tripper to the month-long renter and beyond. Start saving your clams – it’s almost time to pack your bags.
blue background
If you are looking to stay somewhere for a month or more, blue background offers turnkey accommodations in stellar apartments in North America, Europe and Dubai. Similar to Airbnb, the startup helps you focus on your dream place by providing plenty of search filters and qualifications, so you can make sure you’re not just getting a legit place to stay in the heart from Paris, but a place with internet, a laundry – which is very rare in Paris – and on-call assistance from the Blueground team if needed.
The blue background
Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Paris Rue Mazarine
$2256.65 at The blue background
$2256.65 at The blue background
There are also clean, furnished rentals in the New York metro area, like this East Village studio, which includes laundry facilities, air conditioning, garden access, and even lets you bring your pet. As with all Blueground rentals, you will either be personally greeted by a member of the Blueground team or given self-check-in instructions.
The blue background
317 E 5th St, East Village, NY
$4550 at The blue background
Host family
One of the best parts of the trip, as Diane Lane taught us in Under the Tuscan sun, these are the people you meet along the way. Host family thinks so too and connects travelers with local families to host them on their journey, whether they’re seeing New Zealand for the first time or coming back up the Gold Coast. “It’s an affordable accommodation alternative,” website reads, “ideal for independent holidaymakers of all ages, interns, gap year students, students living abroad and anyone looking for a real and authentic travel experience.” As with Airbnb, you search many international listings in places like Japan, Brazil, Australia, USA, Europe and more, at significantly lower costs. For just $64 a night, you can stay in Silverlake, Los Angeles (one of the priciest and most booked neighborhoods) and get to know your five-star host couple, Isabel, and her husband, Ricardo “Ricky Rock” the musician, which are pie-sweet and AF-cool, according to critics. You’ll be in one of LA’s trendiest neighborhoods, and you’ll not only have a private bedroom and bathroom, but also your own entrance.
Host family
Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California
$64 at Host family
The historic trust
“How the hell don’t more people know?” was our first reaction against England Historic Trust, which offers an unprecedented opportunity to hole up in its 200 historic castles, Victorian follies, seaside cottages and sprawling villas in the UK, France and Italy for a ridiculously small sum of money. If it sounds too good to be true, remember: there is more than 10,000 castles alone in Europe, and many are lost to the old sands of time simply because no one can fund maintenance – and that’s where this operation comes in. “The Landmark Trust is a charity,” says the organization, “[and it] saves important buildings that would otherwise be lost. When you reserve a spot, your money goes directly to support these national restoration projects. It also means that you and the brothers could stay at Mansarda del Frutteto, an Italian Renaissance villa about an hour from Venice for about $798.64 a night, or tuck into a half-timbered chalet worthy of the bard himself in Suffolk, England, for $449.27 a night. Browse the vast list of propertiesfrom miniature castles to converted ruins, is practically a holiday in itself.
Historic Trust
The Banqueting House: Gibside, Newcastle
$344.92 at Historic Trust
$344.92 at Historic Trust
Plum Guide
Oh Plum Guide, how we love you. This is the Raya of rental sites, and one need only browse its meticulously curated international homes, many of which are made by renowned architects and designers, such as the invisible house of joshua tree– instantly makes us feel fresher, richer and more mysterious. We have devoted an entire article to the best houses on Plum Guidewhose rentals can be booked for anywhere from a few days to a month – and often book up quickly – so be sure to lock down this mid-century dream estate for you and eight friends to ring in the upcoming new year, birthday , Where Coming of the Lizardman Apocalypse. Many exquisite homes could star in their own music video or Scandinavian noir drama, and while some prices run into the thousands, there are unique and affordable stays like this converted chapel in Woodstock, New York.
Plum Guide
Woodland Hymnal: Woodstock, NY
$457 at Plum Guide
We also can’t stop lucidly dreaming of this East Hampton, New York home nicknamed “The 1968.” Can you imagine game nights in this pad? The endless cinematic possibilities of sipping sherry in a velvet dress on the shag carpet? It can accommodate up to six people.
Plum Guide
The 1968: East Hampton, New York
$2959 at Plum Guide
RVShare
Love the outdoors, but don’t want to hurt your back sleeping on dirt and rocks? Are you up for a road trip through the South West, but don’t own a van or motorhome? We, too, believe in finding a balance between roughing it and vacationing like Anna Delvey, and RVShare lets you easily connect to peer-reviewed rental RVs. “In other words, it’s basically the Airbnb of motorhomes,” writes Ian Burke for VICE on the ins and outs of RVShare. “Owners of RVs, RVs and everything in between can list their vacations on wheels on the platform and offset the cost of ownership by renting them out.” Just enter your pickup address and time, and bada-bing, you’re riding in style.
VR Sharing
Travel trailer 2016
$99 at VR Sharing
probe
probe is similar to Blueground in that it offers long-term turnkey rentals internationally, but it goes beyond that to hosting business retreats and business/group travel. “We thoroughly clean and sanitize each Sonder before and after each stay,” the company says on each rental’s page. The brand also offers self-check-in and 24/7 customer support through the Sonder app, as well as recommendations for local restaurants and sights. We have collected some of our favorite Sonder staysfrom New Orleans to Mexico City and beyond, but this breezy Austin, Texas apartment in the trendy SoCo district charmed our summer plans the most.
probe
Southern Congress in Austin, Texas
$125 at probe
Outside
As one of the largest motorhome rental sites in the world, Outside has created a peer-to-peer marketplace for anyone imagining Jack Kerouac for the summer. What you were looking for explore the national parks of the United States or if you just want to get your kicks on Route 66 in a clean, controlled vehicle, this site is full of fins such as this cheerful red off-road fort in Flagstaff, Arizona that’s ready to take you to the Grand Canyon.
Outside
Teardrop Camper in Flagstaff, Arizona
$85 at Outside
Vrbo
The OG, man. Vrbo worked for Airbnb to work, and is similar to the latter with its international selection of apartment and house rentals, but actually has a better cancellation policy than Airbnb, which requires guests to cancel within 48 hours of booking for a full refund, and to cancel at least 14 days prior to check-in. Vrbo Brothers (Vrbros???), however, will give you a full refund if you cancel at least 60 days before check-in, and a 50% refund (minus service fees) if you cancel at least 30 days before check-in. registration. -in. Treehouse rentalescapes to Icelandand real Frank Lloyd Wright houses have never been so possible for you and the crew.
Vrbo
Frank Lloyd Wright Woodside House: Marion, IN
$500 at Vrbo
A man
Planning a once-in-a-lifetime vacation? Are you a German heiress looking for one of the most coveted exclusive resort groups in the world? A manThe luxury hotels of span across the US, Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, and they’ve been giving us some really bothered FOMO thanks to their dream placeswhich include the otherworldly resort town of Utah that went viral once Kylie Jenner went on vacation on its premises, a Tokyo hotel for the perfect Moment lost in translation, and a veritable 12,163 square feet Moroccan mini-palace with two master suites, private bar, garden, swimming pool and more.
A man
Al Hamra House in Marrakech, Morocco
$3489.98 at A man
Have a good trip!
Rec Room staff independently curated all items featured in this story. Want more reviews, recommendations and great deals? Subscribe to our newsletter.
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