It’s 2017: Why, oh why, are you still spending money on hotels, when you can stay in the setting of your wildest dreams for a fraction of the price instead? This fall and winter, or even in the waning weeks of summer, we urge you to get creative with your vacation lodgings. Here are 12 insane, yet affordable, Airbnb homes that will provide the perfect escape for you and your closest circle of friends and family. Book one now for your next birthday, long weekend or anniversary, or for Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, or just because life is short.
Casa Dos Chicos: Sayulita, Mexico
The fact that some people actually live like this has us questioning a lot of decisions we've made in our own lives. Casa Dos Chicos is located in the trendy surf town of Sayulita, Mexico. It features four bedrooms (each with a king size bed), a swimming pool, a tree-top hot tub with ocean views, and the open-air living room, dining room and kitchen pictured above. The price per night is $433, and the place sleeps up to eight people ($53/night/person).
Bird Island: Belize
While your friends are in Vegas, Miami or any of the other usual suspects for New Year's Eve, you could be renting your own island in Belize. Bird Island is twenty minutes away from the village of Palencia, and is nestled in the midst of protected coral reefs. Snorkel, swim, kayak or just do your best to forget that any other way of life exists. The price per night is $395, and it accommodates four people ($98/night/person), though we technically count seven sleeping spots. Price includes transportation to and from Palencia. The nearby Hideaway Caye is also a dreamy option.
Quinta de Pias: Rio Duoro, Portugal
We've mentioned before that the city of Porto, Portugal, which is located at the mouth of the Rio Douro, is having a moment. This gorgeous home that's an hour outside Porto includes a swimming pool that overlooks the river, picturesque gardens and lots of communal areas for drinking wine with friends until sunrise. The price per night is $283 and the property sleeps 10, so you could visit this dream destination for as little as $28 per person per night.
Poggio di Sopra: Toscana, Italy
At this point, we're starting to wonder why we wouldn't just have our friends join us on making a permanent move to one of these incredible destinations, but that's another story for another day. If you're interested in Tuscany, there are many gorgeous villas for the taking on Airbnb. We chose this one because, well, look at the photos. We're assuming we'd have an affair with an olive-grower, or just the handyman or something, if we were to stay here, which is also reason enough for us to do it. Poggio di Sopra is $340 per night and sleeps six ($57/night/person).
Acido Dorado: Joshua Tree, California
We can't decide if we want to get married at this architectural gem or recuperate from our next heartbreak here with girlfriends—maybe both, in due time (ideally the former before the latter, though). Acido Dorado is located in trendy Joshua Tree, California, which is the perfect small town from which to escape every-day real life (and do some killer vintage shopping in the process). It's $480/night and sleeps four, making it our most expensive recommendation yet at $120/night/person—but just think of the Instagram opportunities! Nearby Rosa Muerta—designed by the same architect—is worth checking out, as well.
Sunrise House: Bali, Indonesia
If you can't just quit your job and move to Bali, the next best thing is probably to quit your job for a week and move to Bali temporarily—if for no other reason than this all-bamboo home is insane. Do yourself a favor and click through to see all of the photos in order to fully activate your desire to hop on a plane to southeast Asia ASAP. Sunrise House costs $335 per night and sleeps eight people ($42/night/person).
Villa: Granada, Spain
A gorgeous swimming pool, stunning views, Mediterranean gardens, a sauna, and more...for around $40 per person per night (if you bring 9 friends)? This villa can't be real. (We're really re-thinking what we get for the price of rent in Los Angeles right now!) It's located in the Albayzín district of Granada, which is a World Heritage Site that offers endless historical attractions.
Villa Cosmos: Mykonos, Greece
Villa Cosmos is ideally situated in one of the best parts of Mykonos, and its many picturesque windows overlook the Aegean Sea. The property also includes a 24/7 concierge, in case just being here isn't luxury enough. It rents for $1,245 per night and sleeps 10 people, which means that you and your most-favorite nine people in the world will each spend $125 to stay at this slice of heaven.
Granite Ridge Lodge: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
This rustic (ha!) lodge is located in Jackson Hole's Teton Village. If you like outdoor, mountainside whirlpool spas, well, you're normal... because so does everyone else! This gem has one on offer that will be perfect to soak in after a long day spent skiing. The Granite Ridge Lodge is $823 per night and sleeps 11 people ($75/night/person).
Masseria Angiulli Piccolo: Puglia, Italy
Masseria Angiulli Piccolo is a restored 16th century vineyard property that feels like the setting of a movie about a divorced woman who rediscovers herself in Italy. If you have a big bridal party, don't make them go to Vegas for your bachelorette—Bring them here, as it sleeps 13 people and is therefore only $52/night per person.
Villa Adnaa: Marrakech, Morocco
Wow. If you want to achieve Instagram- or Snapchat-fame among your friends and followers, this may be the way to go. The five-bedroom villa in Marrakech boasts a beautiful pool, a sauna, tennis courts, and is the closest approximation to royal life you'll probably ever experience. It's $1,014 per night and sleeps ten to 14 people, which makes it around $100/night/person.
Hedera Estate: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Have you quit your job yet? If not, a stay at this home in beautiful and trendy Dubrovnik, Croatia, promises to seal the deal and make you an ex-pat, stat. This property is within walking distance to Old Town, and it's also a 10-minute walk to the beach, though we'd probably just prefer to enjoy the view from the pool (above). The Hedera Estate is $340/night and sleeps eight people ($42.50/night/person).
