For the past 11 years, Airbnb has remained a cherished resource for the budget traveller. The company’s comprehensive offering has also made jaunting off on holiday with friends, finding a temporary crash pad when moving to a new locale or situating visiting family members close by, veritably seamless.
Now, the home-sharing platform tackles a new arena – the world of luxury homes and properties. The newly inaugurated Airbnb Luxe launches with a 2,000 strong arsenal of unique and memorable properties right at your fingertips. From an architecture award-winning home occupying 50 acres near Lake Wanaka in New Zealand to the glass-walled Solaz Los Cabos in Mexico, residences and homes that you might not have thought would ever be available can now be yours to experience.
Each property has been vetted by over 300 different criteria, which maintain high standards of design and function. From the use of luxury finishes and materials to the presence of rare or unique design features; the availability of chef-grade appliances; a respectable bathroom to bedroom ratio; and communal spaces such as open-plan living areas and infinity pools, many of these residences boast a memorable combination of luxurious accommodations and stunning views and unparalleled privacy to boot. Whether its an open-air bungalow perched cliff side looking over Clifton Beach in Cape Town, or an epic ocean-view villa in Phuket where courtyards, lily ponds and a rooftop terrace also jostle for your attention, there’s not much more that one could ask for.
‘Today’s luxury traveller is craving more than just high-end accommodations; they seek transformation and experiences that leave them feeling more connected to each other and to their destination,’ says Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky, who also serves as CEO and Head of Community. ‘With Airbnb Luxe, we are applying the same approach we’ve used since we launched Airbnb more than 11 years ago – creating local, authentic and magical travel moments now in amazing places to stay – to reimagine the way people think and experience luxury travel.’
Airbnb Luxe clients are serviced by a dedicated, highly trained trip designer, who ensures that all aspects of the trip cater to each client’s personal needs. After booking the property, the trip designer also oversees a seamless check-in, along with booking any additional services, experiences and activities, be it childcare, private chefs or in-house massage therapists.
The launch of Airbnb Luxe is made possible not just through the expertise gained through its acquisition of Luxury Retreats in 2017, but also for the fact that in 2018, the number of Airbnb bookings surpassing $1,000/night increased by over 60%. With plans to add comparable residences in 12 more urban cities this year - Los Angeles, London and Sydney are already represented - these luxury experiences can soon be enjoyed closer to home as well.
Beyond, Cape Town, South Africa
Ani Villa North - Private Resort, The Valley, Anguilla
Casa Sol, Los Cabos, Mexico
Layan 7 Bedroom Seaview Residence, Thalang District, Thailand
INFORMATION
-
Fendi celebrates 100 years with all-out runway show at its new Milan HQIn the wake of Kim Jones’ departure, Silvia Venturini Fendi took the reins for a special co-ed A/W 2025 collection marking the house’s centenary, unveiling it as the first act of celebrations within Fendi’s expansive new headquarters in Milan
-
‘Leigh Bowery!’ at Tate Modern: 1980s alt-glamour, club culture and rebellionThe new Leigh Bowery exhibition in London is a dazzling, sequin-drenched look back at the 1980s, through the life of one of its brightest stars
-
Inside the unexpected collaboration between Marni’s Francesco Risso and artists Slawn and SoldierNew exhibition ‘The Pink Sun’ will take place at Francesco Risso’s palazzo in Milan in collaboration with Saatchi Yates, opening after the Marni show today, 26 February
