When Airbnb launched in 2007, it changed the game when it comes to how we holiday. Treehouses, tiny houses, yurts, boathouses, castles and even ice hotels are now just a click (and maybe a cheeky flight) away. Now, Airbnb is shaking up the scene again with its latest revamp, offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences and services that could totally transform the way we travel. Again.
The major update is ‘Airbnb Services’ – a brand-new feature that pretty much lets you book all the extras you’d crave on a holiday in the one app. Think massages, private chefs, PT sessions, personalised photoshoots and more. Sounds like exactly what your next gals' getaway or honeymoon trip is calling for, right? There are already more than 10,500 offerings across 260 cities around the world, including Sydney and Melbourne, with more Aussie destinations to follow.
Wondering what you can book for your Sydney staycation? Read on.
On the ‘Airbnb Services’ tab in Sydney, you can book a private chef to cook you a Mediterranean feast from the comfort of your accommodation, or book a professional photographer to photograph you on a journey around the city’s most iconic sites. Alongside the ‘Services’ function, Airbnb has relaunched its ‘Airbnb Experiences’ function – unveiling a fresh line-up of cultural, culinary and creative experiences, all curated and led by local experts. Fancy heading on a guided scenic run through Sydney Harbour, training with a Navy officer on Bondi Beach or taking a pottery class by the ocean? Easy. Want to take a painting class with an contemporary Indigenous artist or learn about natural wine with one of Sydney’s favourite wine gurus (the man behind beloved wine website DRNKS)? You can do that too. The best bit is, it’s all in one place – making Airbnb your one-stop holiday-planning/ itinerary app.
Airbnb has also put together some super exclusive celeb-hosted experiences – but you’ll have to fly overseas for these ones. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, you could chill out on the Short n’ Sweet tour set with Sabrina Carpenter, train like an MMA champ with Demetrious Johnson, get beauty tips from Gigi Gorgeous, play video games with Megan Thee Stallion and master the art of pastry at the renowned French Bastards bakery. There's more to come in Sydney – with the Waratah due to launch a foodie-based experience, and others in the works.
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