Forget your grandma's chintz sofa and "Live, Laugh, Love" wall art. Love them or hate them, AirBnBs can be an interesting choice of stay, where the only limit is apparently your host's imagination (and maybe some local zoning laws).You could go for something normal, clean and comfortable, or you can choose to live the one life you get with a little more flavor. Remember to follow the house rules and definitely check out the neighborhood when you need a break from your weird accommodations.
The "I Swear I'm Not a Bond Villain" Lair
Location: A remote island off the coast of New Zealand (accessible only by helicopter, naturally)
Vibe: Supervillain chic meets "Austin Powers" on a budget.
Why it's Cool - This place has it all: a shark tank (with actual sharks, because why not?), a hidden underground bunker (stocked with an impressive collection of vintage board games, oddly enough), a rotating circular bed (dizziness medication not included), and a suspiciously high number of velvet paintings. Just try not to push any red buttons, okay?
The "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" House
Location: Somewhere in rural Oregon (probably near a patch of really, really big mushrooms)
Vibe: "Alice in Wonderland" meets "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" with a dash of existential crisis.
Why it's Cool - Everything in this house is oversized. We're talking furniture that towers over you, light switches you need a ladder to reach, and a bathtub you could practically swim laps in. Pro tip: pack a step stool and maybe some stilts. Oh, and watch out for the giant spiderwebs in the corner. (We're hoping they're just decorations.) If your partner is taller than you, at least now they get to experience what life is like for you on a daily basis.
The "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" UFO
Location: A cornfield in the Midwest (because where else would a UFO land?)
Vibe: Spaceship chic with a hint of "Stranger Things" nostalgia.
Why it's Cool - This isn't your average flying saucer. This baby is decked out with all the extraterrestrial bells and whistles: glowing neon lights, a cockpit that looks suspiciously like it could actually take flight, and an intergalactic sound system that'll make you want to bust out your best alien dance moves. Just don't be surprised if you get a few curious cows peering in your windows.
There are a lot of places to stay when you think about vacation destinations, from hotels to hostels, and each has it’s benefits and it’s problems. But if you’re going to get a good travel story from the place you lay your head, at least you can get one that doesn’t come with a staph infection.
Bonus Tip: If you actually stay in any of these places, please, please leave a review. We need to know if the sharks are friendly and if the giant spiderwebs are, in fact, just decorations. For science. And for our own amusement.