Northstar

www.travelweeklyweb.com www.travelweeklyweb.com 12 | ■ TRAVELWeekly AsiA | JULY 2014 vacaTIoN rENTals Even football superstar Ronaldinho has his home listed on Airbnb New vs. Traditional Luxury Travellers Guest contribution by Jia Jih Chai, Managing Director (Southeast Asia and India), Airbnb. SINGAPORE – The luxury travel sector is continuously growing, and high-end travellers are constantly looking out for bespoke experiences that give flair and local flavour to their trip. Given the number of accommodation options available, travellers are spoilt for choice. These days, holidaymakers are looking beyond the traditional accommodation and considering options that make a trip even more extraordinary. Indeed, the focus is very much shifting away from grand luxurious hotels to more unique accommodation types. A s t r a v e l l e r s g r o w b o l d e r a n d g e t more adventurous in their accommodation preferences, they are also increasingly choosing to stay at more unusual options such as treehouses, igloos and castles. There is no doubt that this trend will continue to grow and change the way people travel. With over 600,000 listings worldwide, Airbnb has quickly grown in popularity among the jetsetting crowd. Travellers can easily find accommodation based on their preferences, which could range from something as simple as a spare bedroom in a flat, to a cottage on a private island, an awe-inspiring castle or a luxurious beachfront villa in the Mediterranean. With privacy and exclusivity rising to become the top two considerations for those willing to spend top dollar for a vacation, luxurious listings have also inadvertently risen in popularity amongst well-heeled travellers. Apart from having the luxury of booking an entire place to yourself, travelling with your family or a group is also made easier as it eliminates the need to request for rooms on the same floor. Families with young children are able to rent an entire space as opposed to booking adjoining rooms – which, more often than not, can be quite difficult to arrange. La Vie in Blue, a private luxury villa in Mykonos, Greece is one such place popular amongst those travelling as a family or a big group. With five bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms, the place is big enough to fit 10 to 12 people. Apart from the spacious interior, the villa also has a veranda, with a saltwater pool overlooking the ocean and the three historic islands of Delos, Paros and Syros. What's more, the hosts themselves are also getting rave reviews from travellers with their hospitality and helpfulness in suggesting the best restaurants and places to visit. For travellers looking to experience how royalty lives, one of the best places to do so is the Dairsie Castle in Scotland. Constructed in the 12th century, the castle has survived military sieges and served as a safe haven for escapee monarchs such as James VI in 1583. The castle is a fantastic option for guests looking to soak in the history and culture of a place, while enjoying the lavishly appointed rooms and nearby golf course. Increasingly, we've also seen the rise of celebrity listings, which provide travellers with the extremely rare opportunity of living like a star. One recent example is Ronaldinho's home in Rio, which he has listed on Airbnb for stays during the first half of July, primarily to coincide with World Cup 2014. While the S$19,400 per night price tag might seem a little steep compared to more traditional options, the allure of watching the upcoming matches from the home of a world- class soccer player more than makes up for the hefty fee. The place boasts five bedrooms and a home entertainment system, perfect for viewing parties if you want to get into the World Cup spirit. Soccer enthusiasts will surely get a kick from the trophies in the den to the balls scattered around the house. Similarly, Kevin Jonas of the Jonas Brothers has also listed his six- bedroom mansion in New Jersey in January this year, with a portion of the fee going to charity. The house is a short drive to the MetLife Stadium where the final Super Bowl game was played. Also included in the rental were four complimentary tickets to the game. Ultimately, what Airbnb seeks to offer is the experience in itself. We want to give travellers the flexibility of choosing the view you want to wake up to every morning, decide which amenities you cannot live without, and most importantly, live like a local.

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