Hello travel, it’s nice to see you again. After a couple of uncertain and trying years, it seems in 2022 holidaying need not be restricted to your local seaside town, as the countdown to the warmer weather is on and we prepare to tick off bucket list destinations once more. Bali anyone?
When booking a trip, be it a spontaneous weekend staycation or the honeymoon of all honeymoons, Airbnb almost always has our back with its range of endless (5.6 million to be precise) unique, characterful, elegant and intriguing properties across the globe. If you’re a magpie for a statement wallpaper and know your IKEA from your MADE.com without a second glance, may we introduce: the properties worth booking simply for their interiors alone.
Whilst each of the below 10 stays boast a range of other selling points and wow-worthy mentions, everything from the colour of the paint to the choice on the console table in the entryway has been carefully selected by similarly passionate home lovers who live for the small details that make a property shine. So whether you plan to explore the local area or simply lap up what it feels like to live in your dream home for a few days this year, keep scrolling for some serious drool-worthy inspo and interiors porn that will have you reaching for your credit card quicker than you can type ‘annual leave request’.
A Perfectly Pink Parisian Abode
📍 Paris, France: Book it here!
Ooh la la, this Parisian pad is a bohemian lover’s dream. From salmon coloured kitchen cabinets, a cotton candy fridge and matching barbie-esque sofa, this cosy yet elegant abode in central Paris is getaway goals for those who want to channel Carrie Bradshaw or Blair Waldorf for a weekend. Recently renovated and with all the appliances and modcons you could need (including hairdryer, washing machine and dryer, room darkening shades, dishwasher and coffee machine), you certainly won’t be going without if you book a stay at Deborah’s place. Just a 2 minute walk from the tres trendy République district (in which you can wander through Paris’ oldest covered market or enjoy a picnic on the Canal Saint-Martin), it’s perfectly located for getting about the city, whether your plans involve taking in the wonders of the Eiffel Tower at dusk or partying in Moulin Rouge till the early hours.
Suitable for 8 guests, this charming and spacious stay would make the perfect base for a girls long weekend, celebration or romantic double date trip. Très bien!
Hello Secluded, Nautical Heaven
📍 New South Wales, Australia: Book it here!
If characterful properties are 100% your jam then a stay at The Little Black Shack in New South Wales, Australia might just complete your 2022 bucket list in one.This original timber and sandstone fisherman’s cottage on the water’s edge of Mackerel Beach in Pittwater has been lovingly restored into a secluded beach hideaway, perfect for couples looking to retreat from the world and soak up each other’s company. Complete with outdoor BBQ, dreamy beach views, a hammock to recline in and a rain shower to enjoy in the heat of the summer, you’ll have no need to leave the comfort of your new found home until kayaking or boating in the crystal clear protected waters of Pittwater tempts you away.
Enjoy leaving your phone in the other room and a much needed long lie-in thanks to the King sized bed and beach views, meaning you can wake up and enjoy your surroundings without needing to move a muscle. Lovingly designed to create the cosiest of stays possible, the wooden furniture, navy cupboards, exposed brick, tan leather accents and inviting window seat mean you’ll immediately feel right at home and excited to curl up with a book or prepare a late morning brunch. Situated a mile from the mainland and for convenience, but in a spot so secluded you’ll feel a million miles away, you’ll reach your home away from home aboard the Palm Beach timber ferry, leaving the city and your worries behind. How soon can we book?!
Jewel of the Riviera: The 16th Century Townhouse Dreams Are Made Of
📍 Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France: Book it here!
Minimal interior lovers rejoice, this recently renovated 16th Century townhouse is a tranquil oasis designed with escapism in mind. Completed “with a seamless blend of historic authenticity and luxurious Provençal modernity”, the space maintains many of its original features but with modern amenities and comfort for the ultimate French getaway. History and culture lovers will feel right at home in the mediaeval walled village of Saint Paul de Vence, once home to some of the most world-renowned names in early 20th Century art, literature and film including Picasso, Matisse, Jacques Prévert and Yves Montand to name but a few. The cobbled streets ooze charm and character, and this spacious townhouse is located right in its centre.
Marble countertops, stone washed walls, beamed ceilings and neutral soft furnishings leave the space understated yet polished, and with room for 6 guests it makes the perfect spot for a long awaited summer holiday with your most loved pals or memorable trip with extended family. You just know Dads everywhere will Facebook the sh*t out of this beautiful space, and we can hardly blame them…
When Aesthetic is Everything: An Eclectic Wes Anderson-esque Home
📍 Kennebunk, Maine, United States: Book it here!
This charming 1978 Kennebunk home is a Wes Anderson lover’s dream, with its use of colour, 70s design flair and symmetry creating a space that will have you captivated by the thoughtful details in every corner of its rooms. The home was designed by Brooklyn-based creative agency An Aesthetic Pursuit, created by husband and wife team Jenny Kaplan and Chris Corrado who, together with their best friend Taisha Coombs, use their decades of experience to create spaces that are welcoming, unique, inspired and novel. Anyone else wondering how they can fit that rug in their suitcase after checking out.
The stylised home is the perfect combination of modern yet characterful, with its red clad exterior and perfectly tended front garden adding to the vision of the perfect American dream home! Located in the heart of Kennebunk- a quintessential New England seaside town- you can enjoy spending time stopping by roadside lobster shacks, ticking off as many old-fashioned ice cream shops as you can, stocking up on gifts for home at local souvenir shops, and marvelling at the pretty beaches that make it so popular in the summer months.
If that wasn’t enough, you can actually purchase items including bedding, skincare, appliances and furniture that you find in the home via the Pieces Home website – we’re obsessed!
U.K Seaside, You Win. The Charming Beach Cottage You Won’t Want to Leave
📍 Whitstable, UK: Book it here!
Sometimes a well needed staycation can give you all the respite you need from a trip away without the stress, and this beautifully cosy cottage in Kent’s seaside spot of Whitstable is all you could need to lap up some sea air and while away a day with a hot bubble bath and a few chapters of your newest read. Furnished with natural antiques and quality linens and full of rustic charm, it truly feels like a breath of fresh air as you immerse yourself in afternoons by the fire and oysters on the seafront. Truly just as joyful for a cosy winter break sheltering from the wind behind the beach’s groynes, or for enjoying the plentiful lavender bushes filling the cottage’s garden in the height of summer, the space celebrates the epitome of slow, simple living. We’re sold.
The ‘One Way Flight’ Worthy Stay
📍 Tulum, Mexico: Book it here!
With Tulum’s lush jungles and awe inspiring cenotes, we wouldn’t blame you for arriving in Casa Alaya and never leaving its idyllic stone walls. This spacious (2300 square feet to be precise) and unique home sits on the beachfront of a small boutique hotel, giving guests the convenience and ease of staying in a full service hotel with the privacy of a space that’s all yours! Casa Alaya’s unique and striking appearance is largely because it has been built using so many handcrafted materials, with all the wood furniture and floors being made in the hotel’s carpentry shop just a few hundred feet away. Warm oak wood shades, burnt orange and rust soft furnishings and textured prints add the finishing touches to this impressive space, helping it feel inviting and comfortable even on the hottest of days.
Think starting the day with a dip in the turquoise sea (visible from your bed, FYI) before breakfast, mornings enjoying acai bowls on the balcony, and evenings with margaritas in hand in some of the finest restaurants in Mexico that line the 5 mile beach road this space sits close to. *Opens SkySkanner immediately*
Hollywood Comes to Brighton
📍 Brighton, UK: Book it here!
From where Team Zoella live and love, a weekend away in Brighton is guaranteed to leave you inspired, well fed and browsing Rightmove for flats in Hove as soon as you catch the train home. Whilst staying anywhere from the characterful Brighton Laines to trendy Seven Dials will ensure a wonderful visit, if you fancy treating yourself to the height of luxury, may we suggest Jonathan’s place for a slice of true indulgence in quirky Kemptown.
Aptly named the Hollywood apartment because of its glamorous interiors, its direct sea views, spacious rooms and gorgeous colour palette mean staying here is a true feast for the eyes. Set in a beautiful period building and only a stone’s throw from all the action of the Laines, town centre and iconic Brighton Pier, get your summer staycations in the diary, stat!
The 70s Called…
📍 Margate, UK: Book it here!
Did you say another U.K seaside visit? If you insist! One for fans of all things flared jeans, flower power and Freddie Mercury, let us introduce Jessie’s top floor studio flat in retro seaside heaven: Margate. The space spans the top floor of Jessie’s home, however guests can enjoy their own private bathroom, kitchenette, living room and the peace of mind of a lockable door too. The finishing touches and cosy character of this beautifully finished abode are what make it so inviting, and although it may be small, it makes the perfect base for those who plan to explore the local area to its full potential. Think cocktails on the prom, ice creams for lunch and scenic walks to the nearby town of Broadstairs.
Minutes away from the iconic Margate Dreamland (think live music, roller skating, amusements and rides), the beach and the Old Town, a weekend spent in the closest thing to Kent’s very own time machine is one you won’t be forgetting in a hurry.
California Dreamin’
📍 Joshua Tree, California, USA: Book it here!
Designed with a ‘slow’ pace in mind, Jenn’s place is truly the definition of living the Joshua Tree dream. Whether it be coffee on the porch in the mornings, taking the short stroll into downtown JT to grab a coffee and explore or relaxing in the hot tub under the stars, your stay here is guaranteed to be a memorable one.
Built in 1949 and with 100 Joshua Trees on its premises, the space is perfect for groups of friends, two couples or a small family, no matter the occasion. From locally-owned restaurants, art galleries, music venues and vintage shops, to exploring the desert landscape of this beautiful part of the US, a California dream (thanks Katy Perry) is certainly what this bohemian and beautiful spot embodies.
On An Evening in Roma
📍 Rome, Italy: Book it here!
Hot foot it to Rome like you’re Paulo after his live mic feed was turned in the Lizzie McGuire movie this summer and enjoy the Roman emperor lifestyle in this luxury and characterful apartment, located in and amongst the action of the bustling city. With decor grand enough to match that of the iconic and romantic city it’s located within, the apartment boasts a king sized bed, walk-in shower, grand exterior and all important air conditioning for those hot summer months. Its elegant and charming interiors will allow you to indulge in the full, authentic Italian experience and enjoy the best of the best when it comes to architecture, design and finishing touches that make this place ooze sophistication.
Enjoy a stroll around the Colosseum, be sure your dreams will come true after throwing a penny into the Trevi Fountain, and dive head first into carbs galore for every meal. If the city is good enough for Harry Styles to spend his downtime relaxing in, it’s certainly good enough for us.
