Windmills, lighthouses, tiny houses and trains aren't your usual hideaway, but that might be exactly why they're uber-popular on Airbnb – the number one platform for a different kind of accommodation.
The numbers speak for themselves: according to the booking platform Airbnb, the number of nights booked in special homes has increased by a whole 50% from 2019 to 2021. This is especially true for users from Germany, who are drawn to northern Germany and the Netherlands in particular, according to Airbnb.
The special homes can be found through newly introduced categories which range from classic houses and apartments – such as chalets, tiny houses and A-frame houses, houseboats, farm houses, earth shelters, castles or ryokans – to more general categories designed to awaken your wanderlust – such as exotic places, houses in Arctic regions, vineyards, private islands or national parks.
The special homes that receive the most bookings are tiny houses, which account for 25% of the total revenue in this category alone. The category "Wow!"stands out with the most exciting accommodations. With bookings of historic accommodations up a whopping 65% from 2019 to 2021, they've also introduced a new category called "Historical Homes," which includes about 1,500 domiciles – from former chapels to centuries-old castles – in Germany alone.
The tiny house on the Rittergut Wildberg estate in Saxony attracts visitors not only with its ecological minimalism, but its chic design as well. On just a few square meters, it does the most, and even offers a picturesque view of the nearby vineyards.
Holy holiday: If you've always wanted to spend the night inside a church, the booking platform gives you the opportunity to do just that. (Confession not included.)
Spending the night under the open sky, in the middle of the mountain landscape? The Bubble Tent Elzach is one of the most popular accommodations on the booking platform for a reason. Since 2022, it has also been home to a hot tub.
