Remember back in the day when you had to rely on a grainy brochure photo to book your accommodation? I've a few horror stories from across the years from a grotty apartment in Santa Ponsa (we were 17 so no surprise there) to a shower that comprised of a hose wrapped in electrical wires in Cuba (I'm lucky to be alive after that one). Now we're in the digital age it's almost impossible to book a bad place with Tripadvisor and Google reviews giving us the heads up if a place seems too good to be true. I love finding places for us to stay any time we've booked a trip because we always like to go for something a little different. Big fluffy hotel beds can be lovely but when I'm visiting somewhere new I love to live like a local and get to know the neighbourhood around me. Airbnb is the best place to find those little secrets that make a holiday memorable and we've had some incredible Airbnb experiences over the years. Well, except for that one time in Lisbon when we lived under the noisiest Portuguese family who might as well have been sharing the apartment with us - that was definitely one of our Airbnb fails! I share most of where we stay on my Instagram stories but I thought I would put together a list of our favourites from trips around Ireland and abroad. It can be hard to choose from the huge amount of properties on Airbnb and by simply choosing too many filters you could be missing out on a gem of a place that's perfect for you!
Here are a few highlights we've had both at home and far away, just click on the links attached to each location and you can have a look at what takes your fancy...
IRELAND
Fintown, Co. Donegal
We stayed in this converted cowshed back in October 2016 and it remains one of our favourite places we've ever stayed. Maybe it was because it was early in to the relationship and it felt magic to be sharing a cosy den together for a whole weekend but looking back on the photos I can understand why we loved it so much.
It had been renovated by the owners of the cottage across from the old cowshed, Pete and Anna, who have since built their own eco-hut on the other edge of the property looking over the Glenties countryside. The eco-hut is on my wishlist but unfortunately you have to book months in advance because it's so popular, I think the next available weekend is November!
It's no surprise that Anna and Pete are listed as Superhosts. They were super friendly when we met the pair of them, full of knowledge on how to live sustainably and DIY tips with an inquisitive kitten who I fell in love with. If you're ever looking for the perfect base for an escape to Donegal then this is it!
Dingle, Co. Kerry
I could stay in a hedge in Co. Kerry and I'd be happy enough purely to have the scenery wrapped around me but this spot wasn't too shabby either. The apartment, which is part of a large house that had previously been a manor, has incredible uninterrupted views out to the sea and is on the doorstep of one of the most beautiful drives in the whole of Ireland around Slea Head.
We visited in July last year and hit the weather jackpot the whole weekend. The sun was beating down for the three days we spent driving along the coastline and sunbathing on empty golden beaches on our snack breaks - sunbathing in Ireland?! We ate our breakfast in the courtyard and enjoyed the views curled up on armchairs with the windows down and the sea breeze pouring through - absolute bliss.
North Coast, N.Ireland
I booked Archie's schoolhouse for Andrew's 30th birthday party last year and it was such a lovely spot to gather some mates together for a celebration. It's been beautifully renovated by Claire (she of the gorgeous Bramble Green knitwear) who has added thoughtful touches that honour the history of the house.
It's a perfect base to visit all the favourite spots along the North Coast; the Dark Hedges, Whiterocks beach and Carrick-a-Rede bridge. Claire is full of brilliant tips too for local cafés and businesses to stop in to, a perfect host for the North!
Even the loo is gorgeous!
Galway City, Co. Galway
Usually we book the entire place to ourselves on Airbnb but this was a private room in probably one of the most sophisticated houses I've every stayed in. The hosts, Dee & Mark, used to run an art gallery out of the house but now they just show their own private collection throughout which is a real treat for guests.
Photo taken from Airbnb
Their bedrooms are beautifully decorated with en-suites providing plenty of privacy. It's a short walk to the city centre to explore all the craic Galway has to offer and if you have too much craic, well then you can recover after the delicious breakfast Dee and Mark prepare for you while they play soft classical music and give you the morning papers to read. Not a bad way to beat the hangover!
We stayed in this room overlooking the garden. Photo taken from Airbnb
Photo taken from Airbnb
Co. Down, N. Ireland
For my birthday a couple of years ago, Andrew surprised me with a night away in this eco cottage tucked away in the Mourne mountains (no wonder I'm marrying the guy!). The cottage is run as part of a small organic farm which guests can stroll through and meet the neighbouring hens and horses. The hosts even run workshops on weekends if you fancy doing a spot of basket-weaving!
You can explore the woodlands or mountains on your doorstep here or you can just play with the dog, collect some firewood and keep cosy for the night. A special place that feels further from home than it really is!
Ballycroneen, Co. Cork
When my pal was coming all the way over from Australia in October 2016 I wanted to take her to as many parts of Ireland as I could. I love showing visitors from overseas my favourite spots on this island but there's just never enough time to see them all! I found out that the annual Cork Jazz Festival was on during her stay with us and so I booked this spot which was just a half hour away from the city centre along the coast.
The home had views across the field and then out to the sea which was breath-taking even in the mucky October weather. During the day we crawled through venues to listen to jazz but soon found ourselves heading back to this place to light the stove and reminisce about our time gallivanting in Australia. The homemade bread was a special touch too and ended up being the perfect midnight snack after a few pints of Guinness!
The pretty village of Cobh is about 30 minutes drive and from there you can take one of many scenic drives along the coast. Cork is the biggest county in Ireland and covers most of the southwest of the island so bear in mind that the drives can be long and it's best to just stick to nearby towns and villages that won't have you emptying your tank.
OVERSEAS
Corniglia, Cinque Terre, Italy
I booked this trip as a present for Andrew's 30th but didn't realise just how expensive accommodation would cost during peak season - yikes! We went in July when the crowds fill the narrow cobbled streets - lots of cargo shorts and socks with sandals if you catch my drift. It was a stunning place though but I would recommend visiting during the quieter seasons either side of summer when it's easier to walk the trails and enjoy the views with a little more peace (and get cheaper rates too!)
Photo taken from Airbnb
Photo taken from Airbnb
I decided to book an Airbnb apartment in the quieter of the five villages, Corniglia, because I thought it would be a good place to have our evenings while the other towns tend to the masses. It was one of the best decisions we could have made because the apartment, which was on a tiny street with views out to the terraced hills, was a real retreat from the teeming crowds.
Well, it was quiet most of the time until the afternoon of the World Cup Final - Italians and football, eh? That afternoon, the local who owned the restaurant across from us pulled an industrial-sized TV in to the tiny street where a crowd quickly gathered to watch France v Croatia. It was a case of if you can't beat 'em then join 'em so we bought a few beers and drank while watching the escapade below, cheering with everyone from the street and neighbouring windows when Croatia scored. Sadly Croatia ended up losing that game but the memory of drinking cold beer on our Airbnb windowsill will stay with me forever.
Bonus: our hosts even provided us with homemade limoncello which we enjoyed each night after coming home from dinner - it's the wee things that make all the difference when choosing an Airbnb!
Dordogne, France
If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen me share photos and videos from this woodland sanctuary a few weeks ago. We were over in France to visit some venues for the wedding and I booked this Airbnb to use as our base in between days on the road.
This cabin is why I love Airbnb. It gives you the opportunity to stay somewhere totally unique and experience a place that you wouldn't get to see otherwise. No electrical sockets or wifi meant this cabin was completely off-grid but was the fact it was totally unconnected to the outside world that made it so special. Instead of scrolling through my phone there was a pond to stroll around, a woodland to explore or a boat to take out on the water - I felt like a kid again!
While Andrew heated up the hot tub I took care of dinner in the fully-equipped kitchen. It was like a camping trip but with all the home comforts - big cosy bed, good shower and a log stove to keep us toasty. While we finished our bottle of wine under the stars I realised how long it had been since I watched the sky instead of my phone - wayyyy too long.
Gers, France
After the woodland cabin we had booked a private room in this beautiful home close to Toulouse. We arrived late after a long day spent in the car and when we were offered to have a home cooked dinner we leapt at the chance. Catherine and Philippe's house was spotlessly clean and our room was better than a lot of hotels we've stayed in! We actually had the entire upper floor to ourselves which was equipped with it's own stove fire and dressing gowns and slippers to change in to for the hot tub!
After we dropped off our bags and lay in a heap for a few minutes we popped back downstairs to eat with our hosts. Their French country kitchen was everything I've ever dreamed of and the food was even better. Andrew proclaimed that it was the best meal we had during our entire trip - four courses of food so good I was ready to burst my the time we polished off dessert. They charged us 35 euro each for the dinner but it was worth more for sure just for the chance to chat with our hosts and learn a little about the area.
Unfortunately we were so full from dinner and knackered from the drive that we didn't have the energy to sit in the hot tub after. We promised ourselves that we'd return again only for a wee bit longer, this home was a retreat worth coming back to.
Our breakfast was fresh fruit in wee jars with yoghurt and crusty French bread (which I slathered in local honey!)
Hoi An, Vietnam
Andrew and I visited Vietnam and Cambodia in September last year and mixed our accommodation between hotels and Airbnb stays. Christina's was a small complex we found on Airbnb located on Tra Que, a patch of land just outside Hoi An that's been used for organic farming for hundreds of years (it's the oldest organic farm in Vietnam!). Our room was huge here with two separate balconies looking out across the fields.
Photo from Airbnb
The staff at Christina's were incredibly helpful, booking our taxis and renting us mopeds and push bikes to explore the farm and Hoi An. We even booked a cooking class with them at the farm across the road which turned out to be the highlight of our trip and super cheap too!
London
Oh, London. Our favourite city that we love to visit any chance we can get. Luckily for us we have friends who we usually stay with to help with the cost but sometimes it's nice to just book somewhere on our own in a new neighbourhood for us to explore. This Airbnb was a great find; super cheap for London with a garden to relax in after a day walking the city.
The flat had everything we could have needed and even had an apple tree in the garden which is a good way to get to an Armagh girl's heart! I loved the sash windows which we kept open at night. We were there during the heatwave in summer 2018 that suffocated the city for weeks. Luckily our flat had a fan which we had by the end of our bed and gave us the relief our Irish skin needed.
The original floors in the hall of our London Airbnb
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
We were lucky to visit a few places in Bali back in 2017 but Ubud was the place I was most looking forward to seeing. It's located right in the middle of the island surrounded by dense jungle and mountains - worlds away from our wee house in Belfast! Our Airbnb was newly renovated and when we arrived it appeared as if everything was new. The rooftop pool was the reason we chose the place as it looked out over the jungle and seemed to be a good place to relax after sightseeing. When we got there we realised the pictures didn't do the place enough justice because the sounds coming from the jungle were so incredible we just stood in silence on the roof gazing out.
The breakfast was simple but really good for what we'd experienced in Bali and was included in the room rate. We ate on the rooftop each morning, filling up on plenty of fruit before heading out for the day. The complex also had a tourist office where we could rent mopeds, book excursions and get tickets for the ferry across to the Gili islands. This saved us so much hassle and the staff were always there to help us if we ever had a question.
Thanks for reading through my favourites, I hope it helped give you some ideas and tips for your next trip! If you have had some great Airbnb experiences then please share them in the comments - I'm always looking for more places to add to our wishlist!
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