Location: Potrero, San Francisco Host: Cold Steel Renegade Listing:http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/37781 Cleanliness: 3/5 Stars Host interaction: 11/5 Stars Neighborhood: 3.5/5 Stars House: 5/5 Stars Room: 4/5 Stars My favorite part: Getting a free air guitar lesson from the master himself. Cold Steel is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.
My least favorite part: The location wasn’t the most convenient, but the view from the living room more than made up for that!
The Airbnb team arrived bright-eyed in Venice as we shuffled past the conventional buses and taxis to step aboard an Alilaguna (water taxi) to transport us into the heart of the city. As we floated by, each building seemed to breathe ancient architectural genius into the waters below. We were inspired by the Gondolas and smiling Venetians who carved their modern day lives through these romantic canals. This majestic town that surely cannot be missed! From our hearts to yours - below are some of our suggestions to what not to miss in this truly enchanting city.
A Treat to Eat: Pizza from Pizza al Volo
Although you’ll be hard pressed to find a bad slice of pizza in Venice, this local spot near the University is hailed by all as the best in Venice. We tried one with verdures (veggies) and the combination of fresh cheese, flaky crust, and fresh eggplant made this slice a quick favorite. Grab a slice (or two), a cheap local beer, and head to the streets to mingle with nearby students.
A Sight to See: Il Mercato
To get an explosive dose of Venetian life, wake up early to take a stroll along the water near the famous Rialto Bridge and head to the local market. Experience the bartering, bright colors, and fresh fish delivered daily by, of course, by boat. This is a great way to burn off some of all the hearty pasta you've been eating as well as sampling some of the local flavors!
A Host to Meet: Stefania
The pride Stefania has for her city is evident in every corner of this 13th century apartment. Adorned with photos and paintings of Venice, she offers a beautiful loft with a rooftop view that stretches all the way to the lagoon. She also has plenty of gelato al cioccolato to cool off during warm summer nights!
Be sure to continue following our adventures at airbnb.com/eurotour and AirTV episodes every Thursday at blog.airbnb.com/tag/airbnbtv!
London proved to be the perfect halfway point on our second European tour. Our meetup was the biggest yet - filled with inspiring hosts and travelers coming together from all around the world. Take a look at our lowdown on London!
A Treat to Eat: A Love Blossom Tea at the Landmark Hotel
This tea is unlike any we had ever seen. It is steeped by placing a flower bud in hot water that releases a subtle jasmine flavor while it blooms. The name is either derived from the beauty of the flower or the patience required to fully bloom - we’ll let you decide. Combined with our decrusted sandwiches and tower of mini pastries, this afternoon tea gets 5 stars (can we give 6?) from the Airbnb team!
A Sight to See: The English Countryside from a Train
We escaped the hustle and bustle of the city and hopped a train from Kings Cross to the English countryside near St. Ives. There we were greeted with green fields, canals, and a traditional english roast complete with yorkshire pudding. Although not actually a pudding, its flaky crust is so satisfying you will call it whatever you're told. Make sure to try some while in England!
From the moment you meet Paul you will feel at ease and begin laughing like old friends. His apartment boasts an accessible location, modern design, and a beautiful terrace to enjoy afternoon tea. However, the best part of staying with Paul is how he shares a worldly appreciation of music and travel. We can’t wait for you to see for yourself in his upcoming AirTV episode! Make sure to tune in every Thursday for a new episode!
The Airbnb Eurotour crew is now in Italy exploring the history, culture, and homemade pastas! Follow all our adventures, get coupons, and check our meetup schedule for the European tour at www.airbnb.com/eurotour
Host, Hanzel, offers a beautiful, fully equipped, serene flat in the center of Barcelona. He calls it, quite suitably, the "Cocoon flat" after finding inspiration from a Hong Kong hotel "cocoon bed". Full of big plush white pillows, feathered comforter, and a sheer curtain - if you stay here you may not want to get out of bed! The apartment has everything you need for a home away from home - including a dishwasher, full kitchen, and washing machine. Within walking distance are plenty of jewelry stores, boutique shops, and art galleries to explore...so what are you waiting for? Book with Hanzel using code COMFY50 to save $50 before December 31.
Tune in to AirTV every Thursday for a new episode from our first European tour where we visited hosts from Berlin, Barcelona, & Paris. Be sure to subscribe to our youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/airbnb and the EuroTour Part 2 (9 City Tour) is currently in full swing, so follow all the action here.
The Airbnb team departed from the serene Inveresk House in Edinburgh and soon arrived on the doorstep of a modernly renovated Irish hunting lodge in Dublin. Our days were limited but the weather cooperated and we quickly felt as lucky as the Irish do. For a wee bit of advice on the “what to do’s” of Dublin check out our recap below!
If you have been watching our EuroTour videos on airbnb.com/eurotour you may have noticed Lisa's fondness of sweets. She was not exaggerating when she exclaimed, "this is heaven!" While everything was delicious (and we sampled A LOT), our favorite savoury tart flavor was oven roasted tomato and goat cheese. Since skipping dessert is blasphemous, we suggest you indulge in the chocolate, almond, and pear tart!
Guinness, toasted sandwiches (grilled cheese and ham), and liveIrish folk music take center stage at this traditional Irish pub. Despite a growing club scene in Dublin, there remains a young demographic keen on keeping Irish history alive and here you can stomp to the beat right along with them.
Louise has been hosting travelers in various apartments for years and her hospitality is second to none. Tea and shortbread cookies welcomed us after an early morning flight from Edinburgh. Her 6 year old daughter gave us the grand tour while Louise and her husband directed us towards town and gave us tips on where to eat. Keep watching AirTV for their upcoming episode and others from around the world!
When traveling through Europe stop over in Dublin to sample authentic hospitality, a bit of history, and, of course, a Guinness. Keep up with our European Tour at airbnb.com/eurotour and see if we are coming to a city near you!
What’s Mine Is Yours is a timely and idea-fueled book that reveals a powerful socioeconomic groundswell called "Collaborative Consumption" — traditional sharing, bartering, lending, trading, renting, gifting, and swapping redefined through technology and peer communities — that is transforming business, consumerism, and the way we live.
From morning commutes to the way we borrow and lend money, to the way fashion is designed, to how we share our back gardens, different areas of our lives are being created and consumed in collaborative ways. We have literally re-wired our world to share — be it in an office, a neighborhood, an apartment building, a school, or a Facebook network. And this sharing is happening in ways and at a scale never before possible, creating a culture and an economy of what’s mine, is yours.
We packed our bags and left Kevin's modern, Amsterdam apartment only to arrive in a historic 16th century mansion just outside of Edinburgh. Working from Alice and John's drawing room adorned with natural light and paintings created by Alice herself provided a picturesque stop on this European tour. Take a page from our book and experience the real Edinburgh! A Treat to Eat: Fish and Chips While typically an English masterpiece, La'Alba D'oro clearly indicates the Scottish know what they're doing as well. Two local Airbnb users grabbed us and we weaved between old churches and side streets until we arrived at this acclaimed spot. The fish was light and tender and the chips were crispy and flavorful- for a healthier version with herbs and spices try it "alla Romana". A Sight to See: Musselburgh Here you'll find an undiscovered town in Scotland just outside Edinburgh that has housed various significant historical figures. It is hard to walk through town without thinking of the history that has transpired on the same stones in centuries past. Check out the local museum for history from the past 2,000 years! A Host to Meet: Alice and Johnny Sure, they provide a traditional Scottish breakfast and beautiful mansion with so much history it could make the Statue of Liberty blush, but what made our stay truly special at the Inveresk house was their devotion to comfort. There was never a cup of tea out of reach or a pillow unfluffed. We felt like we were a part of the family with their daughter's music playing during breakfast and the hours of stories we laughed about. Make Edinburgh a stop on your next trip and find history oozing between the streets of a flourishing modern town. Castles, churches, and fortresses watch over a welcoming town filled with families, students, and young professionals. And don't forget to play a round of golf in the place where it all started! We filmed another great AirTV episode at the Inveresk house we can't wait for you to check out! Tune in every Thursday for new episodes here and be sure to follow our European tour at airbnb.com/eurotour for daily updates and coupons!
Ready for an escape? The summer isn't over just yet!
The golden rolling hills and the dusty dirt roads will lead you to Diego's lovely villa located in Ontinyent, Spain. You can fly into Barcelona and drive, or fly right into Valencia airport and take a bus! This getaway is perfect for couples, families, or anyone who is looking to truly get away. With a full kitchen you can make a lovely meal to enjoy out on the patio or enjoy a nice glass of wine by the pool. The location is perfect, both close to the water and to the small town where you can get true local flavors from different shops and restaurants. Book with Diego using code "RELAXING50" to save $50 before December 31.
Tune in to AirTV every Thursday for a new episode from our first European tour where we visited hosts from Berlin, Barcelona, & Paris. Be sure to subscribe to our youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/airbnb and the EuroTour Part 2 (9 City Tour) is currently in full swing, so to follow all the action check us out here.
Dankjewel Amsterdam! Our European Tour landed us in exciting Amsterdam where bikes have the right-of-way and houses whimsically reach for the skies. This central merchant city has attracted cultures from around the world and offers so much more than a red lighted street. Once again, we're here to break it down for you in our quick guide:
Combining the sweetness of caramel and richness of waffles, these delectable cookies will have you licking the crumbs off your plate. As we were mourning our Stroopwafels at the airport we came across a brilliant fusion of American and Dutch sweets. Introducing....the Stroopwafel McFlurry! Warning: item tends to disappear quickly.
This uber trendy lounge has no sign and only the locals know they need to make reservations beforehand. Seasonal cocktails and soothing background music make this the perfect place to enjoy a local speakeasy and classic cocktail.
A native Bostonian, host Kevin has an incredible apartment with views of the canals and walking distance to everywhere you want to be. Given our limited time, Kevin still managed to take us to a phenomenal Chinese restaurant and the oldest church in town- the Oude Kerk.
As a geographically central city, Amsterdam should be a jumping off point for your own European tour! Keep following along at airbnb.com/eurotour as we travel through Edinburgh and Dublin next!
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