On your next vacation, you could check into a standard hotel off the highway that overlooks a parking lot.
Or you could spend your vacation on a private beach, in an epic tree house or even in a castle that looks like the setting for a fairy tale. And the most unbelievable thing of all? All of these amazing digs would cost less than that so-so hotel.
You know what to do here.
We scoured Airbnb’s listings to find the coolest places to vacation. The best part: all of these are less than $200 a night, which is far below the average cost of hotels in big cities like New York ($324/night), Los Angeles ($222/night), Chicago ($225/night) and Boston ($365/night).
Here are nine of Aribnb’s most bewildering properties that cost less than a hotel:
1. A Tree House In Monte Verde, Brazil – $132/Night
Monte Verde has been described as the “Swiss Alps of Brazil.” What better way to take in the landscape than in this tree house?
2. A Riad In Marrakech, Morocco – $85/Night
You’ll want to explore a new city, but be warned: you might have a hard time peeling yourself away from this riad (the fancy word for a traditional Moroccan home or palace with a courtyard), which includes a rooftop terrace and pool.
3. A Beach House In Santa Catarina, Brazil – $81/Night
Swoon alert: This beach house is perched right on the water, and amenities include access to a private beach. The nightly price is per person, but you’d still come in at $162 if traveling with two people.
4. A Luxe Tree House In Fern Forest, Hawaii – $200/Night
Confession: We can’t get enough of the tree house trend. So when we scouted out this glam one in Hawaii, we were stunned. Hawaii commands some high hotel rates, but this bamboo treehouse is just $200 a night and still within 10 minutes of Volcano National Park. Your sylvan wonderland is nestled on top of 15-foot stilts in a canopy of trees.
5. Bamboo Eco-Cottage In Bali, Indonesia – $67/Night
A secluded retreat, this bamboo eco cottage is tucked away in some rice fields, but still just a five-minute walk to central Ubud. You’ll be cocooned in an open-air, basket-woven bedroom that comes with a mini loft.
6. The Gatehouse To Ayton Castle In Berwickshire, United Kingdom – $127/Night
We don’t blame you if castles are at the forefront of your mind with the release of “Beauty and the Beast.” Here. Stay in your own mini-castle, complete with a log burner, cozy sitting room and a stunner of a stone spiral staircase on which you’ll probably want to take a few shots for Instagram. You’re also close by Ayton, filled with pub and shops.
7. A Riverside Refurbished Old Stone Home In Portugal – $71/Night
The Ancora River passes alongside this house, giving it an amazing amenity: a natural pool with crystal clear water to soak in. The property itself is a beautifully refurbished old stone home that’s just 20-30 minutes from waterfalls, mountains and the beach.
8. Cubehouse In South Holland, Netherlands – $159/Night
This funky cubehouse is a 50-minute train ride to Amsterdam. It’s got three floors, with the top one treating you to a picturesque view of Rotterdam.
9. An Airstream In Andalucia, Spain – $136/Night
Docked in the Sierra de las Nieves mountain range in southern Spain, this classic 1930s airstream can serve as a base camp for your adventures. It’s way more glamping than camping, because it comes with all the amenities of a hotel, including a flat-screen TV and Wi-Fi, but you’ll also get access to an outdoor plunge pool.
[h/t: Kiplinger]