The Airbnbs our editors are dreaming of booking
Now that a new season has bloomed and burst onto the scene, there's no better time to think about your upcoming travel plans. After all, it does feel like summer is just around the corner. Perhaps you already know where you want to visit, or perhaps you're still looking for some inspiration. Either way, imagining yourself in some pleasant coastal town, or curled up by a fire in a cottage after a rambling highland walk, is good for the soul.
Here at House & Garden, we are always discovering, discussing and sharing the Airbnbs we have on our wishlists, so we thought it was high time we gathered them all into one helpful edit. From an apartment in Venice with captivating canal views, to a lodge on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, these are the Airbnbs our team are booking now.
1/7Tilly Wheeler, commerce writer
Call Me By Your Name has to be one of my favourite films, and this sprawling, opulent villa looks so similar to the one that forms the backdrop to that achingly romantic story, that at first I thought it was actually the same house. The handsome yellow villa in the northern Italian region of Lombardy was built in the early 1900s, and the antique-filled interiors possess a real sense of history and grandeur, from the cantilevered staircase with wrought iron balustrade, to the original parquet flooring and decorative wall friezes.
I've visited Lombardy before, and this villa is so well placed for day trips to Lake Garda, Bergamo and Milan, as well as visits to smaller cities, towns and villages such as Crema, Cremona, and Pandino. My top tip would be to hire a car or cycle to get around easily, as public transport is not going to be convenient when you're out in the countryside.
I would go in late spring, when the weather will be warm enough but not overly hot - ideal for walking and exploring, and the grounds around the villa will be lush, green and in bloom. With room for eight guests, it would be a truly special place to go with a group of friends for a week of food, culture and wandering.
2/7Christabel Chubb, acting deputy digital editor
This trullo looks like the perfect place to spend a week in Puglia. Now that the weather here is officially miserable I am looking ahead to my summer holidays next year and this is firmly on the wishlist.
I adore the traditional Puglian architecture -- all of those pointy hats at the top of masserias are just charming. The location of this one is perfect - it's not too far from the nearby town Martina Franca, which is full of traditional osterias and those narrow streets lined with white painted houses that make you feel a million miles away from home. It's also close to the sea, which means two things: 1) swimming in the sea (yes please) and 2: fresh seafood! The pool is a welcome addition as I plan on visiting during the summer months, during which time Puglia can be blisteringly hot, so a dip to cool off will be needed. I'm a fan of the pared-back, organic decoration, which is perfect for an AirBnb as you don't want to feel surrounded by someone else's decorative taste.
I'll be booking in for a week in September I think, when temperatures are still warm but not unbearable.
The trullo only sleeps four guests, so group holidays or family trips aren't an option, but it would make a great base for a holiday with a couple of friends, or my sisters.
3/7Virginia Clark, digital director
For me it has to be Ard Daraich, a remote hideaway on the west coast of Scotland, a place of surpassing magic that has stayed in my memory ever since I visited there about 10 years ago. It is situated on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, a wild and unspoiled location even by Scottish standards, and is a tiny cottage in the utterly enchanting hillside garden of a larger house that once belonged to Constance Spry. It is now owned by the artist Anna Raven (the sister of the famous gardener Sarah), who has preserved the beauty of the place and made the cottage into a very charming retreat. It is small, with a kitchen and living room on the ground floor and a bedroom and bathroom tucked into the attic. You could only stay there solo or as a couple (or with a friend you know very well), but it is designed cleverly and has everything you need, including some well stocked bookshelves for rainy days. While it does feel remote – you have to take a ferry from Fort William and drive south down the edge of Loch Linnhe to get there – its proximity to the mainland and the town means it's actually quite convenient. Summer is the obvious time to go (though be prepared for midges), but really I'd go here at any time of year to get away from it all, swim in the loch, and curl up with a good book.
4/7Caroline Bullough, chief sub-editor
There are places to stay in Venice that are surprisingly peaceful, even in summer. Canareggio is the most northerly of the six historic sestieri of Venice and – with the exception of a few tourist hotspots – seems to have retained its character. It is also an area that contains several of my favourite restaurants. And the Strada Nova is the perfect spot for enjoying the people-watching pleasures of the passeggiata.
Having stayed in quite a few apartments over the years, we learned to go for recently developed ones. Historic character is all very well but after a hard day's exploring and eating, you can't beat a good power shower. Also, narrow streets mean that some apartments can be dark and a little gloomy, so windows – especially with an only-in-Venice canal view – are a bonus.
Spring, late summer and early autumn are great times to visit if you want to catch some sun without summer's heat and humidity. But in winter the city is atmospheric and romantic (despite the occasional risk of flooding).
I've had great trips to Venice over the years with four girlfriends, with a group of 10 friends and with my husband. Despite the claim that it sleeps four, this apartment is probably best for the latter.
5/7Bella Bowes, commerce editor
I’m eyeing up a stay in Cadaqués, the Spanish coastal town that Salvador Dalí called home. I visited this dreamy Catalonian spot last autumn, when I had perfect blank and blue skies for an entire week and, looking at the grey London clouds outside, I am craving that more than ever. The crowds tend to thin out in the shoulder seasons, so, if you're lucky, you can get tiny coves all to yourself and enjoy the some of Cadaqués' top restaurants without making reservations.
For said trip, I am looking to rent Casa Marquina, an old fisherman's house just behind Port Doguer. It is central enough to feel part of the action, and has staggering views across the bay, yet there's a sense of calm and privacy that is always needed when you are staying in a town. The property sleeps eight and has a plunge pool on the roof terrace, making it perfect for a group of friends.
6/7Rose Washbourn, digital writer and books editor
There are few better places for a UK break than the Peak District. You're guaranteed great walks with spectacular scenery (and lovely pubs en route), charming towns and beautiful historic houses to visit. The jewel in the crown has to be the Chatsworth estate, where you can visit the house, explore the grounds and stock up on local produce at the farm shop – and this cottage in Monyash is just a stone’s throw away.
This cottage is small but perfectly formed. The cosy sitting room with the log burner would be perfect on chilly autumn and winter nights and the kitchen looks very well equipped for some good, old-fashioned self-catering. I must admit I've also got my eye on the good-quality bed linen, spacious walk-in shower and Bramley toiletries.
I would say winter is the best time to stay here to really embrace the cosiness, but you will need to wait until spring if you want to be able to explore Chatsworth properly (it opens for the season in late March). You might get better weather for walking then, too.
An ideal spot for a couple’s getaway or a long weekend to catch up with a friend. Also a great meeting point for north and south dwellers!
7/7Aida Amoako, acting features writer
Devon offers some of the country's most beautiful walks with ancient woodland, chocolate box villages, roaming ponies, and stunning vistas. 2 Pound Cottage is situated right in the middle of all this, in the picturesque village of Lustleigh. You're never too far from a cosy country pub and it's connected enough to meet basic needs while being out of the way enough to make you feel like you're truly away from it all. The thatched roof indulges rural country fantasies while the wood burner is definitely a draw as the nights grow colder. The deep freestanding bath would also be a welcome treat after a day out exploring Dartmoor National Park which surrounds the cottage.
Spring, summer and early autumn would make the best time to visit to take advantage of the good weather for walks and wildlife spotting. But the true test of how warming the cottage is against the bracing temperatures comes in the winter when Dartmoor receives a decent blanket of snow. With one room and one bed, the cottage is most suited for a couple's holiday or a solo traveller looking for a little bit of cosy luxury after a day of exploring the moor.
