From repurposed airstreams to tiny houses, get inspired to head out on the road with one of these drool-worthy vacation rentals.

Apps like Airbnb, HomeAway, Vacation Rental by Owner, and more are making it super easy to get away from it all and find quirky vacation rentals. Not too long ago one had to be a super sleuth with a lot of time on their hands to find places that went beyond the mainstream motel and hotel chains when traveling. Now, if you’re looking for someplace off the beaten path or someplace that is uber-sustainable, it’s a cinch. It’s super simple to find unique places to stay whether you just to get away for a night in the next town over or stay a month on the other side of the country.

Get inspired to get away from it all by these quirky and sustainable vacation rentals and plan your next trip!

7 Unique Vacation Rentals

1.  El Cosmico

El Cosmico is a 21-acre nomadic hotel and campground in Marfa, Texas. The vacation rentals include renovated vintage trailers, safari and scout tents, Sioux-style tepees, a Mongolian yurt, and tent campsites. The property also offers several communal spaces including a hammock grove, an outdoor kitchen and dining area, and a stage. There are also wood-fired hot tubs, as the burn ban allows, and bikes for exploring the town of Marfa.

2. Tiny House Vacations

Tiny House Vacations is a website devoted to connecting owners of tiny houses with travelers who want to find and book tiny and small vacation rentals throughout the world. This tiny Texas home is a beautiful Victorian house that comes complete with a hot tub and is custom made from period-reclaimed building materials. There’s even an herb garden!

3. Net-Zero Passive House

Located in Portland, OR, and featured on Airbnb, this rental is certified as one of the most energy-efficient homes in the United States. As a passive house, it is heated primarily by the sun and day-to-day activity. What little energy is used is offset by rooftop solar panels, enabling the home to be net-zero energy. It’s also super chill inside.

4. Tipi Hideaway in the Catskills

Found in the Catskills in southeastern New York State, the Bellfire Tipi is on a 10-acre property bordering open land and miles of forest. Designed with privacy and tranquility in mind, the tipi is nestled between a seasonally-running creek, maple trees, and a wildflower field for the ultimate in glamping.

5. Off-the-Grid Lava Viewing Tiny House

This totally unique 400 square foot 2-story off-the-grid house is just 1500 feet from the ocean (with no structures between the water and the house), It is also part of a neighborhood comprised of mostly tiny houses that sit on some of the newest land formed in the country–a lava field in Kalapana, Hawaii.

6. TreeHouse Point

Located just 30 minutes from Seattle along the Raging River, TreeHouse Point offers an opportunity to sleep amongst the trees. Turn off the technology, escape from everyday stress, and enjoy the rejuvenating powers of the Pacific Northwest high above the ground!

7. El Capitan Canyon

With a goal of protecting and sharing the beauty of the California coast by nurturing the environment and the history of the Canyon while allowing guests to enjoy a relaxing Santa Barbara beach camping experience, this camp offers a variety of accommodations.  The camp provides what is called “Southern California Nature Lodging” in the way of cabins, safari tents, and yurts.

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Tent with Bike Image via El Capitan Canyon

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Whether you’re opening your home to guests or staying in someone’s home-share, use these 10 Airbnb tips for a comprehensive understanding of how to use the service best.

As a former shared-home Airbnb host for more than a year as well as an avid Airbnb guest, I’ve gathered a lot of valuable perspective on the Airbnb experience from both sides of the transaction. Learn from my experience and consider these Airbnb tips for hosts and guests for insights into the minds of both parties.

AIRBNB TIPS FOR HOSTS

1. Communication is key

From creatively filling out your home’s listing description to providing proper directions and answering your guests’ questions, you’ll end up doing a lot of written communication. Err on the side of over-communicating for extra clarity and keeping your guest up to date every step of the way, because you never know which tiny detail could be the difference between an amazing guest experience and an awkward dance with misunderstanding.

2. The little things matter

There are a million ways to give your Airbnb guests a good experience, but small, unique details can push their stay into the realms of greatness.

For example: buy a few extra phone chargers (one each of iPhone 4, 5, and micro USB chargers if you have the means) to keep in your Airbnb room, leave a simple, handwritten welcome note on paper or a small whiteboard, or welcome your guests with an inexpensive gift such as a locally-made chocolate bar.

3. Buy extra everything

Sheets, towels, toilet paper, you name it: if you’re going to be hosting with any frequency, you won’t want to be washing the same set of sheets over and over again, nor making emergency store runs 10 minutes before a guest arrives. It may hit the wallet a bit up front, but think of it as an investment in your space’s capital. Plus, if you keep the receipts, you can write most relevant expenses off when you file taxes (more on that in point five below).

4. Respect your own time

I won’t lie: the money you can make as an Airbnb host is pretty impressive, and it can become a fairly addicting part of your revenue stream over time. That being said, constantly turning over rooms and finding pockets of time to re-clean your home between bookings can really burn you out.

Balance out your bookings and the enjoyment of your own home by setting personal policies for the minimum number of days notice you require for a booking inquiry, as well as your flexibility for back-to-back bookings.

5. There’s a legal side to things, too

As a former Airbnb host, I may or may not have been hosting guests in the spare bedroom of a duplex I was renting (i.e. absolutely did not own). A cursory Google search will bring up horror stories of Airbnb hosts who have befallen serious consequences — eviction, lawsuits, and more — once their landlords found out about their side hustle. Read up on your local laws, assess your risk and comfort level, and play it smart with how you juggle landlord interactions and your bookings.

Oh, and taxes. The Airbnb gravy train certainly comes with tax implications as this rental income is subject to some flavor of occupancy or lodging tax in certain cities and states. Airbnb offers pricing options to include these taxes into the cost of each guest’s booking, but this can put a damper on the pricing strategy for your space. If you forgo that option, set aside a percentage of your Airbnb earnings for taxes just as you would with other income.

AIRBNB TIPS FOR GUESTS

1. Communication is key

Just as important as it is for hosts to be communicative, guests should communicate their needs as effectively as possible. Have special arrival or departure needs? Food allergies that could affect cooking in the kitchen? Let your host know to avoid any misunderstood expectations.

2. Stay in a shared home for the best guide to the city

Staying in a shared home listing on Airbnb probably sounds uncomfortable to most people, but I encourage everyone to try it at least once. Instead of relying solely on TripAdvisor or Yelp to guide you through a new city while shacked up in a sterile hotel room, get the scoop from your hosts on the spots to enjoy or avoid around town.

3. Be human

In my experience as a host, Airbnb guests staying in shared homes often operate as if they’re constantly inconveniencing or bothering their host. Just remember that your hosts totally signed up to have you stay, and that you’re also totally paying them for the stay. The more okay you are with being “human” — making a reasonable amount of regular “living” noise, conversing with your host, coming and going from the house as you need — the more comfortable the experience will be for everyone involved.

4. That being said, it’s not a hotel

While you should certainly feel comfortable being yourself during your Airbnb stay, remain conscious of the differences between your host’s home and a hotel room. The ethos of Airbnb is based largely on the understanding and connection between two or humans, so leaving your host’s Airbnb space as messy as you might a hotel room means you’re likely violating personal space, property, and making that much more work for your host — not necessarily a team of cleaners.

5. Host gifts?

If you have a positive Airbnb stay and a special host-guest connection and culture exchange, don’t be afraid to leave your host a display of gratitude — whether it’s a personal note or a small gift you picked up in town. While this practice is totally not obligatory or expected, it is certainly appreciated by your hosts as it caps your stay with on a warm, connected note.

Follow Garth on Twitter @garthinkingcap

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Photo by BSSR

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Learn the ins and outs of making $$ with Airbnb using our 7 helpful tips!

Airbnb has become the iconoclast of the recently exploded sharing economy, with rooms around the world offered up as personable alternatives to hotels for travelers. The site allowed hosts to accommodate more than 6 million guests in 2013 alone, enticing individuals with a spare room in their house or apartment to take on this exciting and profitable venture in their own homes. Setting up an Airbnb hosting account is easy, but managing it and keeping your guests happy requires effort, motivation and the desire to offer a unique experience. Read our tips on how to make money with Airbnb and climb your way to the top of the host list!

1. Clear Communication
How you communicate the information about your listing is your most important selling point. Some customers may be wary of using a platform that leaves so many factors to trust, so offer them the benefit of the doubt by including every piece of information that is relevant to their stay. Describe the type of bed, what the bathroom situation is, whether or not parking is provided (especially if you are in a city), how close you are to various modes of transport and what kind of cultural scene your local neighborhood offers. Don’t forget to mention things like whether or not there are a washer and dryer in your apartment, whether or not you’ll be offering breakfast (is it complimentary or an added cost?) and what to do if a guest would like to bring a pet. The more honest you and clear you are, the more likely both parties will have a pleasant experience.

2. Presentation
Take great, in fact, amazing pictures of your place. Include a picture of every room in the listing, alongside any perks like a nice patio area, backyard, hot tub, workout room that your place may include. Use natural lighting and make the place look clean, but not sterile. If you are not photographically inclined, Airbnb offers an awesome service whereby a photographer will come and take pictures of your place for free, and even help you set up some of the shots!

3. Cleanliness is Key
What do you expect of a hotel room in terms of cleanliness? You pretty much expect it to be spotless and tidy, with fresh sheets and towels and a clean scent in the air. So this is exactly what you should aim to provide for your guests as a host. Bathrooms are especially important, so make sure to do the detail work in them, ensuring that all sinks, fixtures, mirrors and the toilet are completely free of any residue from previous guests. If you are offering up your kitchen for use as part of the stay, make sure that you keep your refrigerator clean with room for guests goodies and that there are clean dishes and cookware for your guests to use. If cleaning is not your thing or you are stretched for time, hire a reliable cleaning service and factor the costs into the nightly price of your room(s).

4. Answer Promptly
Airbnb actually rates you as a host depending on how quickly you respond to guest inquiries and bookings. The better your ratings are , the more likely guests are to feel comfortable booking a room with you. Airbnb also has a reviewing system set up between guests and hosts to offer insight to other users – make sure to review your guests soon after their stay with you as this will up your chances of receiving a good review from them.

5. Keep Your Quirks
Part of the beauty of using Airbnb is staying in a place that is actually someone’s home, and not just another hotel room. Keep the quirks of your place apparent, and let your personality show through your decor and cultural tastes. Guests will choose according to the pictures they see and the description they choose, so you likely won’t end up having a minimalist type in a colorful, rainbow-inspired hippie house. This also goes back to communicating all the details of your place clearly in your listing. You’ll also learn how to read your guests and understand which ones want to engage in conversation, and which ones are more likely to prefer keeping to themselves.

6. Provide Ample Information
Once you start booking rooms and people enter your home for a stay, you will want to make sure you’ve provided them with the information they need to make their stay comfortable. This will also keep you from having to inconveniently answer every single question a guest might have. Provide a sheet with you WiFi login and password, mention cool restaurants and shops to visit nearby, offer info and tips on public transport if applicable, and make sure you’ve included information on getting to the nearest airport or transportation hub. Include anything that makes your locale unique, whether you are in a setting surrounded by wineries, in a part of town known for its coffee shops, or have the city’s best live music venue just around the corner.

7. Offer Something Extra
What do you want to offer guests that will make their stay a unique and unforgettable experience? Different hosts choose differently, some providing complimentary toiletries, a DIY breakfast bar, a guided tour of their city, etc. This is not necessary, but will likely boost your reviews and ratings. Also make sure your guests understand the situation with meals and whether or not they have use of your kitchen to prepare their own food. Airbnb has left this completely up to the hosts, so you can choose to offer breakfast or other meals depending on how it works for your situation.

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Image: Airbnb

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It’s George Costanza’s ultimate fantasy: never be without a decent bathroom. But this has an Airbnb twist.

If you’ve heard of Airbnb, the Airpnp concept might sound familiar. Yes, we’re talking about renting out bathroom toilets. Because like Airbnb is a helpful alternative when hotels are all booked up, sometimes the search for a bathroom can be, well, way more urgent. And since we’re not dogs, peeing (or pooping!) on the street will land you with a hefty fine and a sex offender label in some cities (for indecent exposure). Plus, you know–a shortage of good reading material out there on the curb.

So, yes, we really have to be prudent about where we pee. And if you’ve ever been tempted to knock on a stranger’s door and ask to use the WC, you know what a relief this type of service can be. After all, we can sleep in stranger’s homes now via Airbnb, or have a nice meal there via EatWith, so why not stop in for a quick tinkle?

The Airpnp service is using a mobile optimized web app that was put to the test during Mardis Gras in New Orleans. “There are currently a handful of toilets listed on the site spanning a range of prices — some bathrooms are free, while urinating at a hotel bathroom where “Tom Cruise, Nicholas Cage, Frank Sinatra, and Walt Disney have all peed” requires a payment of $10,” explained The Next Web.

But don’t get too excited. At the time of publishing, there were only two spots in the Los Angeles area on the map. So you probably still want to keep that empty jug in your car, just in case.

Would you let a stranger use your bathroom? Would you use theirs?

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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Image: alex dram

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Mobile devices are our constant companions, especially when traveling far from home. But smartphones and tablets can do more than entertain us on long flights. Here are five must-download apps to help you save money, time and energy while on the road.

Traveling is stressful, which is funny, because we’re often trying to get away from the everyday obligations that stress us out! Whether it’s a solo business trip or a spontaneous road trip, traveling requires the seamless coordination of many variables. Between flight times, packing lists, hotel reservations, rental cars and that nagging need to check our email, it’s no wonder we often dread travel rather than looking forward to it.

This doesn’t have to be the case, though. Assembling a low-stress, efficient trip can be as easy as picking up your smartphone. We’re surrounded by gadgets that are supposed to make our lives easier, but sometimes they need a little help. Here are five free or low-cost mobile apps that will help you plan and execute your next adventure with just the touch of a button.

Airbnb – a peer-to-peer marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world — online or from a mobile phone.  Available for both iPhones and Androids, this app puts unique properties in 33,000+ cities and 192+ countries at your fingertips. From guest bedrooms to entire homes, use this app to browse Airbnb’s curated collections showcasing exceptional Airbnb properties, communicate with prospective hosts and guests from your Airbnb inbox, access your itinerary and host details, and get one-click directions to your destination. Free.

PackingPro – The best way to avoid forgetting your underwear or a warm sweater is to make a list. PackingPro is an app for the iPhone and iPad that offers  recommended packing lists for all sorts of trips. Just select the list that’s right for your destination, and tick off items (including extra items for babies, kids, pets, sports/activities, cooking, etc.) as they go into your luggage. You can also save lists from previous itineraries and schedule reminders, like watering the plants before you leave. $2.99.

TripIt – Losing the hotel address or forgetting a vehicle reservation number is a traveler’s nightmare. Instead of trying to keep track of five different confirmation numbers, addresses or contact numbers, TripIt can help you organize all pertinent information into one master itinerary. Available for nearly any mobile device, this app makes it easy to organize maps and directions, travel notes, photos, recommendations, and share details with relatives or coworkers. Free.

Wi-Fi Finder – Unless you’re traveling with your own mobile hotspot, or really like spending money on coffee, available Wi-Fi networks can be hard to come by. Wi-Fi Finder puts close to 500,000 free and paid Wi-Fi hotspots in over 144 countries right at your fingertips. Available for iPhone and Androids, this app delivers Wi-Fi hotspot details and makes it easy to call the location, get directions to it or add it to your favorites. Free.

Spotcycle – Looking for an alternative to rental cars and taxi cabs? Major cities around the world are launching bike-sharing programs, temporary rental services that make it possible to reduce your carbon footprint while getting a unique view of your destination. Available for just about any mobile device, Spotcycle makes it easy to search for and sort bike stations near you that have bikes available for rent. It also displays bikes paths and lanes in select cities. Free.

Image: Katerha

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A round-up of what we’re reading right now. 

Yoga is becoming part of corporate culture, and that is good for the bottom line. [Via LearnVest]

Where you live affects your health. A new study shows that rural living could be an obesity risk factor. [Via Los Angeles Times]

What do you do when you have a day off? According to this poll, most of us sleep. [Via NPR]

Spice up your coffee with these five seasonal ingredients. [Via Organic Authority]

If you can rent out your apartment, why not your bike? Enter the Airbnb of the cycling world. Just make sure it’s tuned up. [Via Ethical Ocean]

Call Me Maybe vs. Gangnam Style = immediate internet sensation. Doesn’t mean it’s good. [Via Soundcloud]

What is the number one thing you couldn’t live without in the kitchen? Probably the refrigerator. This and 19 other significant inventions in the history of food and drink. [Via The Atlantic]

What do “clean” and “dirty” sound like? Take city pollution, map it with sound and you get a musical landscape. [Via PSFK]

The murder of an environmental journalist in Cambodia reminds us that we are all connected. [Via Dot Earth]

We live in an era of creativity; here is a compilation of the 25 most iconic artworks over the last five years. [Via ArtInfo]

Image: mmarcotte51

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The home-tel industry is booming, but one towers above the rest (sometimes in an actual tower-house). 

The next tech bubble is swelling in the global peer-to-peer accommodation market. Fast Company has deemed 2012 the year of the home-tel, with start-ups being absorbed as quickly as they’re starting. There was this week’s announcement that Berlin-based company 9flats swallowed Toronto’s iStopOver (now providing a combined 100,000 beds); not far behind are Wimdu with roughly 50,000 and HouseTrip with 100,000.

Leading the market, however, with some 200,000 listings is Airbnb: the original, certainly the hippest, both comprehensive and innovative in its scope of offerings. One EcoSalon staffer nearly choked on her appeltaart upon seeing their new Airstream section. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve praised them for their practicality, whittling housing hook-ups down to their long-term, real world compatibility potential.

Tiniest

The one square meter house in Berlin, from $13/nigh.

Your own private cabin in Amsterdam, from $55/night.

Russian sleepbox in Moscow, from $32/night.

Easy, Breezy & Airstreamy

Dog-friendly RV retreat in Summit, New Jersey, from $115/night.

Andalucian Airstream Glamping in the Sierra de las Nieves, Spain, from $14/night.

Vintage Airstreaming in San Francisco, California, from $222/night.

Tallest

A lavender field runs under it. Italian treehouse, from $446/night.

The tiny fern forest treehouse in Lincoln, Vermont, from $125/night.

Treetop cottage in Cave Junction, Oregon, from $250/night.

Yurtiest

Traditional Mongolian Yurt in sunny Ibiza, from $51/night.

The Blue Yurt in the English countryside, from $105/night.

Eco yurt home in Hawaii, from $55/night edible garden included.

Greenest

Color-blocked garden in the heart of Buenos Aires, from $100/night.

Urban tranquility (and value) in London, from $79/night.

“Plunged into the olive trees.” Another natural Italian oasis, from $89/night.

The post The Tiniest, Highest & Greenest Airbnb Pickings appeared first on EcoSalon.

Roses are red, violets are blue, everything was great ‘til he moved in with you.

Couples move in for all sorts of reasons: love, convenience, flood damage, rodents. Using the above as a very rough estimation, that means only 25% of move-ins are intentional. Wait. A whopping three quarters of co-habitating partners are living together by accident? It’s entirely possible. No wonder 50% of marriages end in divorce.

According to Airbnb, a global network that hooks travelers up with hyper-local accommodations (be it an empty apartment or cozy corner in a loft), the love shack needn’t come crashing down quite so hard.

Here’s how:

The trend of house swapping and shelter sharing is as current as typography. Like the font Helvetica, a good sublet will suit just about every occasion. An apartment swap in Paris, summer in Bushwick, campaigning in Washington – all housing conundrums easily remedied with a sublease. Hidden in that clause, too, is an opportunity to test-drive your significant other’s long-term potential.

Airbnb conducted a poll that found 58% of women would prefer a test move-in with their lover but rent being what it is, all too often the bachelorette pad is sacrificed in the melee of good sex or a bed bug infestation.

The company provides monthly sublets in 17,745 cities and 188 countries. It’s a eureka solution, and an opportunity to take a more long-view approach on your relationship before commingling cutlery.

No matter what kind of relationship you’re in, it’s a win-win. For example,

Young lovers:

The hot new boyfriend has a horrid roommate, and so do you. On the other hand, your downtown lover also a gaming habit you’re not so sure about. Get a sublet, live month-to-month in a furnished pad before jumping into a 12-month lease.

Long-distance:

Are you sleepless in Seattle? Awww, that’s about as cute as Meg Ryan’s pantsuit in 1993 (to say nothing of Rosie’s shoulder pads).

We’re in the middle of a housing crisis. You’d have to be as codependent as Alice Hill to give up your Harvard Square apartment for some dude you Skype with on Friday nights. Test-drive and keep your mortgage paid by listing your apartment on Airbnb first.

Newlyweds:

Kate Winslet is a city girl. Country life drives her bonkers. The suburbs leave her feeling unfulfilled. Yet in role after role, she ends up barefoot and pregnant in the ‘burbs and it never ends well. If you find yourself recently married, do not pull a Winslet and move to suburbia just because Leo asks you to. Trade in your East Village apartment for a sublet on Metro North in three-month increments. Move back to the city, try commuting again. Then decide if your happily ever after resides in New Rochelle.

Images: CinemaSeries; IMDB; Ali Leila; IMDB

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