Our Top Four Airbnbs across the country

Chris and I use Airbnb every chance we get.  For the past five years, we’ve used nothing but on our vacations. We also book them for short weekend getaways, business trips, and when we were transitioning out of Atlanta and back to South Carolina (read more about that experience here).

That’s not to say we’ve had some not so great experiences (learn some tips to avoid this here), but we’ve also had some awesome ones at some really great places. While we were on vacation earlier this month, we started talking about some of our best Airbnb stays and I thought I would share them with you all! You never know when you might be planning a visit to one of these cities and can take advantage.

In the interests of full disclosure, we only book places that we can have to ourselves (houses, condos, guest house, apartments, etc.) I am too old to be sharing space with a total stranger. The hosts of these places have all agreed to be featured in this post. However, I am receiving no compensation for sharing my opinion on our stays. The perspectives and reviews are my own (maybe with a little Chris thrown in😊).

In true late-night fashion, I’ll start at the bottom and work towards number one.

4. Enchanted Retreat (Octagon House), Mancos, CO

This house is listed on Airbnb as “Enchanted Retreat.” We started calling it the “Octagon House.” The Octagon House sits on 95 acres just outside the small town of Mancos, Colorado. It has incredible views out every window!

The bedroom is actually an octagon shaped room. Technically speaking, the main living area is a dodecagon (12-sided) and the bathroom a hexagon. All are spacious and sparkling clean. Chris and I still talk about the bed – it is one of the most comfortable we’ve ever used! There was also a thermostat-controlled gas heater in the bedroom that looks like a wood stove. It was so neat to be able to wake up at night and see the “flames.”

It has one bedroom, one bath (with a pullout couch for extra guests) and a GREAT kitchen. Chris loves to cook so we usually end up cooking a couple of nights on vacation. It’s always much for fun for him in a high-end kitchen that has all the essentials and then some. There’s a great deck for stargazing and watching the sunset.  We were able to see a full double rainbow on our last day – absolutely beautiful. It was visible for nearly an hour and we were able to see it on the way home from dinner AND from our deck at home.

The host met us at the house to show us around and leave a gift basket of locally-made goodies – YUM! They live down the street (remember 95 acres so this is not as close as it sounds) and were available if needed, but we didn’t see them for the rest of the trip. The 95 acres were there for us to explore along with all the other destinations in the area.

We were able to easily get to the Anasazi cliff dwellings that fascinate Chris, Silverton and Durango for a day trip (and six inches of snow – in May!), and Ouray/Box Canyon Falls. There were some little restaurants within 20 minutes and a small grocery store that was surprisingly well-stocked. Everything you need for a great stay!

3. Luxury Home Apartment, Atlanta, GA

The first thing that comes to mind with this apartment is SPACE! This one bedroom, 1.5 bath terrace apartment has incredibly high ceilings and a full wall of windows that looks out onto a beautiful back yard.  The super-comfy sectional in the living area is huge! I think you could host your entire extended family on it with room to spare. 

Just to give you an idea of how big the space is, there’s also a pool table and foosball table for your entertainment and the space doesn’t feel crowded AT ALL. There’s also a nice patio that is private just for you with some comfy lounge chairs – perfect for an evening cocktail.

When you arrive, there’s a designated place to park just for you. A special gate and path that leads to French doors. Its an electronic lock with your own code that made me feel safe. Did I mention that there were 1.5 baths? Having multiple bathrooms is nice for any number of reasons. Chris and I get giddy when we’re able to get a place with more than one.

Located in Vinings, an area in northwest Atlanta, this place is easily accessible if you’re in town for a business trip or for a fun getaway. There are plenty of fun, trendy restaurants close by and you can get downtown in less than 20 minutes (if you’re not in rush hour).

2. Mid-Century Modern House, Eureka, CA

This house took our breath away and stole our hearts. It was the beginning inspiration for this blog and I think will continue to be an inspiration on future projects as well. Built in the late 1950s it is quintessential mid-century modern. The big windows, the front door, the sunken living room everything about it takes you back.

The house is spotless and has been furnished with period pieces that really get you into that time period, but the hosts have remodeled the house to include a stylish kitchen any chef would love (Chris was enamored with the gas range) and bathrooms with instant and never-ending hot water (which I love).

Sitting at the dining room table you look out a wall of windows with a giant redwood tree in the center growing about ten feet from the house – a great reminder of why we planned our vacation to this area. Hardwood floors and wide open spaces make this three bedroom two bath home a retreat to visit. The bed was super comfy and there was a hot tub to enjoy, too!

Set in the northern California city of Eureka, it is close to the historic downtown area, lost of shops and restaurants, and nearby cities like Arcata. We did several hikes that were within an hour’s drive and took a visit to a cheese factory (good free samples!). The house is situated almost at the end of a cul-de-sac so it is very quiet as well as convenient.

1. The Onion House, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Designed in the late 1950s, this house is a work of art! When you pull up to the carport, its architecture gives you a hint of what lies beyond the gate, but when you come up the stairs all expectations are exceeded! The 70-foot pool is nestled into the side of the house making it seem like it’s a part of the structure. The wide steps between the master bedroom and main house make a perfect place to enjoy an evening cocktail and watch the sun set.

If you are into all the activities that Kailua-Kona has to offer, the Onion House is in a great location. An easy trip to the beach and close to town. This three-bedroom, two bath home was perfect for us. With a full kitchen and outdoor grill, we were able to have romantic dinners by the pool. If you are expecting a straight-lined, sanitized hotel type stay, this is not for you.  The house has a wonderful combination of screens and stained-glass windows that bring in pleasant breezes and glorious light.

The house has a fascinating history that you can read more about here. Today, its available for travelers who want to spend a few days in a magical place.

We had planned several excursions for our time in Kailua-Kona before we set foot in the Onion House. After arriving, we canceled all of them (except for the trip to the observatory) just so we could hang out and enjoy. There’s a little garden that’s very peaceful for reading a book, but the pool is amazing. We watched sunset every night from the pool.

Its been several years since our trip to Hawaii, and though we stayed at several Airbnbs during our two-week trip, its this one that we still talk about.

I am a planner so I already have a favorites folder for a trip we’re planning in a couple of years.  Do you have any Airbnb favorites we should know about?