Dream travels: Treehouses and private islands

There had been similar operations before Airbnb appeared on the scene. Way pavers. Sites where you put your spare bed/couch up online, and people contacted you to stay. As a host, you were expected to cook, or take people out for drinks. We did it just for the love of meeting people.

I’ve been Airbnbing for over a year. It has shaped my recent life – I knew I wanted to host, and bought my flat with that in mind – choosing a two bed that I couldn’t afford. It has allowed me to renovate the flat, turning it into a space that for the first time feels like home. And most significantly, it has allowed me to take enough time from work to be able to focus on a dream project – opening accommodation in Montenegro called ‘The Grove’. A large high end hostel thing in an old olive mill, complete with private Hobbit Holes built into the hillside, specifically designed for Airbnb users. It’s what Tolkien would have wanted.

A Montenegrin Hobbit Hole is just the beginning of the magical abodes you can find on Airbnb. Right now they have over 620 treehouses listed on site, from a rustic bird tower in the Ecuadorian cloud forest to a dazzling glass box nestled in the Tuscan countryside.

Guests can also go one step further, and live the fantasy life of millionaires by renting a whole private island. Airbnb has more than 270 – from the sun­kissed paradise of the Indian Ocean to the rather chillier coast of Denmark.

Until 9 March 2016, Airbnb will be giving £100 off every treehouse and private island booked on the platform, with a minimum spend of £400 to qualify for the discount. Visit Airbnb to explore their latest listings.

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