The Best Airbnbs Our Editors Have Ever Stayed In
.jpg)
Discovering a cool Airbnb during a burst of online travel research is a beautiful feeling—but an even better one is getting a first-hand recommendation from someone who's stayed there. Our travel editors have stayed at hundreds of Airbnbs, from Mexico City to the shores of Thailand—and one of the best things about working with them is getting their intel before anyone else does. Below, you'll find a list of the most knockout Airbnbs that our editors—past and present—and contributors have ever stayed in, as well as in-depth reviews they’ve penned, so that before you book you'll know for sure whether the space is the right choice for you.
Each of these editor-selected Airbnbs has a stamp of approval icon on its photo. Wherever you see this stamp on Condé Nast Traveler’s website, it means that one of our writers or editors has stayed at the property first-hand and thinks you should, too.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
- Getty
A light-filled duplex in Berlin
Travel journalist Jessica Puckett, previously Condé Nast Traveler’s senior transportation editor, was stopping in Berlin for a few days during a business trip last winter, and planning on working remotely. If she had stayed elsewhere, it might have been an unmemorable trip—but instead, she found herself posted up in a design-forward gem of an apartment with an entire wall and ceiling flanked with skylights in the sunroom. Statement pieces abound, like a midcentury modern spiral staircase sculpted from smooth, blond wood; two spacious balconies; exposed brick walls; and a wood-burning fireplace.
Here’s how Puckett described the atmosphere of working from the one-bedroom loft:
“The overall effect was lounging in a light-filled glass jewel box—a particularly rare feeling during a gray winter in Berlin. Sipping my coffee there in the morning sun was almost enough to make an early bird out of me… When it was time to log on to work, the Wi-Fi speed was more than sufficient and supported all of my Zoom calls without issues.”
- Courtesy Airbnb
A luxury flat in Florence’s Piazza Strozzi
For years associate commerce editor Meaghan Kenny had been dreaming of seeing Florence—the iconic marble sculptures, the dreamy scoops of gelato served on every block, and the green Arno river winding under the unique bridges were calling her name—and last summer, she finally crossed the city off her list when she was in Tuscany for a destination wedding. Florence lived up to her expectations, but the one-bedroom Airbnb where she stayed in centrally located Piazza Strozzi exceeded them. It was walkable to the Duomo, had an Instagram-worthy cathedral-style window looking out on the bustling streets, and had an eye-catching glass staircase. Here’s what Kenny says this vacation rental is best for:
“At the end of each long day clocking up to 20,000 steps while wandering around the city, I was grateful to have such a relaxing place to unwind. I'd recommend this Florence Airbnb to any solo traveler, couple, or family with one or two young kids. It's bright and airy, and quickly feels like home.”
Read a full review of the luxe Florence one-bedroom apartment here.
A one-bedroom with balconies in Split, Croatia
Ever since associate social media editor Kayla Brock visited Zagreb and Plitvice Lakes National Park in 2017, she’d been scheming to explore even more of Croatia—and last summer, she finally made progress on her unfinished business. For just 48 hours, she visited Split, and was especially excited to get lost in the city’s Old Town. She sought out a place to stay near the neighborhood, and the seemingly standard apartment she chose ended up becoming one of her favorite Airbnbs. The fact that it was 10 minutes from Old Town was great, as were the hotel-worthy king-size bed, the double balconies, and the thoughtfulness of the host, Natasa—but according to Kayla, the apartment’s greatest asset is its interiors.
“It was the space that really captivated me,” Brock writes. “I had so much room to move around, from the inviting entryway to the bedroom with a wardrobe, side table, lounge chair, and even a luggage rack (I don’t put my suitcase on the bed because…germs), to the two separate balconies to the dining room where Natasa provided domestic peaches for me to try.”
A rooftop apartment in Rome
During a recent visit to Rome, editorial operations manager Taylor Eisenhauer made her home base a two-bedroom Campo dei Fiori apartment with an amazing rooftop. This rooftop isn’t a little perch with a couple of chairs and a tiny side table, as is more typical in European apartments. It’s spacious, with superb skyline views; a huge, shady umbrella above a swinging couch; a dining table with charming wrought-iron chairs; and an overflow of flowers and vines.
“After a red-eye flight and a morning of sightseeing under a baking Roman sun, I couldn’t wait to retreat into the quiet, cool air of this split-level stay in Parione, the city’s historic district,” Eisenhauer says. “Inside, I felt like I was in a secluded writer’s den with exposed wood beams slanting above me, while the private balcony outside reminded me that the Eternal City was right at my feet.”
Other key amenities include central air-conditioning, which is a rare luxury in Rome, and a dedicated workspace with high-speed Wi-Fi.
Check out the newly renovated Campo dei Fiori apartment on Airbnb.
- Courtesy Airbnb
A nature escape with panoramic ocean views on Koh Samui Island
Last year, Brock decided she had no intention of waiting for the perfect time to do her dream travel—so she booked a solo trip to Koh Samui, Thailand, and rented a villa with a pool and ocean views. She opted to go for a splashy six-bedroom rental that had a saltwater pool, because why not? And yet, despite all the bells and whistles, what she found was tranquility.
“As my first visit to the island and to this country, this Airbnb in Koh Samui will always have a place in my heart. After the busyness of being in the city of Chiang Mai during the Yi Peng festival—the largest celebration in Thailand—this moment of silence and respite among the trees was exactly what I needed,” she says. - Araceli Paz
A minimalist Oaxacan home tucked behind an Enrique Olvera restaurant
Senior editor Megan Spurrell has long had an affinity for Oaxaca, Mexico, and when she stumbled across an Airbnb listing online for a rental hidden behind her favorite restaurant, she knew she had to spring for a stay. She stayed there solo, and it sure sounds like the experience surpassed her expectations:
“I imagine most people would want to share beautiful Casa Criollo with loved ones—but I visited alone after a busy weekend in Mexico City. It was a treat to enjoy the surprising quiet of the Airbnb, swaying in the hammock with a fresh mezcal cocktail brought over from the restaurant. And the restaurant is, after all, the real reason to stay here,” she says.
Read a full review of Casa Criollo here. - Courtesy Airbnb
A cozy Copenhagen apartment with wool blankets and vinyl records
We love, love, love the Scandinavian hygge vibes described by Lara Kramer (global associate director at Traveler) with regard to this Copenhagen apartment. A gallery wall of punchy posters, a reading nook, and a bicycle-filled courtyard were just a few of the cozy, much-loved details of the space.
“As one of the happiest countries in the world, it’s hard to have a bad time in Denmark. However, spending our mornings and evenings at Kimmie’s place made us love Copenhagen even more. Her home played no small part in making it one of our most treasured cities,” Lara writes. “Until we can return, we’ve committed to bringing a little bit of hygge to our two-bedroom Boston apartment. This fall, you’ll find me curled up with a book in my newly redesigned reading nook, where knitted blankets and wool socks abound.”
- Taylor Eisenhauer
A woodsy Vermont yurt
Eisenhauer went into the woods seeking solitude one weekend this fall, and she found it in the coziest of places. She opted to stay in a Coperthwaite-style yurt built by its hosts in the tiny town of Woodbury, Vermont.
She made the whole affair sound so dreamy when she wrote this about seeing the rental for the very first time: “After a six-hour trip up from New York City, passing leaves that faded from vibrant candy colors to earthy purples and rich browns as I drove north, I walked under cozy wooden beams and through late afternoon sunlight streaming through curtainless windows.” We wish we were there. A few other favorite features of hers included a reading nook, an extra fluffy duvet, 360-degree foliage views, and the crystal clear Milky Way and constellations above.
- Courtesy Airbnb
A T-Swift style Rhode Island bungalow
Last fall, senior commerce editor Madison Flager dashed from New York City to Rhode Island with an express purpose: to celebrate the release of Taylor Swift's new album Midnights in high style. She couldn't think of a better place to ring in Midnights than near the singer's storied beach home in Watch Hill, a coastal neighborhood at the most-southwestern point of Rhode Island (made famous in T-Swift's The Last Great American Dynasty.) Her favorite parts of the adorably beachy and historic Westerly bungalow (it was built in 1918) in which she and her best friend stayed? It's not easy to list them all, but let's start with the bin full of vinyl, the gifted wine in the fridge, the gorgeous quilts, the grassy and lush backyard, and the fully stocked kitchen. And conveniently for New Yorkers and Bostonians, it's located right off an Amtrak Northeast Regional station.
Flager concludes her review by declaring, “This Rhode Island Airbnb was the perfect home base for our girls' weekend. The bright, sunny space offered plenty of room for two, but you could easily fit four here, as past guests have noted. The best part, though, was the ease of getting there—it makes a great weekend escape for New Yorkers and New Englanders looking to slow down for a few days.”
Read a full review of this perfectly beachy Rhode Island rental here. - Courtesy Airbnb
A remote, tiny house near Mendocino, California
A favorite of former Traveler editor Louis Cheslaw, this tiny house is great for a quick getaway from San Francisco or elsewhere in the Bay Area. Inside, you'll find a cozy quilt-covered couch, stacks of books, and maybe even some welcome gifts—the owners left Cheslaw an arrangement of local red wine, hot chocolate, and farm-fresh eggs. Prepare for al fresco dinners and morning coffee.
“At the back of the small space, glass doors led to a balcony with a table and two chairs looking out onto nothing but tree trunks and green leaves,” Cheslaw writes. It is cozy (the bed, situated up in the loft, is reached by a ladder), and thus best suited for a couple or a solo traveler.
Read a full review of this romantic California retreat here.
- Courtesy Airbnb
A lofted apartment with seven balconies in Madrid
Traveler contributor Erika Owen booked this two-bedroom at the very last minute when she realized a date mix-up meant she and her partner were sans accommodations. Despite being booked in a panic, the apartment in Madrid's hip Malasaña neighborhood delivered. With seven balconies that welcome tons of natural light and offer a glimpse of the city below, eclectic decor, and a projector loaded up with Netflix and more for nights in, it served as the perfect, walkable home base to explore the city. The only downside: you'll have to walk up five flights of stairs once you get back.
- Courtesy Airbnb
A cowboy-themed tiny house in Iowa
In the middle of a 10-day road trip across the US, Spurrell made a pit stop at the Tack House, a character-filled tiny house in McGregor, Iowa. Set on host Josh's working farm, the rustic Airbnb is decorated with antique farming tools, saddles, bridles, and even a pair of chaps. It's fit for two, with a sleeping loft and partial kitchen in the guesthouse, and a private bathroom located nearby in the host's main house. But the real star of the show is the outdoor shower, which offered Spurrell “one of the best showers [she] can remember.”
.jpg)
- Courtesy Airbnb
A palazzo apartment in Palermo, Italy
Former associate editor Andrea Whittle booked this Palermo Airbnb for the two sunny, spacious terraces, which provided respite after long days exploring the Sicilian city. Its perfect location right in the city center means restaurants, museums, and iconic sights are all within walking distance—and the interiors are “lovely, airy, and functional, with a lofted bedroom, simple decor, and a slick, modern kitchen." What more could you ask for?
- Courtesy Airbnb
An architecturally impressive forest retreat in Sea Ranch, California
If you're looking to spend a weekend in nature, without missing any of the creature comforts you're used to, this forest retreat in northern California is an absolute treat. Traveler contributor Jessica Wright visited with her partner, and says it surpassed their already high expectations.
“Somewhere between slipping into the hot tub under the night sky and enjoying a crisp glass of local Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc by the outdoor fire pit, I realized this place was even better than what I had imagined when I bookmarked it on my phone,” Wright says. If you can pull yourself away from the home, there are plenty of coastal trails located a short drive from the house.
- Courtesy Airbnb
An adobe casita in the heart of Santa Fe
When Spurrell planned a fall reunion in Santa Fe with four of her best friends, the group decided on an adobe Airbnb called “Alegre” with a prime location and a review average of 4.97 stars—and it delivered on the rating in more ways than one.
Spurrell says of the space: “It's hard to say if this is the only Airbnb like it in town. I suspect from my initial search that Santa Fe has its fair share of charming Airbnbs. But this one delivered everything it promised and was even cozier in person. And at every turn—whether I was hopping in the azul-tiled shower, or admiring a Georgia O'Keefe print in the hall—I was overcome by the feeling that I could be nowhere else but Santa Fe.”
Read the full review of the casita here. - Courtesy Airbnb
A clifftop villa in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Articles director Lale Arikoglu has long praised Casa Blue, a five-bedroom Airbnb with views over Costa Rica's Tamarindo Bay. “Half-surf lodge, half-Thai retreat,” it's the type of Airbnb you never have to leave, thanks to the private pool, indoor-outdoor living spaces, spacious chef's kitchen, and hot tub.
But the real treat are the two wooden, pagoda-style bungalows with outdoor showers that your fellow travelers will compete to stay in. They're “up among the palm trees like treehouses, with outdoor showers and breezes I didn’t know were possible so close to the equator," she said of her stay.
A dreamy desert retreat near Arizona's Saguaro National Park
Formerly known as Posada by the Joshua Tree House, this five-suite inn operates more like a hotel than an Airbnb, with individual suites (each with its own private bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or kitchenette, and patio) and large common areas, including large chef's kitchen, pool, rooftop, yoga room, patio with a fire pit, and spacious living room with a projector for shared movie nights. You can book out the entire inn with up to 12 guests by emailing—or, you can book up individual suites as former articles director Stephanie Wu did with friends on a recent trip.
The location and shared spaces were the biggest draw for Wu: “We were 40 minutes from downtown Tucson—a buzzing town worth spending its own long weekend in—[but we also] wanted to maximize our time in the Airbnb and its surrounding Saguaro National Park.”
- Courtesy Airbnb
A light-filled Colorado cabin with mountain views from the hot tub
Located less than two hours from Denver, this three-bedroom cabin makes for the perfect weekend getaway—especially if that hot tub with mountain views sounds appealing to you. It was visited by Traveler contributor Amanda Villarosa, who says it's best for small groups of friends or family, with two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, and a primary bedroom on the first floor. An open floor plan, modern design, and wood-burning fireplace, plus nearby hot springs and hiking trails, add to the cabin's charm.
- Courtesy Airbnb
A bright Mexico City loft with a lush patio
There are plenty of excellent Mexico City Airbnbs worth staying in, but Arikoglu was drawn to this one, calling it a “chic crash pad with all of the amenities you might need, but it won't leave you feeling guilty if you spend the entire day outside of it.” Well-lit with a private terrace covered in swaying pink flowers and palm trees, the interior is filled with design-forward details: a beautiful red woven rug in the bedroom, dome-shaped vintage bedside lamps, mahogany sideboards, and wide wooden floorboards.
- Courtesy Airbnb
A cozy apartment with double balconies in central Barcelona
Spending a few nights in this central Barcelona apartment made Puckett feel like “I carved out a small piece of the sprawling city for myself; like the next time I’m in town, I have a quaint pied-à-terre where I can return—somewhere that’s both modern and homey and allows me to easily access all the activity that lively Barcelona has to offer.”
The one-bedroom has two balconies from which guests can watch the neighborhood unfurl, a bathroom with a rainfall shower head, a washing machine, and kitchen essentials like a Nespresso machine, electric tea kettle, and dishwasher.
- Courtesy Airbnb
A sprawling mountaintop escape in New York's Catskills
If you're looking to spread out, this Catskills compound—featuring five bedrooms, a library, a spacious open floor plan, an outdoor stone patio with a massive fire pit, an herb garden, a koi pond, private hiking trails, and a cozy treehouse—is the place to book. Arikoglu found solace here with friends during the fall of 2020, and while the Airbnb may be pricey, it's well worth it for all of the on-property amenities. Plus, at just two hours north of New York City, it makes for the perfect weekend city escape.
- Courtesy Airbnb
A hobbit house on a vineyard just outside of London
Visited by Condé Nast Traveler UK's senior commerce writer, Lauren Burvill, this unique homestay “is more like something out of a Grand Designs episode than a gimmick.” Located less than a two-hour drive from London at a winery in East Sussex, its exterior could easily be mistaken for New Zealand. Inside the grass-covered home, “it’s surprisingly spacious, with a round, open-plan living room, dining, and kitchen space, flanked by two bedrooms with generous en suites on either side.” The vineyard hosts tours and wine tastings, which you're welcome to book during your stay, and there are pubs nearby should you not feel like cooking.
- Courtesy Airbnb
A classic red barn in the Berkshires, Massachusetts
Every summer, the Boston Symphony Orchestra relocates to Tanglewood Music Center, bringing folks from all over the northeast to the Massachusetts town of Lenox, in the Berkshires. That's how former associate social media manager Sarah Ratner ended up at the Old Red Barn, a cozy, renovated barn about 40 minutes from the music center. The lofted bedroom, neutral living room with a fireplace and stack of board games, and petite private porch make it the perfect home base for exploring the area, whether you're making it to an orchestral performance or not.
