You might have already heard of Airbnb, and if that’s the case then you’re probably already hooked.
The people behind it describe it as “a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodation around the world — online or from a mobile phone.”
Essentially it’s a website where you can find a room or entire place at cities around the world at varying budgets, and the owners can make money from their extra space.
And in Wales there are some cracking places to stay.
We looked for some of the impressive, quirky, stylish and interesting properties that are being offered on Airbnb in Wales and came across a converted Edwardian railway carriage, an eco-retreat and even a tree house. Take a look...
The Aberporth Express
What: As far as cracking views go, it doesn’t get much better than the one from The Aberporth Express.
And if it’s something a bit different that you’re after then this converted 1908 railway carriage with wood-lined interior on the edge of Cardigan Bay should do the trick.
It sleeps five guests and has two bedrooms.
Price: £49 per night
A tree house
What: The tree house is built amongst the treetops, with simple yet comfortable furnishings lending a cosy and light ambience. A short walk through a wooded valley, following a pretty stream with a pond leads to a quiet and sheltered cove.
It sleeps four guests and has two bedrooms.
Where: Solva, Pembrokeshire
Price: £70 per night
Converted Methodist church
What: A room in a converted church which was built in 1906 and converted in 2013.
It has underfloor heating throughout and is just one minute walk to pubs, restaurants and shops.
The room comes with a large double four poster bed, towels and bedding all provided. There is a coffee machine, access to a large kitchen with all modern facilities.
It sleeps two guests.
Where: Penarth
Price: £40 per night
A yurt on an organic farm
What: A spacious, traditional Mongolian yurt with magnificent views across an organic farm and Welsh hills.
The owners say there is no traffic noise, no light pollution and you’ll be dining in a converted school bus 50 metres down the hill and shared with other yurt dwellers.
It sleeps six guests and has two bedrooms.
Where: Tylwch, Powys
Price: £62 per night
Private room in a quirky family home
What: This home, filled with original artworks that the owners have collected over the years, is probably the kind of home you’ve always wanted.
You can stay in this couple’s beautiful home and you’ll have a light and airy room with a south facing aspect that keeps the sun all day. Inside there’s a very large shared bathroom and shower room.
It sleeps two guests and has one spare bedroom.
Where: Cardiff
Price: £50 per night
An eco retreat
What: Quiet Earth Retreat is a two storey loadbearing straw bale house – the first in the UK.
It is a beautiful retreat centre, offering special time to relax in an untouched woodland upon a hill overlooking spectacular views of the Teifi estury.
It is also an off-grid home, powered by the sun and the wind.
The owners say low energy appliances may be used with awareness such as laptops – but no hairdryers!
Downstairs you will find a large open plan kitchen and living room with a wood stove which heats the whole house. There is a downstairs bathroom in a rounded stone turret with sunken bath and rain water harvested toilet. Water is solar heated and back boiler heated in the winter.
The property sleeps nine guests and has two bedrooms.
Where: Cardigan, Pembrokeshire
Price: £130 per night
A stable conversion with a wood-fired hot tub
What: The setting is an exclusive and private let for a small converted stables with the surrounding land and facilities.
The building is a quirky, compact and comfortable space.
It sleeps four to six guests and ideally suits small groups and parents with kids, but if you have a larger party then you can contact the owners to discuss potential sleeping arrangements.
You’ll have access to the wood-fired hot tub, summer house, various BBQ facilities, seating areas, hammocks, trampoline, slide, swing bench etc.
You can also help yourself to free eggs from the chickens and the owners will give you half a dozen, along with home baked bread and jam, tea, coffee, milk, butter and other treats for when you arrive.
Where: Clydey, Pembrokeshire
Price: £110 per night
____________________________________________
50 breathtaking pictures that show why everyone should visit Wales:
____________________________________________
A Californian-style bungalow with a swimming pool
What: Two bedrooms connected to each other via a small shared shower room with a sink and toilet.
The main room can be let on its own for one or two people – in which case the smaller room will not be rented to anyone – or you can rent the two rooms if there are more people or children in your group.
The main room is at the front of the house and the access is directly off the hall right by the front door so you do not have to enter the main house unless you wish to do so.
The owners say the property was built by an architect as his own home in the 1960s.
The design is inspired by a Californian bungalow, and is built around an outdoor swimming pool which takes up most of the garden.
Where: Langland, Swansea
Price: £40 per night
A stargazing cottage
What: A cottage in an idyllic, private location which no light pollution – so it’s the ideal spot for stargazing.
The cottage had been empty since the 1940s, and has now been fully restored.
The three-year rescue project provides a cottage full of character, antique furnishings and modern conveniences to complement the open fire and wood-burner. Central heating, a modern, efficient wood-burner and an open fire keep the cottage snug year-round.
It sleeps two guests and you have two acres of land to roam and direct access to a good footpath network, making this a great cottage for dog owners.
Where: New Moat, Pembrokeshire
Price: £49 per night
A bolthole with a private lake
What: Situated in the grounds of Caerau Gardens, a charming and unusual bolt hole complete with underfloor heating, a sauna and a large screen and projector.
There is a private lake for swimming, fishing or boating and the owners say they can provide mountain bikes.
Where: Sarnau, near Bala
Price: £80 per night
Gorgeous studio with incredible views
What: A studio with gorgeous views from your spacious balcony.
You have direct access to thousands of acres of open moorland right outside the door and the owners say they grow lots of organic vegetables which you can share. You can also use the firepit, BBQ and table and chairs for al fresco dining.
Where: Lloyney, Powys
Price: £61 per night
A hillside glass-fronted bungalow
What: Well it's not a swanky pad in the south of France... it’s in Snowdon.
But the beach views are amazing and this place will make you feel like you’re abroad, especially when the sun is shining.
There is room for four guests and there are two bedrooms.
Where: Aberdovey, Gwynedd
Price: £65 per night
A miner’s cottage
What: A one-bedroom cottage with views across Angelsey and the Irish Sea.
Rebuilt eight years ago to a high standard, the lounge and kitchen are open plan, with a raised ceiling into the roofline.
The main feature of the lounge is the original stone fireplace that defines that cottage feel.
The house itself is set high on a hillside and the owner says simply standing outside gives you amazing views.
The home is ideal for a couple or small family.
Where: Gallt-y-foel, Snowdonia
Price: £55 per night
A converted granary
What: The kind of place where you can really get away from it all.
This converted granary offers super comfy and private accommodation in a beautiful rural setting, and the owners say it is popular with walkers and nature lovers.
There is a wood burning stove and small kitchen on the ground floor with a double bed and shower upstairs.
There is a DVD player and lots of books and records.
It sleeps two guests.
Where: Tregare, Monmouthshire
Price: £60 per night
A converted corn mill
What: A private room in a beautifully converted corn mill built in 1792.
You’ll stay in craftsman-made beds with luxurious mattresses, fine cotton bedlinen and luxury feather quilts, and the room boasts a stunning Victorian ensuite bathroom.
It sleeps three guests and has one bedroom.
Where: Llandysul, Ceredigion
Price: £80 per night
A hobbit house
What: A charming, Grade II listed thatched cottage which is 15 minutes away from the coast.
Ffynnon Oer is one of the best surviving examples of an eighteenth century clom cottage in Wales.
It was built around 1750, and although there have been alterations, the interior arrangement and many details are original to that time.
The bathroom was originally the farm’s dairy and the owners preserved the huge slate slab which was once used in butter making.
It sleeps five guests and has three bedrooms.
Where: Felinfach, Pembrokeshire
Price: £80 per night
An artists’ snug
What: A quirky and colourful terraced cottage in Snowdonia.
The three bedroom home sleeps five guests and will be yours for the entire stay.
The owners say you can hear a nearby gentle waterfall from the home and from the front door you can walk to the climbing cliffs at Carreg Hyll Drem.
It sleeps five guests in three bedrooms.
Where: Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd
Price: £54 per night
