(SPOT.ph) Since it was founded in 2008, Airbnb has been known to serve as a database where homeowners can rent out extra rooms, or heck, even a whole island. It's supposed to add local flavor to a traveler's stay in a foreign land.
Airbnb now helps you take your trips a step further by compiling “Experiences” designed and led by residents of selected cities. From quick workshops to long treks, which ones are you going to try?
Follow Irish rock band U2's footsteps
Dublin, Ireland
P1,730 • 2.5 hours
Dublin’s Docklands, found along River Liffey, became popular because of the Irish rock band U2. The stroll includes the Grand Canal Dock, south quays of the river, the Windmill Lane Studios (U2's headquarters for two years), video shoot locations, and even their current rehearsal space.
London, England
P10,428 • three days
Queen Elizabeth has been the head of the monarchy since 1952. With a reign that long, it would be hard to imagine how the life of a royal must be. An Airbnb Experience host in London has a lineup of three activities for three days. First, you'll meet a royal coffee brewer who'll fine-tune your royal palate. You'll also hear facts and anecdotes about the Queen while walking around the town where she spent her childhood. Next, you'll shop like a royal and meet the Queen's perfumer, the world's oldest hat maker, and other royal shop owners around Buckingham Palace. The last day is all about a curated tour of Kensington Gardens and Palace.
Unleash your inner dancer while on a boat
River Seine, Paris
P2,999 • 3.5 hours
Aside from being the City of Love, Paris is also known to be teeming with art, literature, culture, and performances. What better way to experience this city than to immerse in a weekly Latin dance event on a three-level boat cruising the Seine River? You can learn salsa, Brazilian zouk, or bachata; watch world-class
Sign up for a multi-sensory museum tour
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, California
P3,035 • three hours
The goal of this unusual tour of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is "to help you feel the art, not understand it." Takers of this Airbnb Experience are fitted with a pair of headphones and a subwoofer backpack while touring San Francisco's largest collection of modern art. It doesn't end there. You get to share your thoughts with the host over drinks in the museum's al fresco café.
Barcelona, Spain
P3,056 • two hours
See Barcelona's top attractions while aboard an old motorbike with a sidecar from World War II. A motorcycle enthusiast will not only take you to the off-the-beaten-path spots in the city but also explain its history, culture, and traditions. The tour ends at a local dive bar.
Learn queer history from drag queens
Mexico City
P3,915 • two hours
Drag queens and trans women Fabián (aka María Magdalena) and Corinna (aka Ángele Azul) take you through Mexico City's LGBTQ+ community and popular hangouts. The last stop is Corinna's apartment where you can dress up and be fabulous like the city's new divas.
Discover Miami's celebrity hideaways
Watson Island Marina, Miami
P6,069 • four hours
Miami in Florida is one of the world's trendiest beach spots. This Airbnb Experience package includes a boat ride to Star Island, a cruise around the city's most glamorous houses and celebrity estates, and an afternoon of lounging around a popular sandbar.
Make your wedding dreams come true
Tuscany, Florence
P18,450 • three days
When Isabelle Daza and Adrien Semblat released their wedding video in 2016, we instantly fell in love with the gorgeous scenery in romantic Tuscany in Italy. Airbnb lets you experience this, not through a booked wedding but through a three-day tour of the Chianti region. Some of the activities include olive oil and wine tasting, a visit to the windmill designed by Leonardo da Vinci, a feast of authentic Tuscan meals, and lessons on floral design and wedding flower selection.
Explore Berlin's forest reserve with a pack of dogs
Berlin, Germany
P2,883 • three hours
Dog lover and rescuer Thomas takes you through the forests and lakes of Grunewald, the largest green area in the city of Berlin. Tagging along are his 15 well-trained dogs who would love to follow you around as you stroll around the nature reserve.
Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
P1,518 • 2.5 hours
Seoul is known for its Korean Makgeolli (rice wine). But did you know that it's also a good spot for running? You can join the Korean Bistro Running Club and work your way through a scenic 10k course for a different experience of the city. (You can have it cut down to 3k if you're a beginner). Your reward in the end? A glass of rice wine! Not bad, right?