We’ve partnered up with Airbnb to try out their newest platform, Airbnb Trips. Instead of haul assing to a foreign country and just skimming the surface, Airbnb Trips unlocks unique places and cultures through the people who live there. From getting schooled in acrobatics by a stunt double in LA to appreciating the art of burlesque in London, the opportunities to live like a local and explore your passions anywhere are endless.
Aight, so here’s the low-down: Airbnb recently announced ‘Trips’, which allows users to book unique ‘Experiences‘ (AKA activities or excursions) that are designed + led by local experts. These Experiences can last a few hours, while more hectic immersions take place over multiple days. We reckon it’s the new frontier of travel – a game-changer that we didn’t know we needed, but now that we know, we know, y’know?
Los Angles, for example, has given us so much. Between several iterations of The Real Housewives + Marissa Cooper’s inevitable demise being filmed / set on its borders, it’s fair enough we’ve got a ~glitz and glam~ view of the city.
This might come as a shock to some, but there’s actually a lot more to LA than just Rodeo Drive. Jokes, we’re sure you’re aware of that, but where would one even start if they wanted to see a different side of the locale?
Our boy Hayden Cox – Sydney-sider / founder of Haydenshapes Surfboards – wanted to see a different side of La-La-Land, so thanks to Airbnb’s Trips, he was able to try his hand at an Experience aptly dubbed Wide Desert Road.
Wide Desert Road, a two-day romp in LA’s dustier areas, is hosted by ol’ mate Johnny:
“I’m a SoCal native who spends my weeks surfing and my weekends on two wheels exploring the cities, mountains, and deserts of California,” he says. “I’m also the lead guide for adventure company Wilderness.”
Johnny’s two-day immersion starts off with Speakeasy Cocktails Downtown which is further described below.
SPEAKEASY COCKTAILS DOWNTOWN
DAY 1: 20:00 – 22:00
Photo: Airbnb.
Start your experience off by getting to know Johnny / hearing some stories from fellow riders while sampling a custom cocktail at Varnish – a downtown speakeasy joint that regular tourists would be hard-pressed to find.
Nice stuff, right?
Varnish served as the perfect ice breaker joint to ease Cox into his Experience. He’s quite literally a fish outta water being so far away from his usual paddling ground, the ocean. Check out the video below to see what went down.
Johnny’s Experience – which goes on to include an Off-Roading Desert Ride and Rattle Snake / Beer Tasting – is a nice change of pace from the normal, “OH-EM-GEE, LET’S GO LOOK AT CELEBRITIES’ HOUSES, BABE,” vibe we normally envision of travelling to Cali, no? Keep your eyes peeled for the next part of Cox’s trip where he puts pedal to the metal out in the desert.
Besides the ace options Airbnb’s Trips offers, the service itself is a bloody breeze to use. Once you’ve downloaded the Airbnb app, you can book your accommodation, lock-in Experiences in the area + scope places to visit off the back of users’ recommendations. Best of all, your choices will be saved / listed in your very own itinerary.
What. A. Time. To. Be. Alive.
You can check out the full range of Airbnb Trips HERE (there are a tonne, so whether your passion is sport, nature, social impact, entertainment, arts or food, they’ll have you covered). All you gotta do is connect with the local expert, book in the available dates via the app and Bob’s your international uncle.
Photo: Airbnb.
