Sleep in a Potato? How about a Birdbox? Here are Some of the More Unusual Places You Can Airbnb

By Kaelie Piscitello

With the Netflix series “The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals” taking the world by storm over the past two years, more attention is being drawn to untraditional yet luxurious accommodations worldwide.

While Airbnb offers typical hotels and villas, they also provide travelers access to strange lodgings very far off the beaten path.

The possibilities for taking a trip based on one’s strange fantasies are endless. From a vibrant gypsy wagon to a haunted brothel, the options for making vacations unique expand daily. Guests can choose from any desired experience, whether that be staying in a metal container or living inside a cow.

The Glamping Birdbox

This glammed-up treehouse is far from the traditional hotel; however, its stunning views of the Førdefjord and the Blegja mountains offset the quaint feel it could have.

Listed at $373 per night on Airbnb, two guests can take in the sights from the large circular window in Forde, Vestland flyke, Norway, and enjoy a tranquil slice of nature.

Airbnb visitors are allowed to bring their pets with them to this accommodation, and it might be a good idea for one to bring their parakeet with them. It is a birdbox after all.

The Cow Shed

Woodbridge, UK, visitors can stay in a cow shed as a form of glamping. Located at Easton Farm Park, up to four guests can choose to stay in this heifer for $151 per night.

Like the Big Idaho Potato Hotel, guests learn about living the farm life, though they can step into the cattle’s shoes this time. The inside’s rustic décor tempts fans of pastures, and people will feel welcomed into a community as four cow sheds stand in a circle to accommodate more Airbnb guests.

El Cubo, The Floating Cabin in Paraguay

An off-kilter, sinking box somehow manages to hold itself up in Lago Acaray, a river in Alto Parana Department, Paraguay. Astonishingly it’s not a sinking box but a houseboat.

There, up to four guests can try their hand at balancing on the river for $49 per night. Visitors will have access to a kitchen and pool during their stay.

Though The Floating Cabin is well-furnished, this experience seems to be created for Airbnb guests with strong stomachs and an interest in sleeping sideways.

The Silo

Continuing the farm life theme, the silo is an establishment that stands proudly as a farm tower in Malmesbury, South Africa. The farm tower itself is unassuming, white, and round, perfect for those looking for a humble accommodation.

For $126 per night, two guests can enjoy the perfect faring experience near mountains and Cape Town. Here, guests can commune with nature and many animals, including guineafowl, four German shepherds, and geese. The living amenities include a kitchen and a private pool.

Those looking for an outdoorsy getaway will enjoy the sights and wildlife surrounding The Silo.

The Big Idaho Potato Hotel

Idaho is known for its potatoes, but this tater-shaped hotel in Boise takes the love of spud to the next level. Designed by Kristie Wolfe, the potato weighs six tons and can house two people in its rounded, well-furnished space for $207 per night. In addition to the amenities inside the potato, visitors can enjoy the silo that functions as a spa space next door.

Those looking for a new perspective on farm life will certainly find one by staying inside the potato: a crop’s.

The Gypsy Rose Wagon

Those looking for a more colorful experience will enjoy a stay at the Gypsy Rose Wagon. Located in Balingup, Western Australia, this teal tiny home invites visitors in with its pink, yellow, and blue details.

In addition to an authentically furnished room and bathroom, the accommodation offers a fireplace for cold winter months and a kitchen. Each room captures the gypsy spirit with small details, such as a stained-glass window in the bathroom and patterned tiles on some walls.

Up to two guests can stay in The Gypsy Rose Wagon for $118 per night.

A Yellow Submarine

The Beatles said it best, here you will all live in a yellow submarine. The space in Marton, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand, is fully furnished and brings visitors back to the cold war with its periscope and Victorian steampunk galley.

Perfect for families, this experience offers a private backyard, children’s toys and books, and a private patio. The living room also has a ladder for children to climb, and the space resembles a real submarine, perfect for children looking to expand their imaginations.

According to Airbnb, up to four guests can stay in the sub for $157 per night in the Yellow Submarine.

The Bins on Old 66 #1

Located on the famous Route 66, this tiny home appears as a giant metal farm bin. Airbnb depicts the inside with a rustic mixture of metal and wooden walls.

The Bins now stand in place of the Midway Hotel and Café where it was rumored Bonnie and Clyde once stayed.

It is located a stone’s throw from Redmon’s Candy Factory and Gift Store and is in the perfect location for travelers visiting Bennett Springs. In Phillipsburg, Missouri, up to four guests can stay in The Bins on Old 66 for $85 per night.

The Band Wagon at Ocoee Riverside Farm

In Benton, Tennessee, guests are transported back in time to the Oregon Trail with a horse-covered wagon. This spacious accommodation brings visitors to the beautiful Ocoee River and allows them to relax and enjoy the country scenery.

The space offers a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and access to a neighboring beach. Guests also enjoy a kitchen and a uniquely furnished home with quilted blankets and a table that looks like a wheel.

Up to four guests can stay at The Bandwagon for $161 per night.

The Black Monarch: A Haunted Brothel

Last but not least, those looking to appeal to their spookier sides can choose to stay in a haunted brothel in Victor, Colorado. Rebuilt after a fire that destroyed the former casino and saloon, this building stands tall as part of a former boom town, or gold rush city.

According to Airbnb, The Black Monarch is haunted by a gold miner who died in a gunfight. Guests can look for the man’s ghost during their stay.

Over sixteen guests can stay in The Black Monarch for $1,100 per night.

Read about what it’s like to live in only Airbnbs for a year here.