Country manors, Beverly Hills mansions, penthouses and 5-star villas. These are just some of the properties you can now book on Airbnb Luxe. With prices starting at $1000 per night, these luxe homes cater to the very wealthy and look like something out of a movie. So what is Airbnb Luxe?

Airbnb Luxe is Airbnb’s foray into super-luxury travel. It is a new premium tier allowing you to book fully serviced mega homes and vacation experiences. Each property on Airbnb Luxe is unique, pristine and of course, luxurious. They even come with private butlers, special amenities, and helicopters in some cases!

Staying in an Airbnb Luxe will cost you a pretty penny though, so you’ll need to be cashed up. On the other side, listing your property is a gruelling process. Only the very best homes are considered.

Airbnb Luxe is:

• Pristine, expertly designed luxury homes
• Fully serviced with luxury amenities
• Dedicated trip designer
• The worlds most extraordinary homes

In this article I will answer all the questions you may have about this amazing service. So what is Airbnb Luxe? Let’s find out!

Does Airbnb own luxury retreats?

One question I often hear asked is does Airbnb own luxury retreats? The answer is yes!

“Airbnb bought Luxury Retreats in 2017 for approx $300 million.”

Airbnb made a big push into the luxury rental market in 2017 by acquiring Luxury Retreats. As a result, Airbnb Luxe was born and it now includes some of the most luxurious accommodation in the world.

Formally Luxury Retreats, Airbnb now owns the space after acquiring the ‘luxe’ brand for a mere $300 million. A wise move after the success of their Airbnb Plus listings being a huge hit. They certainly have come a long way from just having an air mattress set up on the lounge room floor.

Thanks to their deal with Luxury Retreats, Airbnb now boasts over 2,000 handpicked luxury homes from around the globe. So now you know what Airbnb Luxe is, let’s delve into the service some more.

How to book an Airbnb Luxe

You may be wondering how to book an Airbnb Luxe? For starters, it’s a totally different process to the one we are all used to with normal Airbnb listings. In fact, it’s very different. Let’s take a look.

To begin with, the listing has no reviews, no star ratings, and no host profile. An Airbnb Luxe listing consists only of photos, with little to no written descriptions. Even all the amenities appear listed one by one with small images.

Once you select your dates and amount of guests, you can then request to book. From here a dedicated trip designer will contact you and ask you some questions. Why are you booking the house? Is the house right for your group? What are your interests in the area?

All going well, you’ll have your booking approved and you can start packing your bags!

What are the luxe services and amenities?

Ok, we get the idea, it’s an expensive service. So the big question is, what are the Luxe services and amenities? What is Airbnb Luxe?

One of the best perks of booking a Luxe property is the dedicated trip designer that comes with the house. Think of it like like having your very own travel agent in your back pocket. They are area experts and their sole job is to make your trip unforgettable.

For example, they will do jobs like help you with the house and book tickets to a show. In addition, they will secure a table at a top restaurant or even call in a helicopter so you can get there in style! You name it, they will get it for you.

Some properties will come with other services and amenities included in the price. These will show up under the Included with this home section. Each inclusion will show up like this;

Additionally, there are services and amenities available quoted on top of the price. Things such as spa services, groceries, a driver and babysitters to name a few. These will show up in the Add-on Services section like this;

How to qualify for Airbnb Luxe

Qualifying for Airbnb Luxe is no easy task. The application process is lengthy and rigorous. Your property must be unique, pristine and located somewhere people want to visit. So then, how to qualify for Airbnb Luxe?

To qualify for Airbnb Luxe your home must pass a comprehensive 300-point inspection. Airbnb split this up into five sections: Form, function, feel, location and services.

#1 Form

Form represents the layout and design of the home. There must be enough space to accommodate every guest. This means enough chairs at the dining table and ample seating in the lounge areas. On top of that, the outdoor areas must be fully furnished. In other words, there has to be room for everyone.

#2 Function

The function of the house is also reviewed and tested. For example. you must fully equip your kitchen with chef quality appliances. The air conditioner and heating must be up to par and is tested for noise level and efficiency. Furthermore, there must also be at least one bathroom for every two bedrooms. In short, your house must be functionally amazing.

#3 Feel

The overall feel of the property also comes into play. For instance, Airbnb Luxe will judge the architecture and style of your home. They will also judge the landscape and ensure it’s picturesque and pristine. In addition, your house must also have a certain unique quality that sets it apart. In other words it has to ooze luxury and give the impression of grandness.

#4 Location

The location of the home plays a huge part in the 300 point inspection. Airbnb will judge inner-city properties on a suburb and neighbourhood basis. Whereas country or remote properties are more based on distance and accessibility.

#5 Services

With Airbnb Luxe comes many services that guests can request. These services include massages, chefs, chauffeurs and so on. Therefore the property must be able to source these services from a local town or city. They also factor in what activities are in the area for guests to partake in.

How to become Airbnb luxe

If you think your unique property may qualify for Airbnb Luxe, the application is an easy process. All you need to do is fill out a form and then an Airbnb Luxe representative will get in contact with you.

To find the form, head to the Airbnb Luxe page. Next scroll all the way to the bottom where you will see “Want your home on Airbnb Luxe? Apply now“.

From here a form will pop up that looks just like this;

As you can see you must provide a link to a website that showcases your property. If you don’t have a website as yet you can easily upload photos to sites like Flickr. Or you can create a Facebook or Instagram page for your property.

Airbnb Luxe vs Plus

To compare Luxe and Plus listings would be like comparing a sensible BMW to a Rolls Royce limousine. Sure the BMW is lovely with its leather seats and huge display, but its nothing compared to the luxury and comfort of the limo.

Airbnb created Plus listings to compete with upmarket hotels. They market these properties toward guests that want the space and freedom of an Airbnb without the risk of getting a dud. (We’ve all been there!)

On the other hand, Airbnb Luxe is for the super-rich and wealthy. The kind of person that wants a carefree trip away with a trip planner doing all the running around for them.

Airbnb officials go through rigorous checks to vet both Luxe and Plus listings. As a result, these listings can only make the cut if they pass the strict checks an guidelines.

So you will know if the listing has a Plus or a Luxe mark, you’ll be staying in total comfort.

Airbnb Luxe Wedding

An Airbnb Luxe wedding is the perfect backdrop to say I do. Especially so with weddings becoming more over the top than ever. You’re spoilt for choice with lush wineries, sprawling castles and tropical villas. But can you host a wedding on Airbnb Luxe?

The simple answer is yes! Most properties will allow you to hold a ceremony as well as the reception. But if you want an Airbnb Luxe wedding, you will need some cash to splash.

Take this private island in Nukutepipi pictured below as an example. It can cater for up to 52 guests and will set you back a whopping $1.1 million for a 7-day minimum stay.

Yes, there are cheaper options for weddings on Airbnb Luxe in case you were wondering. I mean, not everyone needs their own private island to tie the knot. But hey, we can all dream, right?

When searching for your wedding location, the first thing to look for is the house rules section at the bottom of the listing. If this listing reads no parties or events, move onto the next property.

However, if the property does allow events, your best bet is to contact the dedicated trip designer. They will get back to you within a couple of days and talk through what you want and what they can offer.

Go on and splurge!

So, if an Airbnb luxe is now on your wish list, then go for it! Why not book this $16,000 per night secluded Tuscan villa set amongst the hills. You may just need another 20 or 30 friends to help split the bill!