X-TRAORDINARY
Eleven quirky Airbnbs from Up house with 8,000 balloons to X-Men pad with danger room & Prince Purple Rain pad unveiled
Airbnb announced their first-ever once-in-a-lifetime experiences
ELEVEN new quirky Airbnb experiences have been revealed, including an Up house that lifts up and an X-Men mansion with 2D animation.
Airbnb made the exclusive announcement during its 2024 Summer Release presentation, which was held in Los Angeles on May 1.
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Led by Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky, photos of the Icons were introduced one by one on a large screen as conference attendees' jaws dropped.
As a special surprise at the end of the presentation, which also unveiled the travel app's new feature for group trips, one of the Icons, the Up house, was transferred from New Mexico to California so that people attending the event could experience it in person.
The Up House, one of Disney and Pixar’s most iconic homes, was recreated so that guests who stay at the Abiquiu, New Mexico, home could spend a day in protagonist Carl Fredricksen's shoes.
The yellow-painted house includes 8,000 balloons floating from the top of it and, as an added bonus, once guests check in, a crane attached to the house will suspend the one-bedroom property to make it drift in the sky just like in the movie.
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All of this can be experienced... for free. That's right!
Like the film Up, another home part of Icons is Team Riley Headquarters from Inside Out 2.
In anticipation of the June 14 release of Disney and Pixar’s new movie Inside Out 2, guests are invited to an overnight stay at the animated film character Riley's headquarters.
Although the listing will not be available until June, Airbnb teased the experience by writing, "Your host, Joy, will welcome you into her vibrant world to witness the emotions in action and help keep things in balance."
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Another Airbnb home that's part of Icons is the X-Mansion, which was actually a 10,000-square-foot estate in Westchester, New York, that has been turned into a 2D animation.
Artists spent hours painting the interior of the now-Xavier's Institute - even little odds and ends including plants - to transform the property into Marvel Comics' X-Men '97 film.
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With 100 pieces of unique X-Men items in the mansion, guests will be able to "discover" or even "master" their mutant abilities in various rooms such as the Danger Room or War Room for $97 per guest.
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Airbnb users can stay at Prince's Purple Rain House, which hasn't been available to the public... until now.
"For the first time ever, celebrate the life and music of our friend and The Revolution’s legendary frontman, Prince, by staying at the actual Purple Rain house from the film.
"Enjoy an intimate tour, groove to some rare Prince songs, and get some sleep in The Kid’s bedroom.
"Wear your finest purple fits, and when you step into history, feel free to unleash your royal rockstar," hosts Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman of Prince's band The Revolution state.
More details will be revealed once the booking opens in August.
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UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
The 11 Icons lineup is not just a one-night stay at a legendary home, it's also the chance to hang out with a celebrity - for a fraction of what it normally would cost for meet and greet tickets.
Airbnb partnered with Doja Cat to literally "wear your finest or wear your pajamas" and have an intimate experience with the rapper.
"You’ll enjoy an unforgettable living room performance from the Grammy-winning artist, including her favorite songs and tracks from her latest album," the listing, which drops this October, states.
Doja added, "Fresh from headlining festivals and my European tour, I’m bringing my very special show directly to you in an intimate living room environment.
"Music is my passion, I can’t wait to share that piece of my world with you in a way you’ll never forget. Kick it with me, and my cats."
Like Doja Cat, Kevin Hart is also hosting an intimate experience where fans will get to go inside his members-only Coramino Live Lounge where the comedian and his A-list friends will treat 30 guests to a tequila tasting and live stand-up show.
But that's not all. Two other Icons include an overnight gaming experience with TikTok sensation Khaby Lame (for free!) as well as a seven-day tour experience with reggaeton superstar Feid (for $19).
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EXCUSE TO GO ABROAD
The Icons are not just based in the US - they were hand-selected all over the world.
In Maranello, Italy, guests can stay at the iconic Ferrari Museum as part of Airbnb's collaboration with the Italian supercar brand.
Guests can sleep on a bed crafted from the same leather as Ferrari car seats, drive a Ferrari 296 GTB, and even dine at Cavallino, founder Enzo Ferrari's favorite restaurant... all for $0.
Starting May 21, guests can book to spend the night at the infamous Paris museum, Musée d’Orsay, during the 2024 Olympic Games.
Not only will guests have the best view of the games from the rooftop terrace, they will also get private access to the Musée Impressionist collection.
Lastly, Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor is opening part of her home in Chennai, India, where guests can enjoy authentic South Indian cuisine and get pampered just like the actress.
HOW TO BOOK
"Icons take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination —until now," Airbnb's co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky said in a press release.
"As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world. With Icons, we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth."
Most Icons are free, but some are priced under $100 per guest. Pricing for upcoming listings have yet to be revealed.
Icons are featured in their own category right on the homepage.
Guests can request to book an Icon of their choosing (or more than one) through the app, and even turn on notifications to get notified when a listing becomes available.
Each Icon will be open for booking requests for a limited time.
To request to book, choose the dates, add guests, and then answer a question about why you want to go.
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Per the guidelines, Airbnb will randomly choose a set of potential guests after reviewing their answers.
Those who offer a "unique perspective, passion for travel, and connection to the Icon" will be invited to book and receive a digital golden ticket. More than 4,000 tickets will be sent out in 2024.
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