Since taking off in 2017, Airbnb Experiences have become a firm favorite with travelers. Now there is a new Airbnb feature to rave about from the comfort of your own home. Online Experiences offers activities you can enjoy without leaving your country, suburb or even couch. Hosted from more than 30 countries, the activities on offer are as fascinating as they are varied.
“Human connection is at the core of what we do,” said Head of Airbnb Experiences, Catherine Powell. “With so many people needing to stay indoors to protect their health [from COVID-19], we want to provide an opportunity for our hosts to connect with our global community of guests in the only way possible right now, online.”
Right now, there are over 50 virtual experiences that can be booked and enjoyed online, said Jason Bush, travel expert from THEGOODESTATE.com. “While this is a lot less than the 40,000 or so Airbnb Experiences to choose from in 1,000 cities, many more Online Experiences are likely to be added in the near future to cater to those under lockdown and armchair travelers.” Some of the more memorable activities currently on offer include cooking with a Moroccan family, virtual trips to see the dogs of Chernobyl, making grandma’s pasta in Rome and experiencing a Korean beauty tutorial with a TV Host in Seoul, added the spokesman
Many Online Experiences can be shared with family members, often for no additional cost. Others are specifically designed for groups, and are perfect for online work events. Some of the experiences for larger groups include making cocktails with a bartender and brewing coffee with a barrister.
Better still, you can feel good about yourself. This is because signing up for an online experience means that you are not only learning new skills and having fun in the process, but also supporting people who might have lost their income due to coronavirus. “In a time where so many people are being impacted financially, we wanted to do our part to provide an opportunity for our hosts to continue to earn some money while they are sheltering at home to stay safe,” said Powell.
Airbnb has also partnered with a number of organizations to set up free Online Experiences, including Amigos de los Mayores (an organisation combating social isolation in Spain) and SAGE (an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older people).
“Millions of elders aren’t able to go outside and risk their health due to the current crisis, and need activities to help them stay connected to the world around them. Through our partnership with Airbnb, SAGE is able to give older members of LGBT communities across the country an opportunity to not only meet other people, but also learn a new hobby and travel to nearly anywhere around the world, all from the safety of their home,” said CEO of SAGE, Michael Adams.
