The Airbnb Taiwan community launches—easily find globally unique homestays

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

 

With the growing trend of adventurous travel, hotel stays can no longer satisfy travelers' desire to explore the world, and unique homestays such as castles, treehouses, and cave dwellings have become hidden gems in accommodations around the globe. In response, Airbnb, which provides global specialty accommodation booking services, has not only established a community in Taiwan to make it easier for Taiwanese travelers to access unique homestays around the world, but also introduces Taiwan’s distinctive homestays and other types of accommodations to foreign tourists. Whether it’s a simple room for $10 USD (about NT$300) a night abroad, houseboats, or luxurious castles, or locally unique homestays within Taiwan, simply enter your destination, check-in date, and number of guests on the website to browse them all at once.

Many backpackers and couch surfers are shifting their accommodation choices from regular hotels to locally unique homestays. Not only are these more affordable, but they also offer an immersive local experience and opportunities to meet new friends. This trend is not only taking locals abroad but also attracting many foreign travelers to visit Taiwan. According to Airbnb statistics, the proportion of Taiwanese users booking overseas accommodations through the site increased by 283% in 2012, with the most popular destinations being New York, Paris, Hong Kong, London, and Boston. Meanwhile, tourists booking accommodations in Taiwan via the site came from 47 different countries or regions, with the highest numbers from the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Canada. In 2012, the total number of nights booked by Airbnb users in Taiwan increased by 940%.