• 10. The spirit of Marrakesh is obvious in this traditionally charming riad in Morocco, with beds for up to eight people. All pictures courtesy Airbnb
    10. The spirit of Marrakesh is obvious in this traditionally charming riad in Morocco, with beds for up to eight people. All pictures courtesy Airbnb
  • 9. Ocean vistas and an architecturally unique cave home in Greece's Santorini. The house used to be the area's old bakery.
    9. Ocean vistas and an architecturally unique cave home in Greece's Santorini. The house used to be the area's old bakery.
  • 8. A remote apartment surrounded by nature in Vaðlaheiði near Akureyri, the capital of north Iceland.
    8. A remote apartment surrounded by nature in Vaðlaheiði near Akureyri, the capital of north Iceland.
  • 7. A private pool house with spa access in central Los Angeles also comes with breathtaking views.
    7. A private pool house with spa access in central Los Angeles also comes with breathtaking views.
  • 6. This Balian treehouse is only a 3 minute walk away from the beach and comes with gorgeous gardens and its own private pool.
    6. This Balian treehouse is only a 3 minute walk away from the beach and comes with gorgeous gardens and its own private pool.
  • 5. A cosy underground earth house in Orondo, Washington, United States.
    5. A cosy underground earth house in Orondo, Washington, United States.
  • 4. This Airbnb bamboo hideout is a unique eco-stay hidden in the mountains near the Gunung Agung volcano in Bali, Indonesia.
    4. This Airbnb bamboo hideout is a unique eco-stay hidden in the mountains near the Gunung Agung volcano in Bali, Indonesia.
  • 3. Elegant on the inside, and unique on the outside, this Santorini cave house with an outdoor plunge pool is one of Airbnb's most wishlisted.
    3. Elegant on the inside, and unique on the outside, this Santorini cave house with an outdoor plunge pool is one of Airbnb's most wishlisted.
  • 2. This boulder strewn stilted beach house in Brazil is the second-most wishlisted home on Airbnb.
    2. This boulder strewn stilted beach house in Brazil is the second-most wishlisted home on Airbnb.
  • 1. Bali, Indonesia. This luxury villa in Singaraja in the hidden north of Bali is the most wish-listed Airbnb property since the pandemic began.
    1. Bali, Indonesia. This luxury villa in Singaraja in the hidden north of Bali is the most wish-listed Airbnb property since the pandemic began.

Travel

The 10 most 'wishlisted' holiday homes on Airbnb – from Bali to Santorini

From a beach villa in Brazil to cave houses in Greece, these are Airbnb's most in-demand homes

Hayley Skirka
Hayley Skirka

May 22, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

With travel restricted during the coronavirus pandemic, many of us have taken to daydreaming about the places we'll go, the adventures we'll have and the things we'll see when we can travel again.

Those with wanderlust are busy planning future trips, and more and more people seem to be using Airbnb's wishlist function to bookmark where they want to stay when restrictions are lifted.

Airbnb's top wishlisted properties span the world, from a bargain beach villa in Brazil to a bamboo house in Bali. The company used data from March to May, when most travellers were staying home, to come up with the results.

Topping the list as the most desired property is a luxury villa in the quiet north of Bali, which comes with breathtaking views and a private pool.

The list gives an insight into what travellers are craving: from an isolated villa in the forest to a remote cave house overlooking the ocean in Greece.

Scroll through the gallery above to see what the top 10 properties look like, or find them here:

  1. This luxury villa in the north of Bali, Indonesia.
  2. A stilted beach house in Santa Catarina, Brazil
  3. Hector cave house in Santorini, Greece
  4. An eco retreat in Bali's Selat
  5. This cosy cottage in Orondo, Washington State
  6. A treehouse in Balian Beach, Bali
  7. This luxury private pool house in Los Angeles, California
  8. A modern apartment in the remote wilds of Iceland's highlands
  9. Another cave house, this one overlooking the Aegean in Oia, Greece
  10. Dar Ahwach  – a traditional Riad in Marrakech, Morocco

Travellers want nature-filled escapes and family celebrations

Nature-surrounded cabins are rising in the Airbnb charts
Nature-surrounded cabins are rising in the Airbnb charts

As well as a rise in the number of people creating wishlists, Airbnb noted a number of trends emerging from keyword searches. People are craving nature, and rural cabins are now the fastest growing type of accommodation to be added to people's wishlists.

Over the last 60 days, keyword searches on the platform show that travellers are on the hunt for isolation, sun-filled stays and places to commemorate special occasions.

The top keywords people are searching for on Airbnb are:

  • Summer 2020
  • Beach
  • Birthday/Bday
  • Wedding
  • Honeymoon
  • Anniversary
  • Getaway
  • Vacation

This suggests that people are keen to book something special for pre-arranged family celebrations that might have had to be re-worked or cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

More coverage from the Future Forum
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT

Started: July 2016

Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori

Based: Bangalore, India

Sector: Health & wellness

Size: 500 employees

Investment: $250 million

Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
JordanIndonesiaIcelandGreece