Travel is back on the agenda, and those with wanderlust are busy planning their next trips with many using Airbnb’s wishlist function to bookmark future stays.
When it comes to where to stay, listings categorised as unique properties are finding favour with travellers around the world.
The categories on Airbnb includes barns, boats, trains, yurts, huts and more, as nights booked at unique properties on the site have increased globally by about 50 per cent since 2019.
Unique properties are also the highest ranked listings on the accommodation booking platform, averaging a 4.8-star review. Shepherd’s huts, barns and trains have the best average reviews, but tiny homes are the most popular unique listings with more than 2.5 million nights booked in 2021.
When it comes to future stays, treehouses lead the pack. A leafy residence in the branches of a 400-year-old oak tree in East Point, Georgia, tops Airbnb's list of the most wishlisted unique stays in the world.
We round up the 10 most popular properties, and offer an insight into what travellers are craving — spanning everything from a villa inside a cave in Crete, to a private room in a medieval Irish castle.
Scroll through the gallery above to see what the top 10 properties look like, or find them here:
1. Treehouse inside a 400-year-old oak tree in Georgia, US
Tucked away in a leafy neighbourhood in East Point, Georgia, is Airbnb’s most wishlisted unique listing. The double-storey treehouse sits in a 400-year-old tree and channels a chic rustic vibe, and has plenty of modern touches to keep travellers happy. Guests can add on luxury experiences such as a celebrity-chef cooked three-course meal, an hour of live music from a violinist or an on-site couples massage. There's also a hot tub and a huge outdoor area to unwind in.
2. Mushroom dome retreat in California, US
Sleeping under a geodesic dome in this cosy retreat in California’s Redwood Grove is a haven of serenity, where the only night-time noises you’ll hear are chirping crickets. Surrounded by trees, the semi-rustic cabin sleeps up to three people and has a small kitchen, chill out space and an elevated wooden terrace, decorated with fairy lights. It's officially a meditation zone, and guests booking to stay also have access to the Paradise Suite, a room inside the host's unique home.
3. Redwood treehouse in the Santa Cruz Mountains, US
Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California, this treehouse has a real tree growing right through the main living area, and another in the bathroom. It has a wood-burning stove, welcoming rustic interiors and an outdoor hot-tub for the ultimate forest-bathing session. It's also surrounded by endless greenery making it the perfect escape for a nature getaway.
4. Ancient trullo in the countryside in Apulia, Italy
This ancient trullo is surrounded by panoramic countryside views in Italy’s Apulia. The 300-year-old building is typical of the traditional construction of this region of Puglia and the house looks over a quiet valley with endless green views. Relax on a hammock, keep warm at the wood burning stove and wander the four acres of garden where olive, almond and cherry trees grow.
5. Historic tower in Umbria, Italy
Check into this old tower in a protected zone of Italy that spans the Umbrian and Tuscan countryside. Rooms in this luxury stay are tastefully decorated and come with views over Lake Trasimeno. It's also an Airbnb Plus listing, meaning it comes with “exceptional hospitality”, and plenty of amenities such as towels, hairdryers and coffee-makers. There's also a private garden and barbecue area. Guests visiting in summer can cool off in a sizeable swimming pool.
6. Luxury cave villa in Crete, Greece
Set inside a completely natural cave, this villa was previously a family house and then a place to store agricultural products, but it's since been renovated and converted into a fully-equipped studio capable of sleeping families of four. It channels Boho vibes and has a dining room, small kitchen and queen bedroom, as well as a spacious balcony with view of Kissamos bay and the surrounding mountains.
7. Rainforest treehouse in San Carlos, Costa Rica
Part of the Bio Thermales natural resort in Costa Rica’s San Carlos, this treehouse is located on 35 acres of organic rainforest. Nearby hot and cold natural springs bubble up through the forest floor, laden with mineral rich waters ideal for dipping in. There's also a large swimming pool in a nearby meadow, and a children’s pool for little ones — who can stay at the Airbnb entirely free of charge.
8. Dreamy treehouses in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Deep in the mountains of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is the DreamCaught treehouse. Guests can relax among the surrounding natural beauty with rolling hills and river views. A wrap-around private deck is the ideal place to take in the sunset, and if you're staying more than three nights, you’ll get a free Thai cooking class with the host.
9. Irish castle in Galway, Ireland
This unique listing in Ireland is part-medieval castle and part-family home. Guests have private access to two storeys inclusive of a living room, kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom which is the highest room in the ancient building. Dating back to the 1400s, the castle has been restored to its original state using traditional materials and is the ideal place to cosy up by the fireplace when visiting the west of Ireland.
10. Quaint old church in Brandenburg, Germany
This rustic loft-style stay in an old church is in east Germany. Located in Brandenburg, the 18th-century, red brick building has been designed in typical Prussian style and overlooks the Havel river. Inside, there’s a barn-like apartment with 10 metre-high ceilings and a wooden loft space. You’ll be sleeping in the church gallery, where the organ once stood.
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
At a glance
- 20,000 new jobs for Emiratis over three years
- Dh300 million set aside to train 18,000 jobseekers in new skills
- Managerial jobs in government restricted to Emiratis
- Emiratis to get priority for 160 types of job in private sector
- Portion of VAT revenues will fund more graduate programmes
- 8,000 Emirati graduates to do 6-12 month replacements in public or private sector on a Dh10,000 monthly wage - 40 per cent of which will be paid by government
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SAUDI RESULTS
Team Team Pederson (-40), Team Kyriacou (-39), Team De Roey (-39), Team Mehmet (-37), Team Pace (-36), Team Dimmock (-33)
Individual E. Pederson (-14), S. Kyriacou (-12), A van Dam (-12), L. Galmes (-12), C. Hull (-9), E. Givens (-8),
G. Hall (-8), Ursula Wikstrom (-7), Johanna Gustavsson (-7)
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
- Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
- Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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RESULT
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 0 Al Ain 6
Al Ain: Caio (5', 73'), El Shahat (10'), Berg (65'), Khalil (83'), Al Ahbabi (90' 2)
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
