Our 5 picks will surely get you in the holiday mood.
There’s a whole raft of reasons why you might want to rent a private villa for your next getaway rather than staying at a resort. While hotels can offer you a whole package of facilities and services, having your own private place is a priceless luxury.
So when you’re planning your next getaway, skip the hotel bookings and check out some of the truly breath-taking offerings on Airbnb.
Thankfully, there’s no better time to be jetting off to your next Asian dream destination. With the Matta Fair just around the corner, you’ll be able to pick up fantastic flight deals at just a fraction of the usual cost.
MORE: Why you should shop for your home while travelling abroad
Here are just a few of the awesome villas on Airbnb right now:
1. Sunrise House – Bali, Indonesia
It is easy to see why Sunrise House is an instant hit with avid travellers. This bamboo structure brings nature into your living room with its spectacular open-air design and all-wooden interior, reminiscent to that of a treehouse.
This four-storey bamboo house comes with an impressive curved roof, plunge pool and private garden. While you may feel like you’re in your own isolated little world, the house is just a 25-minute drive from the top cultural destination of Ubud making local eateries and tourist hot spots still easy to access. It’s very much the best of both worlds.
- Rental price: RM1,300 per night, comfortably fits 8 people with 3 bedrooms & 3 baths
- Flight offers (KL-Bali): RM399 (MAS); RM469 (Malindo Air)
2. Reef Break Retreat – Chiba, Japan
If you’re looking for something completely different from the usual holiday accommodation, then this could be the place for you; imagine going to sleep in a traditional 24-foot yurt in a glorious ocean-side garden!
Situated in a small terraced valley overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Reef Break Retreat provides the ideal calm setting for you to unwind.
While the yurt can house 8 people and has all the necessary modern conveniences, Reef Break is all about outdoor living.
Big seating areas and a barbeque pit mean you can spend your evenings with the family and friends, enjoying the sound of the ocean just below you.
Oh, and there’s also a hot tub! Hence, any lingering stress from your day job doesn’t stand a chance out here.
- Rental price: RM600 per night; suitable for 8 guests
- Flight offers (KL – Tokyo): RM802 (Philippine Airlines); RM1,368 (Singapore Airlines)
3. Heron House – Hoi An, Vietnam
You certainly won’t struggle for space at this French colonial villa in the sleepy outskirts of Hoi An. The Heron House has three huge bedrooms and the outside veranda stretches around the property, giving you plenty of choice for where to while away the hours.
Close enough to walk both to town and the beach, you’re never stuck for things to do. But when you have a villa this beautiful, you’ll probably just want to stay put and enjoy the pool or the flora-covered gardens.
Heron House even comes with its own team of staff to cater to your every need, leaving you free to kick back and relax.
- Rental price: RM1,200 per night, accommodates 6 people
4. Villa Paradiso – Phuket, Thailand
The five-bedroom Villa Paradiso has an effortlessly cool and modern interior. Decked out in black and white colouring, the ultra-swish décor makes a captivating contrast to the natural beauty surrounding the property.
It is certainly on the pricey side, but the astounding infinity pool and the stunning views of the Andaman Sea make it worth the money.
Plus, the villa sleeps 12 people, so you can round up your mates and split the cost for a few nights in paradise.
Staff are on hand for cooking and even massages at the in-house spa room.
- Rental price: RM5,500 per night; fits 12 guests.
- Flight offers (KL – Phuket): RM229 (MAS); RM353 (Malindo Air)
5. Villa des Palmes – Kep, Cambodia
At Villa des Palmes you don’t just get the one swimming pool, you get two. Not to mention over 6,000 square metres of lush garden to revel in.
But if you want to hibernate and lock yourself away for a day or two, there’s also the open home theatre complete with cinema screen.
Formerly a seaside retreat for the French elites during the 20th century, Kep continues to shine as a beach paradise and beautiful archipelago of 13 islands just waiting to be explored.
Nearby, there is also the Kep National Park and Kep crab market perfect for seafood lovers.
- Rental price: RM2,410 per night; accommodates 16 people
- Flight offers (KL – Phnom Penh): RM239 (MAS); RM323 (Malindo Air)
NOTE: All images were sourced from the respective Airbnb listings.
*Written by Emma Richards & edited by Reena Kaur Bhatt