Elevate Your Rental Property

5 Best Airbnb Online Experiences for the 2022 Holiday Season

An entertainment-focused extension of the company’s traditional renting business, Airbnb Experiences involve activities uniquely designed and offered by local hosts or online. Offering one of these experiences yourself not only will elevate your vacation rental property listing — they can also increase your booking rate and revenue. Learn about five popular Airbnb Experiences and get inspiration for your own short-term rental.

By Mia Pimentel

Last updated: February 12, 2024

family enjoying a holiday dinner

What Is an Airbnb Experience? 

Airbnb Experiences are activities offered by Airbnb hosts who have the desire to share their interests, skills, and hobbies in a creative way through interactive tours and classes. 

Experiences include craft workshops, cooking classes, yoga sessions, virtual tours, scavenger hunts, and many other engaging and meaningful activities. Many guests use Airbnb Experiences as a way to meet new people, while others use it as a way to discover local attractions.

A host’s Airbnb Experience is not mandatory for guests wanting to stay at their vacation rental. It’s simply an optional add-on for travelers looking to elevate their vacation or trip. On the other hand, visitors don’t need to stay in an Airbnb property to partake in an Airbnb Experience.

Why Hosting an Airbnb Experience Is Beneficial to Your Vacation Rental Business

Hosting an Airbnb Experience at your vacation rental property during the holiday season is beneficial in several ways. First, it will allow you to curate a unique activity using your own knowledge, hobbies, skills, and culture.

You’ll also be able to: 

  • Make extra money
  • Share your expertise with the community 
  • Help guests learn about cultures and communities
  • Connect with travelers and locals 
  • Create lasting connections and treasured memories

By tapping into the needs and wants of travelers through Airbnb Experience hosting, you’re creating meaningful and unforgettable connections all over the world, while earning supplemental income. These connections can also help you obtain loyal customers who will book their future stays with you.

5 Best Airbnb Online Experiences to Inspire Your Holiday Bookings

As the holiday season comes into view, incorporating unique activities into your Airbnb vacation rental property will help guests share a worthwhile holiday experience — all while increasing your return on investment (ROI).  

Check out the five exciting Airbnb Online Experiences below, let your creativity flow, and get ready to add “Airbnb Experience host” to your resume. Wow your holiday travelers with a meaningful experience they’ll be talking about for years to come.  

1. Relax Heal & Meditate with Sound Bowls

Wellness-inspired themes are becoming more prominent in life, work, and travel. There’s no doubt guests are increasingly exploring new ways to maintain mindfulness and balance in their daily lives.

Relax Heal & Meditate with Sound Bowls hosted by Sarah is a great example of a wellness-focused Airbnb Online Experience. Sarah is located in Joshua Tree where she live-streams peaceful meditation sessions with sound bowls and other tools that produce relaxation. 

Offering a wellness-related Airbnb Experience this holiday season can provide guests with a tranquil getaway from all the hustle and bustle. You will be sure to enhance the guest experience while lifting spirits.

2. Living Room Legends Scavenger Hunt Game

If you want to offer a fun and exciting team-building activity in the comfort of your Airbnb property, let Alley Kat Adventures from Austin, Texas provide some inspiration. This event company offers a top-rated interactive virtual home scavenger hunt game. 

The hosts creatively set up the Living Room Legends Scavenger Hunt game with “tasks” that encourage team-building and bonding between families and friends. The tasks require players to scramble to find items and perform other fun challenges before time runs out. 

A scavenger hunt or other interactive game is a great option to bring holiday cheer to your vacation rental. Be as creative as you can when compiling your list of tasks and challenges — guests love a good laugh when it comes to team-building exercises!

3. World’s Top Coffee Masterclass

If you’re a coffee connoisseur, get inspired by World’s Top Coffee Masterclass led by Ricardo from Venezuela. He shares his knowledge about coffee with his guests through coffee tasting, informative presentations, and a showcase on how to make the best homemade coffee.

Hosting a coffee-themed Airbnb Experience is a great opportunity to demonstrate your barista techniques and knowledge. You can be creative in expressing your own brewing techniques, flavors, latte art, and more.

According to the National Coffee Association, 64% of Americans drink coffee, and 79% of these people drink coffee at home. Inviting your guests to make the best homemade coffee at your Airbnb will enhance their holiday mornings during their stay. What’s more, your guests might just remember their stay at your Airbnb each time they drink their morning coffee. 

birds eye view of people eating baked goods, tea, and coffee.

Photo by Viktoria Alipatova from Pexels

4. Handmade Pasta Old Way with Two Sicilian Farmers

bowl of penne pasta with garlic and olive oil to the left of the bowl

For many families, pasta is an indispensable part of the holiday dinner. No matter what type of pasta you love and how you choose to prepare it, you can share your culinary secrets in a creative way for your guests to enjoy during their holiday dinner. 

You don’t have to be a professional chef to pass on traditional pasta-making skills. The hosts of the Airbnb Experience Handmade Pasta Old Way with Two Sicilian Farmers demonstrate age-old techniques of making pasta and are passionate about keeping these traditional recipes alive. 

If pasta isn’t your forte, you can share with guests your own unique or traditional recipes for other holiday foods you grew up with, such as casseroles, desserts, and more. Make sure your kitchen is properly equipped with the supplies your guests will need to be involved in the event.   

5. Ginspiration History and Cocktails at Home

Spread holiday cheer to your guests with festive holiday drinks!  

Get inspired with Ginspiration History and Cocktails at Home led by the Team Beyond the Bar. During their Airbnb Experience, they share the history of gin and cocktails and the principles for making a superior mixed drink.

A cocktail-making experience like this is perfect for couples or groups staying in your Airbnb who want to add some sophistication and fun to their holiday stay. Make sure your kitchen is stocked with the right tools, including cocktail shakers and glasses.

How Do I Become an Airbnb Experience Host? 

To provide an Airbnb Experience to your guests, you’ll need to apply to join the program and get approved. The waiting time to get approval is typically around two weeks or less. 

Airbnb Experience hosts must provide high-quality service, so make sure you go over the standards and requirements to ensure you meet the Airbnb criteria. Ultimately, be prepared, willing, and enthusiastic to offer unique and unforgettable experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. 

Be the Host With the Most this Holiday Season

By adding value to your guests’ stays for the holiday season, you are improving your visibility, attracting more bookings, and building your reputation with positive reviews.

Now that you have learned about some of the best Airbnb Experiences, use them as inspiration to elevate your own vacation rental property this holiday season.

You can further boost the guest experience this season by ensuring you’re providing a clean and comfortable home to holiday travelers. Use Turno to connect with trusted professional cleaners and be prepared for the busy festive season. 

Mia Pimentel Avatar
Mia Pimentel , Mia Pimentel is a Content Writer at Turno, with ample experience researching and writing search-engine-friendly content for vacation rental hosts and cleaners. Mia contributed to our first eBook “How to Start an Airbnb: The Complete Guide for New Hosts” and has also written guest articles for other popular companies in the short-term rental industry.