Superhost Candice’s rural getaway is an elegant way to get to know the Breede River Valley
Superhost Candice’s rural getaway is an elegant way to get to know the Breede River Valley. When you’re out discovering local wineries and farm stalls, be sure to stop along the way at Bully & Koos for lunch with a side of butternut fritters. Back at Candice’s, you can catch up on your exercise, whether that means a vigorous swim in the lake or occasionally dipping a toe to the patio to gently rock the hammock. Photo: @vivamaca
Our #1 home for the holidays has no electricity, is literally freezing inside, and turns to slush every spring
Our #1 home for the holidays has no electricity, is literally freezing inside, and turns to slush every spring. Yet guests can’t wait to come back to Antti’s Arctic igloo. Whether viewed by candlelight or the Northern Lights, it’s a place you’ll never forget. In the morning, head to the nearby park to see how fast reindeer can move when they’re not lugging a bunch of cargo around. Link in bio.
Our #2 home for the holidays has become famous for its role in a film about a certain teenage wizard
Our #2 home for the holidays has become famous for its role in a film about a certain teenage wizard. But the real magic of the place is in the history that shines through in every detail, starting with the intricately carved front door. The surrounding village feels the same way, with hundreds of half-timbered houses nearly untouched since the 15th century. Link in bio.
If you never quite outgrew your childhood ambition to live in a toy store, check out our #3 home for the holidays
If you never quite outgrew your childhood ambition to live in a toy store, check out our #3 home for the holidays. Superhost Nerida’s apartment comes with an enchanting toy shop attached. It’s also the sunniest spot on our list this time of year, and a charming break from rainforest and beach adventures along the Great Ocean Road. Link in bio.
Our top 12 homes for the holidays wouldn’t be complete without home #4
Our top 12 homes for the holidays wouldn’t be complete without home #4. This cabin is located in a town that revels in the holiday spirit year-round. While the community might be best known for a certain seasonal employer in the manufacturing and shipping industry, there’s plenty more to do nearby, like zipping down a 100-foot ice slide or cross-country skiing in the Chena River State Recreation Area. Link in bio.
Our #5 home for the holidays is DeTraci’s incredible (but sadly inedible) gingerbread house in Northern California’s wine country
Our #5 home for the holidays is DeTraci’s incredible (but sadly inedible) gingerbread house in Northern California’s wine country. The magic doesn’t stop when you leave the house—the surrounding property is an equally unique, Egyptian-themed retreat center. Link in bio.
Our #6 home for the holidays puts nothing but heated glass between you and the awe-inspiring seascape of the Kvarken Archipelago
Our #6 home for the holidays puts nothing but heated glass between you and the awe-inspiring seascape of the Kvarken Archipelago. Your stay promises to be even better than the last time you celebrated winter inside a prism on the tip of a remote Finnish island under the Northern Lights. Open the hatch to hear the sea and wind or to shout “Can you believe this?” to your neighbors. Link in bio.
Quick, how many spiral staircases should a treehouse have?
Quick, how many spiral staircases should a treehouse have? If you answered, “At least two,” our #7 home from the holidays is for you. Living trees grow right through the interior of this handcrafted retreat near Glacier National Park. The property also features some great sled runs (like this place needed to be more fun). Ask your Superhost, Kati, where to spot elk, moose, and bighorn sheep. Link in bio. : Kati O'Toole
Nadia and Guillaume’s elegant modern barn, our #8 home for the holidays, has plenty of room for all the people you most want to s
Nadia and Guillaume’s elegant modern barn, our #8 home for the holidays, has plenty of room for all the people you most want to spend your vacation with. The area’s attractions are diverse enough to keep them all happy, too, whether they feel like snowboarding at Le Massif de Charlevoix, gallery-hopping in Baie-St-Paul, or soaking away 2019 at Spa Nordique Le Germain. Link in bio.
This Airbnb Luxe chalet in the French Alps is our #9 home for the holidays
This Airbnb Luxe chalet in the French Alps is our #9 home for the holidays. Between the majestic landscape, the exquisite design, and the elevation, there’s a whole lot of breathtaking going on up here. So be sure to set aside a little time to just catch your breath and savor the holidays—preferably in the hot tub, surrounded by snow. Link in bio.