PICKS: DO things differently this Christmas with Airbnb

Bored of doing the same thing every year? From remote treehouses, clifftop caves and luxury house trucks to spinning decks in Bangkok, Airbnb has everything you need for a truly unique Christmas.

WANT a memorable Christmas, but every year feels the same as the last? Airbnb may have the answer.

Airbnb, the world’s largest people-powered hospitality platform, has four million listings in 65,000 cities in 191 countries all over the world, offering curious travellers plenty of opportunity to try new things, experience new places and create new memories. And what better time to do that than Christmas and New Year’s Eve, as we look ahead to a brand new year full of new possibilities and experiences?

Whether you’re looking for an oasis of calm, a crazy adventure, or you want views that will take your breath away - look no further. Airbnb has developed a list of some of its most unique and special listings across the Asia-Pacific region, along with a handpicked selection of the latest Experiences, handcrafted activities exclusively curated and hosted by local experts who want to share their skills and passions.

We guarantee that these will give you authentic access to people, places and cultures you’ve never seen before, leaving you ready to start 2018 with some once-in-a-lifetime experiences and memories already under your belt.

Live your best life in these incredible one-off listings.

AMAZING HOUSE TRUCK, NEW ZEALAND

Parked up in the stunning Golden Bay at the very top tip of New Zealand’s South Island, this unique and lovingly restored house truck has fantastic sea and mountain views in a private bush location.

A cosy woodfire keeps the beautifully-crafted kauri and oak timber interior warm on cooler days. This is the ideal place to help you get away from the hustle of daily life and experience the great outdoors — you can even watch the sunset from an outdoor bathtub! This is definitely a trip you won’t forget in a hurry.

CENTRAL COLONIAL SHOPHOUSE, VIETNAM

Ho Chi Minh City’s only Airbnb listed on the International Luxe City Guides, this top Vietnamese listing will not disappoint. Built in 1920 but totally renovated this year, the house is a designer’s dream, in the style of an old French colonial shophouse.

With two floors, a rooftop garden, massive bedroom and beautiful modern bathroom, this is the perfect oasis in one of Southeast Asia’s most chaotic cities. It also has plenty of open air atrium spaces that keep the shophouse light and airy, and a plunge pool to relax and unwind in.

GUAVA HOUSE TROPICAL RETREAT, SRI  LANKA

Experience your most zen Christmas yet in a unique and remote jungle hideaway, situated on a Sri Lankan rubber tree plantation surrounded by mountains, rice fields and the quiet sounds of the nearby village. Far away from mainstream tourist locations, this stunning retreat can accommodate nine people, with four poster beds, an infinity swimming pool and an open area for yoga.

For the more active guests, the house comes with mountain bikes to explore the local village, or you can stroll through the rice fields and along the river. Bible Rock is also just 5kms away, if you fancy challenging yourself with a tricky climb, and views that will take your breath away.

HERMITAGE HOUSE, BALI INDONESIA

The Wu Wei Wisdom Sanctuary is the first Wisdom Sanctuary in the world, and Hermitage House sits right at the heart of it. It is a luxuriously furnished private house with an outside private garden and a salt water infinity pool.

The Wu Wei Wisdom Sanctuary is all about being immersed in nature and reconnecting to the wisdom you carry within. And what better place to reconnect than in a rose-petal bath under the stars in your own secret garden space?

ENCHANTED CAVE, AUSTRALIA

If you’re after a once-in-a-lifetime experience, this listing definitely delivers. Build into natural rock in Australia's world famous Blue Mountain range, this stunning clifftop cave has a small round wooden door that makes you feel like you’ve just stepped onto the set of Lord of the Rings — and it certainly seems like you’ve been transported to a magical world.

Complete with cosy fireplace, outside shower and breathtaking views, this will be an experience you’ll be talking about well into 2018 and beyond.

TAMARIND COTTAGE TREEHOUSE, THAILAND

The Tamarind Cottage Treehouse in Chiang Mai is family-owned and located in a small village, surrounded by teakwood forest. The owner is a retired architect, and originally built the treehouse as his own family getaway. Now they welcome guests from all over the world, giving them a taste of life in the forest in a rustic but cosy treehouse designed and built with love and care.

READY, CASSETTE, GO!, SINGAPORE

This is a truly unique experience that you definitely won’t find anywhere else. Join Airbnb Experience Host JJ and her mother for an afternoon of sustainable eco-friendly creativity, as they teach you how to upcycle old cassette and video tapes (remember those?!), weave them into MusicCloth and create your very own map poster of Singapore to take away with you. You’ll also be able to enjoy the beautiful views from JJ’s Rehyhen Home Studio in the residential area of Bukit Panjang, and will be rewarded with a high tea after the session, as your review your handiwork!

JJ says: “I founded Rehyphen studio with the mission to lead and inspire a sustainable way to be fashionable. More than 4.6 million tonnes of e-waste end up in Asia's landfills, so we started this up-cycling initiative where we collect and weave discarded tapes as an effort to reduce e-waste, while giving the product new life.

THE BEAT OF BANGKOK, THAILAND

Get an insider look at Bangkok’s music scene with Tossawat, pro DJ, record producer and founder of Bangkok Electronic Music School InEarBeat. Tossawat will share his passion for DJ-ing and teach his Experience guests all the techniques of mixing, tune spinning and beat matching. At the end of the session, guests will get to showcase their new skills and will take home a recording of their own performance and other mixes. He’ll then cap of the day with a delicious dinner of Bangkok’s best local street food.

OLD MARKET, NEW KITCHEN, HO CHI MINH, VIETNAM

Meet Hao, one of the partners of top restaurant ANAN Saigon in the heart of District 1 in HCMC. Hao is also the founder of Vietcetera, a lifestyle magazine that covers the latest Vietnamese food and culture — so if you want to know all the coolest places to eat and hang out in Ho Chi Minh City this Christmas, Hao’s the best man for the job.

On this Airbnb Experience, Hao will introduce guests to Cho Cu, one of the city’s oldest markets, as well as one of ANAN’s executive chefs. Guests will then take a tour of the market, sourcing for local products from vendors and learning about the market's history.

Hao will then lead his guests back to the kitchen where they’ll learn how to prepare a few simple dishes. The Experience will finish by dining and drinking al fresco style on ANAN’s rooftop bar, overlooking stunning views of the vibrant city.