16 Luxe Airbnbs That Will Help You Live Like a King on Vacation in 2022

Luxe Airbnbs (quite literally, properties booked through Airbnb Luxe, the site’s designator for extravagant rentals) are the answer for those of us who want to have the full resort experience with all the perks of a vacation rental: luxury amenities, gobsmacking views, and the entire place all to yourself.  

Airbnb Luxe is a fast track to finding insanely beautiful Airbnb rentals slash luxury retreats—from castles to villas—all with their own dedicated trip designer or travel specialist to take care of the stuff you simply can’t bother to think about when on vacation. Or, maybe a destination wedding’s in the cards and you want to throw a lavish party for your guests, with all the accommodations and desktop-worthy backdrops right at your fingertips. With these splurge-y homes, there’s no additional fee for the concierge service itself—just for any added services or needs.

If you want your trip designer to book an airport pick-up for 12 people, say, they’ll do it free-of-charge. You just have to pay the driver (and tip well because, c’mon now, you’re living large, and you’re feeling generous). Other helpful services include hiring a personal chef for the week, a massage therapist for some necessary R&R, or paying for your host to stock the fridge with Pellegrino, groceries, and gobs of fresh fruit ahead of the stay. Or, maybe you need to hire a babysitter to help get the kids fed and in bed while you relax and entertain. Your trip designer can wrangle someone to handle the childcare for you, too.

Some pricier luxury homes even come with chefs and butlers already included in the trip fee so you really don’t have to lift a finger. Others will set up trips and excursions for you on your stay lest you get bored within the parameters of your sprawling estate. There’s basically no disclaimer or caveat to vacation when you’re booking one of these extraordinary homes: You just have to ask for it to make it happen. Below, we’ve rounded up 16 of the best luxe Airbnbs for your next lavish, over-the-top vacation.

Casa La Ceiba in Careyes, Mexico

In 1968, Italian banker Gian Franco Brignone flew over part of the Costalegre in Mexico’s Jalisco region and before he even landed, decided to buy the 20,000 acre island, now known as Careyes. As it’s still a private island run by the Brignone family, you couldn’t even book a hotel here if you tried as no big hotel groups are allowed to develop there. With the promise of privacy, this tiny slice of heaven in the country’s Pacific Coast is beloved and frequented by celebrities like Mick Jagger and Heidi Klum, who in order to stay here, book one of the many stunning villas available here. For a whopping 25k a night, light-filled Casa La Ceiba can accommodate up to 14 guests and features an infinity pool with some of the best sunset views in town—best enjoyed at the villa’s infinity pool or the outdoor wet bar. Other fun amenities include a private tennis court and wood-burning pizza oven. A cook, housekeeping, and butler services are available to make your stay in this Caribbean-inspired villa even more seamless.

Cliffside Retreat in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

This modern cliffside retreat in Cabo, Mexico features mid-century modern interiors made even sleeker with glass walls providing panoramic views of the ocean. While you’ll spend much of your day drinking margaritas in the pool, the home features a shaded outdoor dining area, along with a piano lounge if you want to cue up your own entertainment, as well as eight minimalist bedrooms, a study, a gym outfitted with a single treadmill, and various lounge spaces that all offer their own epic views. Its Airbnb Luxe amenities include housekeeping, as well as various add-ons like a personal chef, bartender or spa services, and more.

Luxury Villa in Soufriere, St. Lucia

With volcanic beaches, world renowned coral reefs, and charming fishing villages just a stone’s throw away, this grand, beachfront mansion just outside of St. Lucia’s Soufriere will have you feeling like you booked your own private island. Here, a full staff will cater to your needs throughout your stay, including a private chef and housekeeper. The lavish property consists of thatched-roof palapas that line the lagoon-style pool and hot tub, romantic arched doorways, marble floors, and a grand foyer to greet guests. Each of the 10 bedrooms is designed with tropical colonial elegance featuring toile fabrics, cane furniture, gilded accents, and king-size beds.

Modern Retreat in the Hills near Rodeo Drive

Tucked away in the hills near Rodeo Drive, this understated home is a far cry from the typically gaudy mansions of Beverly Hills. It’s unassuming, yet tastefully designed in a way that fuses luxury with laid-back comforts. Inside, the spaces are modern and refined, with a sweeping wood-paneled ceiling that complements the live-edge dining table that seats 10. There’s also a large wood-paneled office that looks out onto a peaceful wall of greenery, if you’re mixing business and pleasure, plus a large gym if you’re not allowing yourself any cheat days on vacation. The views reveal themselves inch by inch: The backyard featuring a pool and hot tub, as well as a dining area, open up behind the home’s vanishing walls.

Log Cabin in Jackson, Wyoming

You may not be looking for luxury in the forests of Wyoming, or even think the term extends to log cabins, specifically, but given all the panache of this 1940’s mountain oasis, that’s precisely what it is—an upscale, tricked-out log cabin. Its modern updates are an ode to its natural setting: thick log walls, oak wood floors, and peeled-log bed frames. Clever details like a moose-antler chandelier, antique Navajo rugs, a wood-burning hearth, and other hand-crafted camp decor fill the space with wholesome, rustic charm. With two main bedrooms, a twin room, and a bunk room, this place is perfect for families seeking a luxurious outdoorsy retreat that will remind them of simpler times.

Rolling Estate in Ostuni, Italy

Want to vacation like the Roy family? Post up in this fully-staffed estate in Puglia that’s set on 73 acres of olive and citrus groves, and is situated just a few minutes from the famed whitewashed city of Ostuni. Waking up here, you’ll have access to a swimming pool, absurdly large 12- person hot tub, tennis court, spa, and two alfresco dining areas. If you weren’t already feeling like royalty, head to the pool house’s hammam for an evening soak before dinner, which is prepared by the chef and staff using ingredients sourced from the estate’s garden and nearby farms. Inside, the house has been renovated to incorporate modern comforts while still preserving traditional antique features throughout the home. Most of the various suites also open to the terrace or gardens so you’re never lacking for fresh air or sunshine.

The Kellogg Doolittle House in Joshua Tree, California

For the first time ever, the Kellogg Doolittle estate, designed over 25 years by architect Ken Kellogg (a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé) and acclaimed craftsman John Vugrin, has been made available on Airbnb Luxe. This space-y, organic architecture structure blends into its surroundings in a quiet corner of Joshua Tree National Park. An untouched million-year-old rock formation extends into the home’s kitchen and living room, while the home’s glass panels lend itself to sprawling views from every corner of the home, and unfettered glimpses of the Milky Way at night. All of the living spaces within the home, including the three bedrooms and baths, feel like something straight out of a sci-fi novel, with features like a gigantic round gingham bed, scaly glass shelving, and fish-bone style sculptures that accentuate the curved stone walls that form the skeleton of this space. As with all luxe properties, add-ons are available, from villa pre-stocking, activities, and excursions, as well as housekeeping. And for $16,000 a night, we wouldn’t expect anything less.

Loft Marvila in Lisbon, Portugal