Decided there's actually no way you are staying at home for half term holidays this year? Well, it's time to book a last minute half-term holiday anyway. And don't stress, because while [insert names of super organised people you know] might have booked their getaway to PortAventura ages ago back in May, there are still plenty of amazing, authentic, affordable places available over on Airbnb. Not so smug now are you, [insert name]? We've rounded up some of our favourites to get you inspired...
Find out how to become an Airbnb host in our guide – or go to the bottom of this page for a quick lowdown.
1. A spacious apartment on the French Riviera
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Whisk the family (or a couple of mates) away for a week on the French Riviera. This gorgeous seaview apartment would be the perfect spot to use as a base for exploring this gorgeous stretch of coast. You could hire a car (this apartment has a parking space), but there is also a train that runs along the coast too so there are options for getting around.
There are plenty of beaches you can walk to for a swim (yes, it will be warm enough!) and you can stroll into Nice along the seafront. There's a massive terrace for sunbathing (again, yes it will be warm enough!) and alfresco dining. The perfect half term holiday for families or groups of friends.
Sleeps: 6
Price: £120 per night
2. A super stylish loft in Seville
Situated right in the middle of Seville, this stunning loft apartment is perfect for exploring the city. The interiors are stunning and there is a really spacious roof terrace to spend the evenings chilling with a glass of wine. Seville is also a great spot for travelling around the area – you can pop on a train to Cadiz for the day and head to the beach or Jerez for tours of the wineries. If you are up for a longer day, you could also visit gorgeous Granada.
Sleeps: 4
Price: £61 per night
3. A cute apartment on the Amalfi coast
How stunning are these interiors? Think we would we be happy to stay in this Italian apartment even if it was in the middle of Croydon (no offence Croydon). But hey, it's not, it's is at the heart of the gorgeous Amalfi coast! As if there weren't enough Instagram opportunities in this stunning part of the world! It's in a great location too – you can easily walk to restaurants, beaches and shops, but there are plenty of bus routes if you want to explore the wider region.
Sleeps: 4
Price: £221 per night
4. A beachfront villa in Corfu
Meryl Streep is going to pop out of that door in her dungarees any second. Serious Mamma Mia vibes from this beautiful villa. It's in the lovely village of Kalami which has loads of lovely restaurants and bars, plus you can book boats to come and pick you up to take you to the restaurants in other bays.
This villa is set in gorgeous gardens, with loads of shady spots to chill out in. Did we mention there is a private beach too? A big plus in our eyes.
Sleeps: 8
Price: £145
5. A Bothy on the Scottish Isle of Eigg
If you are looking to stay in the UK for your half term holiday, we think this little bothy could be a really cool idea! Okay, probably only if you are the adventurous type, but challenge yourself! This bothy is situated on Eigg, an isle in the Inner Hebrides. It's not too tricky to get to but there are only four ferries a week out there in the winter (October to early April) so you will have to time it right.
The bothy has all the basic amenities, a wood burning fire a gas stove, (cold) running water, but for what it lacks in finesse it more than makes up for in the stunning views!
Sleeps: 4
Price: £55 per night
6. A cottage in the Cotwolds
The Cotswolds are lovely whatever time of year, but are particularly pretty in the autumn. This cottage is situated in Bidbury, one of the most typical Cotswold villages out there, all yellow stone and ye olde shoppes. William Morris described it as 'the most beautiful village in England'. So there you go. The Airbnb itself is equally beautiful, all exposed beams and timber doors.
Sleeps: 6
Price: £137 per night
7. A cosy apartment in Lake Bled
Lake Bled would be gorgeous at the end of October! Perfect weather for drinking hot wine and eating kremšnita (try it, it will change your life). This apartment is only 300m from the lake and about half an hour walk into the village. There are bikes at the property though if you fancy cycling into town. You can also take a train to Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana – it's just under an hour and well worth a day trip.
Sleeps: 4
Price: £78 per night
8. A lakeside retreat in Sweden
Oh, it almost looks to pretty to be real! This is exactly what we think of when we think of escaping to the Swedish countryside. Why not do a bit of a Scandi road trip for your half term holiday and make this gorgeous little house one of your stops. It's right on the beach and is surrounded by beautiful countryside, perfect if you are into nature and birdwatching.
The interiors are a dream. Seriously go and have a look, even if you don't stay, you can get some serious inspiration for your own home.
Sleeps: 6
Price: £91 per night
9. A gorgeous traditional house in Croatia
The weather in Croatia in October will be perfect, so why not get a bit of winter sun and go island hopping? This Airbnb is on the island of Korčula, which you can get to easily from Hvar or Split. It's just 100m from the beach and a 10 minute walk into town. There's a private terrace too which looks perfect for sundowners!
Sleeps: 6
Price: £36 per night
10. A quirky stay in Boston
If you fancy going a bit further for your half term holiday, the east coast of America is gorgeous in the autumn, sorry, in the 'fall'. The flight to Boston is just over seven hours, so you could definitely squeeze in a trip (sometimes driving somewhere in the UK takes that long!). From there you can always hire a car and explore the region and go leaf-peeping – an American past time where you go an watch the leaves change colour.
This cute apartment in the heart of Cambridge, Boston would be the perfect place to start. It's just a five-minute walk from Central Square and really close to Harvard too. The interiors are super stylish and the space has been recently beautifully renovated.
Sleeps: 6
Price: £238 per night
How to become an Airbnb host
Let’s be honest. Holiday travel can be crowded, stressful, and most of all expensive. But you could possibly earn some of that money back with Airbnb. While you’re travelling out of town to visit relatives and friends, why not rent your empty room or home and maybe earn some extra money for the holidays?
Becoming an Airbnb host is easy and creating a listing is always free. You’ll have the support of fellow hosts and Airbnb’s world-class customer service department to answer your questions along with lots of other tools to help you be successful. Airbnb may even cover your property up to a million dollars per stay in the unlikely event that an incident occurs. Airbnb gives you a chance to earn extra money by putting your unoccupied space to work this holiday season.
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