While our trip to Kauai, Hawaii was evolving I was posting here moments of it. From the beginning till the end. We flew Dec 31st at 10:45 am EST from Boston and this photo journal begun a few hours before 2018 broke in! Here's our dynamic itinerary.

You enjoy the comfort of your sofa on a Sunday evening and you ponder: "should I stay put this New Year's Eve and celebrate with friends and family or shall I maybe attempt that lifelong dream spending the dawn of a new year in one of the most iconic European cities, let's say London".

As I find myself moving from place to place for the last 6 years, I realize how fortunate I have been to meet kind and inspiring people that enriched my life. I have made, that is, a lot of new friends. And though friendships may not be built in a day, they may introduce themselves into one's life quite unexpectently, almost like love at first sight.

When I visited Dublin, Ireland for the first time in my life it was for a Humanities Workshop in Trinity College. I had no idea that this one-week trip would change the course of my life forever to the point that I would end up leaving Greece.

I remember very well my first time Airbnb experience. It was a beautifully renovated apartment in the heart of Florence just around the corner of the magnificent Piazza Santissima Annunziata and only two blocks from Florence' main square (Piazza Duomo). 

LUXURY SUITE AT BELLE ÉPOQUE APART | HEART OF LISBON, from $65 per night 

L'Arche du Cerf, from $202 per night 

Historic and Elegant Suite in Kyoto, from $165 per night 

I've been planning to do this trip to Mexico for a very long time. Once I settled with my dates I set in the search for accommodation. It took me about a week to finalize my choice and book. It's a no easy think, is it? Either I am picky or Tulum is a really small place with few five star reviewed places on Airbnb on a reasonable budget and high quality. While searching I managed to find some beautiful houses I am sharing here with you. The prices are within the range of $90 - $180 USD but it really depends on the dates so better check them out separately.

to the seashore with the everlasting breeze.

If you haven't been to Cuba yet I think it's time to prioritize your trip sooner than later. My intuition says things are going to change fast with so much tourism expected from North America. I haven't been to Cuba yet but I have friends who did and they came back with a huge smile on their faces and a sense they would prefer to have stayed there forever.

Kassi was looking forward to her long weekend trip to Edinburgh with her boyfriend. She had booked her flights but the accommodation was still in the air as she had a very busy schedule. I have a passion for finding unique and beautiful places to stay so I offered myself: "Kassi darling, don't worry about a thing. I will do the search for you and I will come up with the best house to fully enjoy your stay in Edindurgh".

This is the frescoed ceiling of a bedroom in an 18th century building in Florence. It was my first and unforgettable stay in Airbnb back in 2011. This is where I started loving staying in other peoples houses instead of hotels. 

Later on the life path lead to Ireland where coincidentaly Airbnb was just starting off its European base. I was indeed thrilled to join the company and had great experiences there working for two and a half years. As an Airbnb employee I had the privilege to enjoy a generous quarterly $500 USD coupon for my pure joy of traveling. And I can say I made the best out of it :)

When I plan a trip a big part of the research is dedicated to searching for the best place to stay. And it really pays off in the end.

I believe the house one chooses to stay defines the entire experience of the trip for it represents the culture of the country, of the city, of the neighborhood and of the host. In a way, it also mirrors guest’s aesthetics or cultural aspirations.

CLICK HERE FOR $40 OFF YOUR FIRST AIRBNB!

These are the main characteristics I suggest noticing when searching for an Airbnb accommodation:

• 1. History and style

  If you want to have a unique experience select a house with character. This is difficult to define but to give you an example it might be a historical house or one with evident architectural features of a specific era. Check that the interior of the house is equally interesting and rich. It is laid out functionally and beautifully. It is decorated in a way that it shows this process was done through the years and reflects personal experiences of the host or their family. For your practical needs it also has to be equipped smartly and sufficiently. 

  2. Photos and description