10 Beautiful Eco Friendly Airbnb's & Holiday Rentals for your Inspiration

Here are some of the most beautiful eco-friendly Airbnb's & holiday rentals for your inspiration and why they're super popular on listing websites like Airbnb.

Airbnb is one of those things that gets under your skin the moment you first experience it. It’s very well organized and makes you think that this is what tourism always should have been about. You rent locally, pay less, support the little guy and you can see stunning but isolated locations you’d miss out on if you were staying in a hotel. But of course it’s not for everybody, especially the more secluded and adventurist-oriented locations. The construction choices are usually eco-friendly with natural materials, but inexpensive and sturdy. These are exactly the ones we’re going to talk about!

Treehouses, igloos, yurts and cabins are among the top 10 wish listed property types on Airbnb. Treehouses take the first place, and looking at the creative ways in which they are constructed, it’s no wonder. They bring back childhood memories and take you closer to nature, if you dare take the opportunity. Of course, if you’re a sleepwalker, move along - these are not the homes your looking for.

1. Cocoon in the trees

If you really like the woods and feel comfortable suspended on cables and ropes than the France-based "Cocoon in the trees" is the palace for you! This little hanging marvel is just a ball of fun. To get to it, you have to climb up a mesh-net pathway so you get to see through and feel the height you’re at. It has a wooden frame and modern tent materials, but you should still make sure it doesn’t rain while you’re there.

2. Secluded Treehouse

Sticking with the trees but going for a much more rigid construction, we have the option of the three-part Secluded Treehouse in Atlanta, Georgia. It comes with it’s own suspension bridge and a large hammock in the "lounge" area, and accommodates two people. It’s a beautiful all-wood construction with plenty of windows to give you enough daylight in an already shaded forest.

3. All-wood Treehouse

Another gorgeous all-wood treehouse much closer to the ground would be the Jungle hideaway over a waterfall in Belize. It’s a completely different story, being in a tropical setting, and much cheaper to rent out. No need to worry about bugs in this house as the beds are equipped with nets to give you a good night sleep. This eco-friendly house is made from wood and straw as roof cover.

4. All-bamboo House

A more expensive but stunning option similar to the Belize house would be the all-bamboo house in Bali, Indonesia. This one is much larger as it can accommodate up to 8 people. Marvelous design choices, the bamboo and surroundings give you an Indiana Jones feel in the gut. A great example of old-fashioned but sustainable construction with unique and exotic rooms and doorways. If you’re charmed by the bamboo and Indonesia in general, there is also a smaller and cheaper eco bamboo home in Bali right next to a river.

5. Mushroom Doom Cabin

Much closer to home, advertised as #1 in the world on Airbnb – the mushroom dome cabin in California, 20 miles from San Jose, offers room for 3 people. The geodesic wood and glass dome might look awkward from the outside, but it really shines on the inside.

6. The Hobbit Cabin

For those Lord of the Rings fans, be sure to check out the Hobbit cabin in Alaska. Looking at the surroundings you might be forgiven for thinking you’re in New Zealand, the land where Lord of The Rings was filmed. This tiny log cabin brings a different meaning to the word "green" as the roof is completely covered in grass.

7. Igloo By The Sea

Away from the tree and into the sea – the igloo by the sea is a fantastic resort if you’re longing for open water and a perfect horizon.

8. Cob Cottage

Cob cottage is a curiosity made from local materials like adobe, stone and wood. It’s sustainable, near farmland with "sheep, gardens and orchards". The lines you can easily achieve when working with malleable materials like adobe are very pleasing to the eyes, which is why it’s still the material of choice in many countries, despite the expanse of concrete.

9. The Bell Tent

The bell tent on the Island of Skye offers a comfortable off-grid experience, and gives you the opportunity to visit the famous Fairy pools and see castles as well as the breathtaking northern lights.

10. The Iconic Windmill

The iconic windmill near Amsterdam is a relic from 1874 large enough to accommodate 6 people. If anyone knows wood - it’s the Dutch, and these timber-framed windmills are a testament to the sustainability and durability of natural materials. These famous goliaths eat strong winds for breakfast, quite literally.

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