There’s nothing like a dose of surf, sand and waves to help cleanse the spirit, reconnect with nature and get you out of your comfort zone. Much like diving into an unknown destination, surfing can be intimidating at first – but once you get in the groove, the adrenaline rush can lead to a lifelong love affair.
Airbnb travelers are no exception. In fact, surfing is among the most popular reasons to travel, reiterating the upward trend of passion-based travel, made easier with 10,000 Experiences now available to book via Airbnb.
In 2017, 170,000 Airbnb guests arrived at a select set of surfing communities worldwide, from Pupukea, HI to Mundaka, Spain, to Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa. In addition, surfing Experiences are among the most popular on the platform, with the MySurf School Experience in Bali ranking in the top three most-booked globally. Other Surfing Experiences in Asia Pacific include Girls on Board Surf School in Phillip Island, Australia as well as Surfing in Japan located in Chiba, Japan.
“Surfing is one of the top things people want to do when they travel, but many are scared to try at first,” says Brian Chesky, Co-Founder, CEO and Head of Community for Airbnb. “No matter your experience level, these Experiences provide a more intimate, personal and welcoming experience than you’d get otherwise, and a chance for local surf communities to earn extra income doing what they love.”
To celebrate the surfing passion of the Airbnb community, we partnered with The World Surf League (WSL) in 2016 to offer curated home options to travelers in top surf destinations. Now, we’re announcing a new partnership with the WSL to bring unique and local surf Experiences to travelers across the globe, marking the first time the WSL has entered the experiential travel and leisure market. Starting today, travelers can book one of 75+ Experiences hosted by surf pros, certified coaches and influencers across dozens of unique destinations for surf lovers, which will also be highlighted on the two companies’ platforms.
“Surfing, as a sport and a culture, is synonymous with breaking new ground and traversing uncharted waters so it’s a natural fit to be partnering with Airbnb in this incredible new engagement,” Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO, said. “Championing experiences in the surfing and outdoor space is something both the WSL and Airbnb are very excited about moving forward. The potential to spread the stoke of surfing across the world, and give people experiences that will last a lifetime, is enormous. With Airbnb we are confident we can take surfing to a new level.”
To date, hosts in surfing communities on the WSL tournament circuit have earned a combined $23+ million in supplemental income by sharing their homes and passions. Read more in our Surf Report here, which includes data on the economic impact of surfing on these communities and the type of Airbnb travelers they draw.
Airbnb Experiences make travel magical again by immersing travelers in local communities around the world by offering unique, one-of-a-kind Experiences that are handcrafted and led by local experts you won’t find anywhere else. It’s proving successful; just by sharing their passion and time, some hosts are earning upwards of $200,000, and compared to the same time last year, global weekly guest bookings for Airbnb Experiences are up over 2500 percent. In 2016, we launched 500 Experiences across 12 cities. Now, in 2018 the Airbnb platform offers 10,000 Experiences in nearly 180 cities.
Here is a sample of Homes and Experiences across these surfing communities.These are just a taster of the many Homes and Experiences on the platform:
Keramas Beach, Bali
Enjoy a relaxing stay at this private bungalow which sits in a two-acre property with an infinity pool overlooking the coast.
Moly is a five-times national champion and two-times Asian champion who will be guiding you as you take on the beautiful waves along the coast of Bali.
Chiba, Japan
This guesthouse is situated in Chiba, which is an hour south of Tokyo, offers relief from the hustle and bustle of the city and a variety of leisure activities such as trekking and nature cookouts.
With over 30 years of experience under his surfing belt, Dane will support you as you navigate the waves of Chiba.
Margaret River, Australia
Five minutes away from the beach, cafes and restaurant is this private spot that has its own screened balcony areas and great hospitality.
All Experiences and Homes in this press release are intended purely to inspire and illustrate. Airbnb does not recommend or endorse these listings or any other Homes or Experiences on the platform.