How To Find An Airbnb With A Specific Feature [Or Unique Stay]

Airbnb
Written By Taz Zaidi

How To Find An Airbnb With A Specific Feature

Airbnb offers autonomy to hosts and variety to guests.

As a traveler, you can use Airbnb to find various types of unique stays and experiences. However, it can be difficult to find a place with the specific features you want, especially when searching a major destination with hundreds of listings to choose from.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to find an Airbnb with a specific feature.

After demonstrating how to find 15 features Airbnb guests commonly seek out (including a pool, gym and view), I’ll cover the features you can and can’t directly filter for, and explain what Airbnb’s “unique stays” are and how to book one on the site.

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How To Find An Airbnb With A Specific Feature

In this section, I’ll show you how to find 15 features that Airbnb users commonly seek out. Some are easy to find (by selecting a filter), while others require a bit of creativity. In some cases (when Airbnb lacks search filters), you may have better luck searching for listings with a particular feature on Google.

*Many experienced travelers believe that Vrbo.com is better than Airbnb for apartment and house rentals. To see today’s deals on Vrbo, click here.

How To Find An Airbnb With A Pool

On Airbnb’s home page, click the “Filters” tab in the upper-right corner (shown in the screenshot below).

*In some destinations, Airbnb includes an “Amazing pools” filter above the search results. Miami, which I’m using in this example, is one of those destinations.

Next, scroll down and select the “Pool” filter.

From here, your search results will display properties with pool access. As you see in the screenshot, you may also be able to filter for “Hot tub” - depending on the available listings in your destination. For the complete guide to finding and booking an Airbnb with a pool, hot tub, jacuzzi or spa, click here.

How To Find An Airbnb With A Gym

On Airbnb’s home page, click the “Filters” tab in the upper-right corner (screenshot below).

Then, scroll down and select the “Gym” filter.

As of 2024, Airbnb does not allow users to filter for a specific type of gym (home gym, private gym, etc.), so you must browse the listings’ photos and descriptions to see the type of gym a property offers (public gym in apartment complex, private gym in a home, etc.).

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals on hotels, click here.

How To Find A Camper Van/RV On Airbnb

The best way to find a camper van or RV on Airbnb is to filter your search. To do so, click the “Filters” tab, then scroll down to see if there’s a “Camper/RV” filter. The availability of camper rentals in a particular destination depends on what local hosts are offering.

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Airbnb allows guests to rent a camper or RV as an accommodation, but not as a vehicle (meaning you can’t drive it). Vehicle rentals are outside the scope of Airbnb’s business model and liability coverage. The size and number of features you’ll find in a camper or RV will vary by model.

In case you may not know, campers are small to mid-sized vans economically designed to use for road trips. Campers are especially popular in destinations with great nature, such as California, Portugal, Norway and New Zealand. To see some examples of Airbnb camper van rentals, click here. RVs (abbreviation for “recreational vehicle”) are typically large enough for a family and equipped with more features than camper vans, such as a full bathroom and kitchen/kitchenette. RVs are sometimes referred to as “motorhomes”.

If you’re traveling with your own RV and want to rent a campsite, parking spot or hookup site, look for the “Campsite” filter under “Filters”, or search Google for “RV (camping/parking/hookup site) in (destination) on Airbnb”. To learn about the different types of camper vans and RVs, click here.

How To Find An Airbnb To Work Remotely From

One benefit of booking an Airbnb (compared to most other types of accommodation) is the ability to have a productive remote workspace, while staying in a home-like environment. To find an Airbnb that has a workspace, click the “Filters” tab, then scroll down and select the “Dedicated workspace” filter.

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If you want to claim/report your trip as a business expense, consider checking the “Traveling for work” box during the booking process (on the checkout page). To learn more about this option, click here.

*Many experienced travelers believe that Vrbo.com is better than Airbnb for apartment and house rentals. To see today’s deals on Vrbo, click here.

How To Find An Airbnb That Allows Pets

Click the “More filters” tab, then select “Pets allowed” under the “House rules” section.

Then, scroll down to “House rules” and select “Pets allowed”.

*If you don’t see this filter in your destination, you’ll need to manually browse the “house rules” section of the listings you find interesting (just click each listing, then scroll down to the “house rules” section).

For a complete guide to Airbnb’s pet policy (including things to know and how pet fees work), click here.

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals on hotels, click here.

How To Find An Airbnb With A View

On Airbnb’s home page, click the “Filters” tab in the upper-right corner (screenshot).

Now your search results will only display properties with a view.

*A “view” could be of a city, water, mountains, etc. If you’re seeking a view of water (ocean, lake, etc.), you can try adding the “Beachfront” or “Waterfront” filter to aid your search. If you’re seeking a mountain view, also try filtering for “Cabin”, “Chalet”, “Cottage” or “Resort” (depending on your destination).

How To Find An Airbnb Villa For Rent

To find a villa, click the “More filters” tab on the search results page.

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Then, scroll down to the “Property type” section and select “Villa”.

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If you're looking for a villa with a particular feature (such as a chef, tennis court, beachfront or sunset view), you can try searching “villa with (feature you want) in (destination)” on Google. For example, “villa with tennis court in Rio de Janeiro”. Availability of a villa will depend on your particular destination.

*Many experienced travelers believe that Vrbo.com is better than Airbnb for apartment and house rentals. To see today’s deals on Vrbo, click here.

How To Find An Airbnb For A Large Group

Airbnb allows a maximum of 16 guests per booking.

Remember, Airbnb has a strict party policy, which includes friends and family members, and covers get togethers and gatherings of all types (small or large) including birthdays, wedding receptions and baby or bridal showers. For a concise breakdown of Airbnb’s party policy, click here.

To find a property large enough to host your group, just enter the number of guests, then click “Search”.

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This way, only properties large enough to host your group will be displayed in your search results. Always be sure to read your potential host’s house rules and their full listing description prior to booking.

How To Find An Airbnb With Lake Or Beach Access (Or Water Sports/Activities)

Properties with lake or beach access are popular on Airbnb. Some waterfront properties also offer rentals for activities (such as jet skiing, kayaking, boating or yachting) and some are ideal spots to fish (pond or lake), float a lazy river, view a waterfall, etc. To find Airbnb waterfront properties, click the “Beachfront” or “Lakefront” filter just below the search bar.

From here, browse the search results until you find a property that offers the access, view and/or sports you desire. You can also try the “Houseboat” or “Island” filter, depending on your destination. Lastly, you can try a Google search for “Airbnb in (destination) with boat or yacht included” or search for different yacht types (luxury, fishing, cruisers, etc.).

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals on hotels, click here.

How To Find An Airbnb With Entertainment Options

Booking an Airbnb with entertainment options can be a great addition to your trip, particularly if you’re traveling as a couple, family or group, or if you have a hobby like gaming, music or sports. Entertainment options that Airbnb users often seek out include:

  • Airbnb with cinema / movie room / theater room / Netflix / Xbox

  • Airbnb with basketball / volleyball / tennis court / bowling alley / trampoline

  • Airbnb with pool table / snooker table / piano / arcade / game room

  • Airbnb with music studio / recording studio / karaoke

  • Airbnb with dance floor / dance pole / LED lights

Depending on the availability of the listings in your destination, Airbnb may also include filters for some forms of entertainment (like bowling, tennis courts and pianos). However, Airbnb doesn’t provide search filters for most possible forms of entertainment (as of 2024), so you have two options. Either:

  • Browse the listings individually, or

  • Try Google searches like, “Airbnb with (feature you want) in (destination)”. Large properties are likelier to include on-property entertainment, so you can also try filtering by property type (such as “condominiums” or “resorts”).

How To Find An Airbnb For Outdoor Sports Or Activities

As just mentioned, Airbnb might provide some filters for activities like golf, tennis, piano, etc. (depending on your destination). However, it won’t provide filters to many outdoor sports or activities that may exist in your destination. Your best bet to find a place with an outdoor sport or activity is to either:

  • Individually browse the listings in your destination, or

  • Try Google searches like, “Airbnb with (outdoor sport or activity you want) in (destination)”.

Some popular outdoor sports or activities Airbnb users often seek out include:

  • Airbnb with dirt bike / trails / ATV

  • Airbnb for hunting / shooting range

  • Airbnb with yoga

*Many experienced travelers believe that Vrbo.com is better than Airbnb for apartment and house rentals. To see today’s deals on Vrbo, click here.

How To Find An Airbnb For Winter

Some Airbnb rentals are very popular as snowy winter destinations (including ski resorts, cabins and ski in, ski out properties). To simplify a search, you can try filtering for “Cabin”, “Chalet”, “Cottage” or “Resort” (not all at once) under the “Property type” section.

*If you don’t see these filters in your destination, try some of the other filters that Airbnb provides for you.

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How To Find A Farm Stay Or Airbnb With Animals

A “farm stay” allows guests to partake in work or chores, as a way to experience farm life and interact with the hosts and/or animals. Farm stays can range from “generic” to niche farms (subsistence, organic, etc.). To find a farm stay on Airbnb, just look for the “Farms” filter just under the search bar.

If you’re seeking an Airbnb (farm or otherwise) with a specific type of animal living on the property (such as a resident cat or horse), browse listings individually or try a Google search like, “Airbnb with (your animal of choice) in (destination)” on Google.

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals on hotels, click here.

How To Find A Campsite For Rent On Airbnb

On Airbnb’s home page, click the “Camping” filter below the search bar.

Browse the listings to find the camp style you prefer. Depending on the destination, you could find options like a basic tent for rent, “glamping” (camping with comfort amenities) or a campground where a business or person rents out space to campers or RV owners.

How To Find An Airbnb With A Specific Type Of Shower Or Tub

Airbnb provides filters for “hot tub” and “shower” under the “Facilities” section. Apart from these, there are no filters allowing you to find a specific type of shower or tub. If you’re seeking something specific, try a Google search like, “Airbnb with (shower/tub type you prefer) in (destination)”. Some shower/tub types that Airbnb users search for include:

  • Airbnb with outdoor shower/bath

  • Airbnb with roll top bath

  • Airbnb with soaking tub / clawfoot tub

  • Airbnb with whirlpool

For our complete guide to finding an Airbnb with a pool, hot tub, jacuzzi or spa (including the differences between and how to book each type), click here.

*Many experienced travelers believe that Vrbo.com is better than Airbnb for apartment and house rentals. To see today’s deals on Vrbo, click here.

Common Features You Can Filter For On Airbnb

Here are some of the most commonly-desired features users seek out when booking on Airbnb. To find these features, just select the appropriate filter(s) under the “More filters” tab:

  • Airbnb with kitchen

    • Select “Kitchen” under “Amenities”

  • Airbnb with wifi

    • Select “Wifi” under “Amenities”

  • Airbnb with washer and dryer

    • Select “Washer” and/or “Dryer” under “Amenities”

  • Airbnb with fireplace

    • Select “Indoor fireplace” under “Amenities”

  • Airbnb with EV (electric vehicle) charging

    • Select “EV charger” under “Facilities”

  • Airbnb with parking

    • Select “Free parking on premises” under “Facilities”

  • Accommodation suited for disabled individuals

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals on hotels, click here.

Features You Can’t Directly Filter For

Here are some popular features that Airbnb does not provide search filters for. In some cases, selecting a similar or related filter can help narrow down your search results. In other cases, you may need to browse listings individually, or try a Google search such as, “Airbnb with (feature you want) in (destination)”. Here are a few tips that may potentially help you:

  • Airbnb with balcony

    • Tip: Try filtering by “Condominium” under “Property type”

  • Airbnb with backyard / outdoor space / garden / yard / land

    • Tip: Try filtering by “House”, “Chalet” or “Cabin” under “Property type”

  • Airbnb with deck / dock

    • Tip: Try filtering by “Beachfront” or “Waterfront” under “Amenities”

  • Airbnb with rooftop / terrace

    • Tip: Try filtering by “Loft” under “Property type”

  • Airbnb with garage

    • Tip: Try filtering by “Free parking on premises” under “Facilities”

Here are a few more popular features Airbnb does not provide search filters for, but many guests seek out. For these, you can try Google searches like, “Airbnb with (feature you want) in (destination)”.

  • Airbnb with upstairs

  • Airbnb with king size bed

  • Airbnb with CCTV

  • Airbnb with elevator

  • Airbnb with chef (different than chef Experiences)

  • Airbnb with no neighbors

  • Airbnb for honeymoon

For more ideas on features you can potentially find or filter for on Airbnb, browse the options in the “More filters” tab, located under the search bar.

*Many experienced travelers believe that Vrbo.com is better than Airbnb for apartment and house rentals. To see today’s deals on Vrbo, click here.

What Are Airbnb’s “Unique Stays”?

Airbnb’s “unique stays” differ from normal, standard accommodation (hotels, hostels, resorts, guesthouses, etc.). Unique stays include lodging like earth houses, castles and tipis, and are often distinct to local areas (like the cave houses of Cappadocia, yurts of Central Asia and casas particulares in Cuba).

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How To Book A Unique Stay (With Examples)

To book a unique stay on Airbnb, click the “More filters” tab, then scroll to the “Unique stays” section. Here’s a list of unique stays you’ll find on Airbnb, including an example of each:

If you’re seeking a unique stay that isn’t listed here, try Google searches like, “best unique Airbnb stays in the world” or “best unique Airbnb stays in the US”, etc. If you’re looking for something specific (like a “UFO house”), search for it on Google. After you’ve found a unique stay that suits your tastes and budget, follow our Airbnb Booking Guide.

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals on hotels, click here.

Does Airbnb Provide Places For Certain Occupations?

Airbnb does not provide accommodation specifically for certain occupations (like first responders, essential workers, travel agents, students, military veterans, healthcare workers or travel nurses). But if you want a place that’s ideally-suited to host someone of your occupation, try searching Google for “Airbnb for (your occupation) in (destination)”.

You can also search Google for places that are suited for people in a specific situation or with a specific need (like a fire evacuee or disabled person) or look for a place that has a specific setup (like for a filming session or photoshoot). Keep in mind, Airbnb offers accessibility filters, such as “Step-free guest entrance” and “Accessible parking spot”.

*For the 5 things you should bring to an Airbnb stay, click here.

Conclusion

Hopefully you found this guide helpful.

Airbnb’s variety of flexible options, for both hosts and guests, differentiate it from almost all the other major booking sites. While Airbnb doesn’t have everything, there’s a good chance you’ll find something unique and memorable for your next destination. To learn more about Airbnb, explore our other guides below.

Enjoy your travels!

Learn More About Airbnb

Introduction To Airbnb

Understand Your Options

Get Started With Airbnb

Know Before You Go

Specific Types Of Bookings

Cancellations, Refunds And Changes

Airbnb’s Other Listing Categories

Airbnb’s Other Features

Help With Your Account

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Taz Zaidi [Author]
Taz Zaidi [Author]

Taz Zaidi is an American travel writer and the founder/creator of TRVLGUIDES.com. Connect with him on Instagram (@tazzaidi) or on his personal website, at tazzaidi.com.

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Taz Zaidi
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