12 of the most expensive Airbnbs in Massachusetts
Wherein we explore the burning question: Why is it so much more than the Taj?
Boston has the most expensive Airbnb prices in the world. Which makes sense: we see a lot of tourists (1.64 million so far in 2015) and the cost of living is real darn high.
This high cost of living bleeds into rental prices, which, in turn, bleeds into Airbnb prices. Below, you’ll find the most expensive in the area, not including the Cape.
airbnb.com
Nightly rate: $1100
A perfect place to stay if you’re visiting someone at Wellesley, Babson, or MassBay. Or if the thick of the city isn’t for you, the quieter, Better Homes and Gardens-y vibe of this place may strike your fancy.
Amenities: Nothing out of the ordinary, though this place has been reviewed as particularly kid-friendly (think: Tons of space and a huge back yard.)
Nightly rate: $1200
This uber-sleek apartment is not only close to the Boston Common and in a highly desirable area, it’s also on a secluded street, which means no noise pollution.
Amenities: Nothing earth-shattering, but don’t underestimate the basics. Getting a place with a kitchen means you don’t have to buy three meals a day, which will save you serious money, and having a washer/dryer makes for light packing.
10) “Beautiful Home in Brookline’’
Nightly rate: $1200
Staying in Brookline has all the benefits of being in the city (T accessibility, bars and restaurants nearby, good shopping) without any of the inconveniences (dirt and litter and crowded sidewalks.)
Amenities: A full suite of suburban-home staples, like a swimming pool, basketball hoop, ping-pong tables, and an indoor fireplace. Plus it has free parking: if the T isn’t your jam, you won’t have to pay through the nose to stash your car.
9) Luxury Estate Near Boston, Hingham
Nightly rate: $1370
Very pretty, very quaint, very suburban. The host describes it as a “perfect place for a large family gathering.’’
Amenities: It’s near the water, and there’s a saltwater pool, which is like swimming in the ocean without all the pollution.
Nightly rate: $1372
To stay at this place, you’ll have to be alright with: the room only accommodating one person, practically no amenities being available to you, and sharing the common spaces with three college students. Granted, it’s in the heart of Fenway, which makes it centrally located and close to everything a tourist would want. But if you’ve got $1372 to spare for one bed, just stay at a hotel.
Amenities: None. Every single amenity is listed as unavailable on their Airbnb page, which I’m guessing was a mistake. Either that, or they’re on that nouveaux-minimalist thing that some college kids are doing around town.
Nightly rate: $1500
This renovated barn house, close(ish) to the Berkshires, has many desirable features: a heated pool, vaulted ceilings, a huge sprawl of land, and great natural light. But none of that matters as much as the fact that it has a pizza oven. A pizza oven.
Amenities: The basics, permission to have a furry friend with you, and an indoor fireplace. (And a pizza oven.)
Nightly rate: $1500
Quintessential beach cottage, but updated. There’s a lot of granite, a lot of mahogany, some nice carpets, and ocean views galore. Basically, it’s everything that the house from “The Jersey Shore’’ tried to be (especially considering that it accommodates 16+ people). If you have a lot of cousins or everyone in your frat is down for a vacay, that $1500 will hurt a lot less when divided by 20.
Amenities: Nothing to write home about. It’s not surprising that there aren’t any insane perks like a doorman or a cleaning lady, since that’s not really the vibe this place gives off. You’ll get the basics–washer/dryer, Internet, TV, and so on. And that’s all you need when you’re going for something this cozy.
5) Super Modern European Mansion
Nightly rate: $1800
The main things that make this place European is its European designer, the bidets, and the fact that the host allows smoking inside the house. But it is a distinctly modern and contemporary building with minimalist decorations and a lot of sharp angles–chic, up-to-date, hip.
Amenities: Pretty standard. You can fit up to 11 people in here, and spreading the very steep $1.4k/night pricetag across almost a dozen people will make it more manageable.
4) “Oceanfront Estate on South Shore’’
Nightly rate: $2000
If you’ve always wanted to know what it’s like to be an heiress, here’s your chance. All you need’s a few thousand dollars to spare and a way to get to Cohasset, where this chalet is situated on rocky beach bluffs. Is it actually a small castle? Is it the future setting of a Lana Del Rey Music video? Am I going to start a GoFundMe page to try and afford a vacation here on Spring Break? The answer to all these questions is “yeah, probably.’’
Amenities: There are basics, like heat, Internet, washer/dryer, and parking. Plus a hot tub. And a library with a fireplace.
3) Oceanfront, pristine, estate
Nightly rate: $2000
A subdued Kennedy-esque counterpart to the movie star mansion in Cohasset we just saw. More old-timey. Think: chandeliers and Greek-style columns and stone carvings of Lions, plus an in-ground pool right next to the water in case you like the sounds and smell of the ocean without actually having to touch it.
Amenities: The best thing about this estate is its grand view of Great Misery Island, which is a real place that actually exists in Boston Harbor.
2) Stunning Resort House on 120 acres
Nightly rate: $2700
You–and about 15 of your closest friends, if you want to be frugal–can go all out by renting this mountaintop estate. Perks of staying here include: romping on 120 acres of woodland, chilling out in one of the nine bedrooms and/or eight bathrooms, or sitting in one of the super-modern living rooms and staring over at your (rented) property like a king purveying his land.
Amenities: There’s a fireplace and a dope in-ground pool, and you’ll have the option to engage in just about any outdoor activity you can think of.
1) Country Manor river celebrations
Nightly rate: $6,000
This place looks like Marie Antoinette, Henry David Thoreau, and the set designer of “Game of Thrones’’ got together to decorate a huge mansion. There are vaulted ceilings, un-varnished wood furniture, and a massive, sprawling lawn that allows for a beautiful view. Very cool, very pricey.
Amenities: To be fair, the price lines up with the host’s vision: they really offer this place as a venue for events more than anything else, mostly due to its size. It accommodates up to 10, so if you have a lot of rich friends with free time, call them up. But if you do choose to make this more than just a one-day event, the minimum overnight rental time is thirty days, so you’re looking at a $180k investment.
Prices reflective of data found on 4 January 2016
An earlier version of this post attributed an incorrect value to a property, and the list has been updated.
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