Looking to satisfy some travel cravings while you’re stuck at home? Want to learn something new? Wishing you could meet new people while in quarantine? I had the same questions about a month ago when I stumbled upon Airbnb Virtual Experiences. I had some free time on my hands and decided to check some out. Airbnb is a trusted brand, and I believe that they provide a balanced overview of what virtual tourism can offer. All of the experiences I purchased had very high ratings and fantastic reviews. Keep reading to find out what to expect from the best experiences Airbnb has to offer.
World’s Top Coffee Masterclass
Photos from World’s Top Coffee Masterclass experience webpage.
Price: $12 for 60 minutes
For this experience, my host was Christian from Mexico. First, Christian introduced himself, showed me his home, and told me about his background. Then he had me taste some ingredients, and then we went through how to make the perfect coffee cup (he even provided a handbook ahead of time). Once the coffee was ready, he asked me to describe the coffee, keeping in mind the ingredients I tasted at the beginning of the experience. Christian also left plenty of time in the end for me to ask questions. I enjoyed Christian’s energy, and he was clearly passionate about coffee and hosting this experience. Every coffee lover should try this experience.
Book this experience here: https://www.airbnb.ca/experiences/1655017
Discover Buenos Aires Street Art and Sketch
Photos from Discover Buenos Aires Street Art and Sketch experience webpage.
Price: $14 for 60 minutes
Flor took me and a few others on a tour of Buenos Aires street art. She was very knowledgeable and explained the history, meaning and techniques these Argentine artists used. This was done using a Powerpoint presentation and Google Maps. In the end, she gave us a drawing tutorial inspired by a specific piece we learned about. I do not have an art background, but it was easy to follow along, and I was inspired to pay attention to street art in my own city. This experience is fun for all ages and also educational. Flor was a wonderful host, and her fervour for art is positively contagious!
Book this experience here: https://www.airbnb.ca/experiences/1672202
Follow a Plague Doctor Through Prague
Photos from Follow a Plague Doctor Through Prague experience webpage.
Price: $25 for 60 minutes
This tour was fascinating considering the times we are living in. Thomas, dressed in plague doctor attire, took several of us on tour through Prague. The footage was prerecorded in March of 2020, and no one was out on the streets. Thomas talked over the video and would pause the footage when someone asked a question. He showed us some of the most iconic sights and connected events from the Plagues to current events. There was also a magical surprise at the end of the tour. Thomas was clearly a professional and was able to answer every question we threw at him. It was educational, fascinating and thought-provoking.
Book this experience here: https://www.airbnb.ca/experiences/1658926
Zoom around Kyoto, the City of Water
Photos from Zoom Around Kyoto, the City of Water experience webpage.
Price: $18 for 60 minutes
My host, Gulay, was delightful! Despite some technical issues with Zoom I encountered, she made us three feel welcome in Kyoto. She took us on a tour of the City of Water by talking over prerecorded footage and pausing when we had questions. We explored temples, gardens and rivers. I learned more about mochi, Gulay’s spirituality and how to perform a special prayer. The most intriguing part for me was learning about what some people in Japan are doing to help end the pandemic. This was an immersive cultural experience. While the virtual tour was amazing, I would love to visit in real life.
Book this experience here: https://www.airbnb.ca/experiences/2030062
Sangria and Secrets with Drag Queens
Photos from Sangria and Secrets with Drag Queens experience webpage.
Price: $45 for 90 minutes
This experience is number one on Airbnb, and I must agree with this ranking. These drag queens from Portugal put on quite a show! They had us all introduce ourselves and strike a pose, which made introductions less awkward. They had us complete a challenge, and throughout the sangria tutorial, they entertained us with multiple live performances. I booked this on a Saturday night, so there were quite a few people to meet, but everyone had a blast. I would 100% do this one again. The amount of sangria I made lasted for days, and it was delicious! They even sent the recipe after the experience for us to keep forever.
Book this experience here: https://www.airbnb.ca/experiences/1652939
Still Not Convinced You Should Book These Experiences?
Airbnb Virtual Experiences exceeded my expectations! The hosts I met wanted to connect with the participants, even after the experience was complete. It is clear that this is more than a job to them, but a medium to share their passions with people worldwide. I have no regrets when it comes to booking these experiences, and I would love to do more in the future. If you would like to watch more of an overview of what you can expect from these virtual experiences, watch the video below:
Nice job, Amy. I checked into the Prague experience and it looks intriguing and pertinent to this time. I’ve been to Prague and it is a beautiful city with much history.