Airbnb Introduced “Icons” – You Can Now Live In Your ‘Pop Culture’ Dream Home

How many times have you watched a movie/show and wished that you were a part of that world? Haven’t you thought about living in Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse, the X-Men X-Mansion or Shrek’s Swamp? That dream could actually come true now! Because Airbnb just took its once-in-a-lifetime stays and experiences up a notch. 

Airbnb recently introduced “Icons,” a new category of extraordinary experiences hosted by the greatest names in music, film, television, art, sports, and more. The brand’s goal is to bring some of the travellers’ wildest dreams to life. Icons let you step into worlds you’ve always wanted to enter.

You can now watch the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games from your terrace in the Musée d’Orsay, stay the night in a recreation of Pixar’s ‘Up‘ house, hang out with Kevin Hart, and much more.

Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO said, “Icons take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination—until now. As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world. With Icons, we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth.”

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The Iconic Airbnb “Icons”

They unveiled the first 11 Icons on Airbnb. There will also be new experiences dropping around the world throughout the year. Take a look at these iconic stays:

Fly off in the “Up” house

You actually get to sleep inside one of Disney and Pixar’s most iconic homes from “Up” — and yes, it floats. Complete with more than 8,000 balloons, this stay is located in the scenic red rocks of Abiquiu, New Mexico. You can explore Carl’s world in this super detailed re-creation of his home.

Up to four guests can stay in this house from Up, and get the chance to witness it being lifted 50 feet in the air. As visitors, you can pretend to be Junior Wilderness Explorers and engage in a bunch of mini adventures like stargazing and fetching the mail.

Spend the night in the Ferrari Museum

Immerse yourself in the world of racing with a stay at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy. Here, you get to:

-Sleep on a bed crafted from the same leather as Ferrari seats,

-Take a lap with Scuderia Ferrari ambassador driver Marc Gené,

-Head to Emilia-Romagna’s premier race as a VIP.

Step into X-Men ’97

Live like the X-Men as you stay in a 2D animated re-creation of Marvel Animation’s X-Mansion in Westchester, New York. The X-Mansion is designed to look like the inside of a comic book with over 100 home accessories painted by hand to make them appear 2D. This is one of the most experiential properties under Icons.

Each item in the property is painted and designed to look as if you’ve hopped into the 1997 cartoon! From the bannister on the stairs, the pillows, the rooms, the costumes, and the decor, everything was created with the aim of bringing the movie to life. 

Upon entering the front door you will be led up a spiral staircase to pick out a bedroom: Wolverine’s with his workout bench and scratched-up walls, a trainee room with two twin beds, or Jubilee’s tech-inspired room with her signature gumballs. There’s a fourth bedroom on the first floor that doubles as the lab.

Then comes the training aspect. You will be experimenting with mutant energy elixirs in the lab (drink mixology), learning a quick defence and attack routine in the Danger Room, and figuring out your mutant abilities after doing an X-Men-themed quiz — all interspersed with plenty of photo-ops. After a quick trip to Professor Xavier’s office, you’re left alone by the staff for the night to enjoy your meal while watching your favourite X-Men films and TV shows.

Go VIP with Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart is taking you inside his members-only Coramino Live Lounge for an A-list evening. You’ll join Kevin and his friends in this secret speakeasy, where they’ll treat you to a tequila tasting and live stand-up by the best comedians in the game.

Wake up in the Musée d’Orsay

Mathieu Lehanneur, designer of the Paris 2024 Olympic torch and cauldron, has transformed the Musée d’Orsay’s famous clock room into a luxurious bedroom. So, you can literally spend a night at the museum and also witness the historic Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games along the River Seine from the terrace. This one is only open for one night, so be sure to plan ahead.

Join a living room session with Doja Cat

Fresh off a tour performing on the world’s biggest stages, Doja is hosting you for a much more intimate experience. You’ll enjoy an unforgettable living room performance from the Grammy-winning artist, including her favourite songs and tracks from her latest album in October.

Stay in Prince’s Purple Rain house

Prince purchased the Minneapolis, Minnesota home featured in the legendary film Purple Rain, but it’s never been available to the public until now. Explore the home and go crazy for rare and special tracks from Prince’s world in an exclusive studio session.

Game with Khaby Lame

TikTok sensation Khaby Lame invites you to his hometown of Milan, Italy for an epic, overnight gaming experience. You’ll stay in a one-of-a-kind gaming loft that Khaby designed himself, where you’ll #learnfromkhaby and face off with him in a Fortnite Battle Royale. 

Go on tour with Feid

Join the reggaeton superstar on his FERXXOCALIPSIS World Tour for an entire week. You’ll join the crew for rehearsals, ride along on the tour bus, and get backstage access for every show.

Enter Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor’s Ancestral Home

Janhvi Kapoor is inviting you into the legendary, never-before-seen Kapoor family home in Chennai, India. This home was bought by her late mother, the legendary Sridevi, which appeared on the cover of Casa Vogue in November 2022. From learning her beauty secrets to tasting her favourite southern Indian dishes to doing yoga, Janhvi will host you personally on this ultimate overnight stay.

“With so many cherished childhood memories, this is my favorite place to let loose—and now you can enjoy it too. Our family vacation home is on @airbnb. No shoes required 🌴” said Janhvi. The actress will be welcoming two guests, who will get access to 1 bedroom and bathroom. ‘Request to book’ starts May 12 at 6:30 pm IST.

“You’ll enjoy a wonderful dinner of some of my favourite South Indian dishes like Ghee Podi Rice, Andhra Biryani, Pesarattu Dosa, and Palkova. My mouth is watering thinking about it. Enjoy a morning yoga session followed by a healthy breakfast (I like to start my day with lassi) and take in ocean views from the deck,” Janhvi added.

Make core memories with Inside Out 2

In anticipation of the June 14 release of Disney and Pixar’s new movie Inside Out 2, you’re invited to an overnight stay at Headquarters, the control center of Riley’s emotions. Your host, Joy, will welcome you into her vibrant world to witness the emotions in action and help keep things in balance. 

What Made “Icons” Happen?

Floored by the outstanding reaction to Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse, which was listed on Airbnb ahead of the movie’s release last year, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky was inspired to bring “Icons” to life. It was a dream that had been ten years in the making.

In 2014, IKEA Australia, in collaboration with Airbnb, offered three families the chance to stay overnight at their store in Sydney. It made headlines, got everyone talking and took home a Webby Award. In 2020, the last remaining Blockbuster in the world was listed on Airbnb for approx ₹333 per night before its permanent closure.

“Four years later, people still call up the host and ask if they can book the place,” said Chesky at the launch event for Airbnb Icons held in Los Angeles. “As life becomes increasingly digital, we hope to create magic in the real world. After Barbie last year, we thought, ‘What if we took this magic to the next level? Make experiences bigger, do them all the time and find them all in the app?‘”

And thus came “Icons”. The attention to detail in these Icons is immaculate. The engineering that went into bringing these dreams into the real world is commendable, to say the least. 

How Does It Work?

Icons are featured in their own category right on the homepage. Most Icons are free, and all are priced under $100 USD per guest. A countdown displays the time until each Icon goes live, and guests can request to book through the app. The lucky guests who get selected receive a digital golden ticket.

What’s the catch? You need to provide a creative response to a prompt the app gives you about why you deserve to be chosen. As with previous pop culture-inspired stays, many of these are available for a limited time; for example, the X-Men Mansion will be available for 20 different dates scattered throughout the next few months. More than 4,000 tickets will be available in 2024!

So, what are you waiting for? Go book your chance of staying in the dream setup of your favourite movie!