00:01That is Rashmika Mandana and Vijay Dev Rekonda on their honeymoon in Koh Samui.
00:06And that is me in Koh Samui.
00:08The same holiday but two very different vacations.
00:11Virosh ended up in a luxe Airbnb while I chose a classic luxury hotel after facing the same dilemma.
00:17But our luxury home stays the new age answer to the four seasons and amounts of the world.
00:22Well, as it turns out, private islands, chefs, a concierge and more than one butler
00:27are indeed drawing the worlds of the rich and powerful to the not-so-humble but ultra-high-end stays.
00:32The perks are obvious to any seasoned traveller.
00:35An escape from notorious check-in and check-out times, rigid breakfast buffets, crowded lobbies
00:40and an overall sense of space for a longer stay that even the most elevated hotels struggle with.
00:46The problem boils down to reliability.
00:48Luxury hotels still offer standardised services which are very hard to predict in home stays.
00:53Apps make it easier by introducing luxe and superhost categories that cater to an aesthetic equivalent of a ritz,
00:59but service is often inconsistent.
01:01The bottom line is that the chic traveller does want freedom,
01:05but not when it comes with a heavy dependence on the host and ratings.
01:08As of 2026, Airbnb has more than 8 million listings with a typical luxe property,
01:14costing upwards of Rs 1 lakh a night, including villas, castles and estates.
01:18And the demand is just rising.
01:20Would you also prefer to live like a local, but rich?
01:23Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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