Initially, the major hotel chains in the world laughed at Airbnb and vacation rentals. No kidding. Now every hotel chain is competing with the vacation rental business and acting like it was the plan all along.
The problem for travelers is that most new entrants simply tap into a vast pipeline of existing villas and apartments and list them on their own branded websites without adding any luxury, differentiation, amenities or curation expertise.
In the same way that you can rate hotels like Aman, St. Regis, Four Seasons, etc., you won’t be unlocked a ton of new or curated locations that you can rate as definitely worth recommending to a friend.
That’s where Wander.com comes in. Wander.com is by far my favorite luxury vacation rental platform so far because, at least for me, it’s boutique and exclusive.
Wander.com: What’s the problem?
Wander is a vacation rental company that handpicks and exclusively lists every property it lists, and importantly, each vacation property undergoes a sort of “Wander” makeover to ensure it adheres to the brand’s standards for Wi-Fi, amenities, style and ambiance.
Although it’s outside my pay range as a blogger covering this subject, Wander appears to co-invest in property portfolios and partner with owners in a unique way that’s much more integrated than other companies.
Where are they located? Most of Wander.com’s properties are scattered across the United States, from the shores of Malibu to the stunning national parks of Wyoming and all along the East Coast. Hawaii is a recent addition, and new destinations are coming all the time!
Each property is uniquely amazing and aspirational, and they all exude the very latest in modern, contemporary luxury. You won’t find granny cupboards in any of the homes, but you will find Tesla chargers. Plus, each Wander comes with a dedicated workspace complete with desk, chair, monitor, and super-fast Wi-Fi.
While I completely respect that all preferences are personal, the interiors and set-up of these homes reflect my personal tastes, more minimalist and chic, much more than many of the less curated vacation rental options.
Wonder: not cheap, but real value
Most of Wander’s properties are around $1,000 a night. Some are half that, some even double that. At first glance, that seems like a scary price for many, but when you consider the number of bedrooms and amenities, it’s actually quite reasonable. They’re perfect for families or groups of multiple families.
All Wander.com properties have at least 2 bedrooms, and many have 4, 5, or even 12. One is an entire island with multiple housing estates. I love these vacations with family and friends, and I don’t mind at all if others join me.
We have had some of the best vacations in Palm Springs, renting houses for weeks or months at a time. Often times we have family or friends who want to stay over too, so we end up sharing the house and renting a two bedroom for under $500 a night.
That’s an extremely competitive rate in the two-room hotel market, and is made even more appealing by the privacy, full kitchen, gym facilities, and often a pool or entertainment area, as well as laundry.
We took advantage of these bonus rooms and amenities to socialize and catch up with people in a quiet home without being bothered by services, crowded pools and cramped room amenities. For longer stays, you definitely don’t want to have to rely on the hotel kitchen for every meal. We love going to the local market and having a BBQ with family and guests.
Great introductory promotion: $250 off Wander
Wander offers $250 off your first booking, which is a great way to get started. To browse properties, simply download the Wander app and start doomscrolling. Once you find a property you’re ready to book, the process is super easy to follow and easy to share with others.
Personally, I love vacationing in California. The accommodations offered on this platform offer great coverage from Palm Springs to Napa and everywhere in between. The $250 discount is a great deal, and combined with frequent discounts on new accommodations, it’s a real draw. Click here to browse Wander and download the app.
If you don’t see the Wander.com discount in your account, you can add promo code AKFVDFD7 once you download the app.
