Why book a hotel room when you can rent a whole village in Austria, Switzerland or Germany?
Why book just a hotel room when you can rent an entire European village?
Local accommodation-finder Airbnb and Rent a Village by Xnet have made it possible by putting nine villages across Austria, Switzerland and Germany up for grabs. Of course, the deep pockets necessary to afford such a thing mean the typical clientele is corporate giants like Hyundai and Siemens that host their company retreats in the village-wide venue, forgoing a banal conference centre.
The $50,000 to $65,000 a night price tag covers room and board for about 150 people, as well as some basic branding. A little more cash can buy branded street signs, logo-embossed currency, or a custom theatre performance based on the founding of the company. Locals earn a living providing all of the above, and the program brings money to tourism-driven towns, said Rent a Village CEO Karl Schwärzler.
The first village to participate in the concept in 1996 was the appropriately named Brand, Austria in the eastern Alps, and it has remained the most popular rental among all the villages. Visitors can ski, golf and even attempt an obstacle course on snowshoes. Want to have your wedding in a town nearly all to yourself? Schwärzler recommends the romantic Goldegg am See in the Salzburg countryside, complete with a medieval castle on a lake and traditional Austrian entertainment . One couple did book their 25th wedding anniversary celebration in a village, but split up before the big day.
Find the full list of towns at Airbnb, but start early: the booking and planning process takes at least six months and can take up to a year for a very large group.
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