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Netflix’s New Series "The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals" Is Giving Us the Travel Inspiration We Need

Here are our favorite featured destinations.

Below, House Beautiful details everything you need to know about five of the properties, including ones in Georgia, Indonesia, Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii—along with insight from each of the hosts. To see all of the many sites in the series, head over to Netflix —and plan your next vacation accordingly!

Alpaca Treehouse, Atlanta, Georgia

The Alpaca Treehouse in Atlanta, Georgia is one of few properties in The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals that’s located in the United States. “You never would expect a fully shrouded treehouse in a forest of bamboo would ever exist just a few minutes from downtown Atlanta, but it does," co-host Megan Batoon tells House Beautiful. "With alpacas and llamas walking around as you’re eating your breakfast, you don’t have to go far to experience something wild and surprising.”

Fellow co-host Jo Franco reveals that “the host of this property, Kara, built everything, from the actual treehouse, to the alpaca and llama sanctuary, in the spirit of repurposing. She reclaimed all of the materials used to make the treehouse from thrift stores, giving the rental a funky energy filled with history and stories to tell.”

Additionally, Kara rescued the animals that roam the grounds. “They're now living their best lives on this farm that doubles as the front yard for guests of the treehouse, eating as many carrots as they're fed—pack more just in case," advises Franco.

Butterfly Camaya Bali, Bali, Indonesia

“If heaven is made out of bamboo, it's the Butterfly Camaya Bali ,” Franco tells us. “The entire stay made me feel like I was a princess in a Balinese fairy tale. Plus, getting to put my feet in the actual mud of the rice terraces and stumbling upon a pond with hundreds of rose petals connected me to the land in a way I'll never forget.”

Batoon was also smitten with this property: “Probably the most visually and aesthetically impressive stay on the show in my opinion would be Butterfly Camaya," she says. "From acres of verdant plants, to flower petal baths, and dreamy bamboo architecture, this place had it all for a design-obsessed traveler or anyone looking for a dream-worthy stay with a backdrop of beauty.”

Quetzalcoatl’s Nest, Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico

Located in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico, Quetzalcoatl’s Nest is a futuristic design haven like no other. Luis D. Ortiz tells House Beautiful that “this was one of my favorite properties because we lived inside of somebody's work of art that went beyond just a home.” Franco adds that this space looks as if “Tim Burton, Salvator Dalí, and Willy Wonka went into an architectural collaboration.”

This structure was designed by Mexican architect Javier Senosiain, who “took on the project after other developers gave up on building in such tricky terrain,” reveals Franco. “Not only did he succeed, but his solution to working with nature—and celebrating it—makes him a genius, in my opinion,” the co-host adds. “The snake house is without a doubt much more than just the house. From the mosaic gates welcoming you into your movie-like stay, to walking down the steps and entering the mouth of a snake that decorates the entrance of a natural cave, it's hard to believe you're still on planet earth.”

By renting this property, you will also be granted access to “acres and acres of a perfectly manicured landscape, a greenhouse, and art installations scattered around the grounds," adds Franco.

Sitka Lighthouse, Sitka, Alaska

If you’re the resident chef amongst your friends, the Sitka Lighthouse in Sitka, Alaska might just be the rental property of your dreams, as it offers “one of the coolest culinary experiences,” says Batoon. “The hosts have commercial fishing boat connections and had fresh King Salmon delivered straight to the lighthouse that I cooked for dinner—try and compete with that, Postmates!”

For Franco, this lighthouse boasts a special connection that ties back to some years ago. “Years ago, I was reading a travel magazine on a plane and saw this cheeky red and white lighthouse engulfed by a sea of fog on its own island somewhere in Alaska.” She adds, “The photo stuck out in my mind, and my gut said, "I'm going to go there one day." I just had no idea it would be while filming a Netflix show about the world's best places to stay on vacation.”

Fortunately, the co-host says the Sitka Lighthouse did not disappoint her anticipation. “By the end of the trip, after eating King Salmon from a commercial fishing boat, soaking in a hot tub while spotting sea lions, and running around the top of our own lighthouse for the night, [fellow co-hosts] Megan and Luis were convinced the Sitka Lighthouse gave other private islands a run for their money.”

Hale 'Ae Kai, Kauai, Hawaii

Traveling to Hawaii is certainly a common bucket list adventure (with good reason!), and Kauai’s Hale ‘Ae Kai is definitely a spot you’re going to want to stay at while checking this state off of your list. Ortiz says this spot is one of “of the best waterfront views you’ll feel more than see,” while Franco shares it’s “one of the most luxurious of luxury stays.”

Hale ‘Ae Kai was actually the first property filmed for The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals , and Batoon reveals she remembers “running over to Jo’s cabin after wrapping for the day and we laid outside in the warm Hawaii night sky and I saw my first shooting star. It was a perfect start to this entire experience.”

Franco adds, “We'd be outdoors most of the day because the property is designed to include and embrace nature—the outside blends with the inside, giving you the ultimate vacation feeling.”

This property is a bit costly, so Franco says “if you ever get a chance to wrangle together enough people to pay $14,000 a night for this luxury experience on steroids, I promise, you won't forget it.”

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WATCH: This New Netflix Series Takes You Inside the World's Most Amazing Vacation Home Rentals

"This experience opened my eyes to all of the gems around the world and showed me that the stay could be the destination," Megan Batoon, one of the show's three hosts, tells PEOPLE exclusively

Dreaming of getting back out there and exploring the world again? A new Netflix travel show might just be the inspiration you need!

The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals , premiering on the streaming service on June 18, takes viewers inside some of the wildest homes that are available to rent around the world. Think: the best of the best on Airbnb , Vrbo and more.

The trailer for the show, above, dropped Wednesday morning and gives viewers a peek at the adventures that await as the three hosts, Million Dollar Listing New York 's Luis D. Ortiz and content creators Megan Batoon and Jo Franco, bounce around between affordable treehouses, exclusive private islands, gourmet food-focused getaways and so much more.

"Prior to filming the show, when I traveled for work, I only stayed in hotels," Batoon, who also hosts the comedy podcast Just a Tip with Megan Batoon , tells PEOPLE exclusively. "This experience opened my eyes to all of the gems around the world and showed me that the stay could be the destination."

She adds: "All three hosts are so different, and it was such a pleasure to not only see the world, but see it in three distinct ways through each of our eyes."

In addition to the properties themselves, the show will also focus on the different experiences that the vacation rentals offer — from high-thrill activities to unique transportation to interacting with the locals — that you may not get at a traditional hotel.

RELATED VIDEO: The Bachelor Mansion Is Now Available to Rent on Airbnb for $6,000 a Night — See Inside!

"The beauty about staying in our vacation rentals is that it's not just about the house, it's about what you get access to by staying in the house," Franco, who is the CEO of Shut Up and Go, an online community of travelers, explains in the trailer.

The hosts also aim to show viewers the options that are available at every budget — while also giving a peek at the most luxurious stays out there, because sometimes it's fun to dream!

Be sure to watch through the trailer to see the most "extra" splurge that Ortiz, who knows the life of luxury from his work as a real estate agent, surprises his other costars with.

The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals premieres on Netflix on Friday, June 18.

Related Articles

A Complete List Of The Accessible Vacation Rentals From Netflix’s Hottest New Travel Show

With the rise of platforms like Airbnb, trendy new vacation properties are popping up in every corner of the world. Hotels are great, but now more than ever travelers are searching for more unique accommodations (even if just for the badass Instagram photos ). Bespoke rentals offer a more intimate lodging experience that’s personalized to your style and preferences. You can find everything from cozy cabins to party boats and themed houses. Hell, you can even stay in a treehouse. Hence, the inspiration behind Netflix’s latest travel hit The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals .

The Netflix Original Series — hosted by millennial wanderlusters Megan Batoon and Jo Franco plus Bravo star and realtor Luis D. Orti z — takes viewers around the world to tour must-visit vacation rentals in both sought after and unexpected locations. It’s basically a cross between real estate heaven and a high-def travel vlog. The hosts stay in a budget, unique, and luxury vacation rental in every episode following a specific theme. Although the luxury properties featured on the show are fun to daydream about, many of them are exclusive to celebrities and the one percent. So we’re sticking to the mostly affordable (but still totally cool!) options for now.

From a “birdnest” tower in Bali to an igloo in Finland, you can book any of the vacation rentals from the show for your next adventure. Read on for a complete list and maybe check some of these spots out yourself once you get back on that open road — just click on the prices to book.

Firefly Eco Lodge Birdsnest in Ubud, Bali

Price: Starts at $18 per night

Hostel life meets the animal kingdom with this bamboo tower in the heart of the Ubud rice fields. This secluded, nature-inspired rental is ideal for adventurers and social travelers who love one-of-a-kind experiences. Your room, or should I say nest, only includes a bed. But the property also comes with WiFi, a pool, a shared bathroom and lounging area, a full kitchen for ordering food, and beautiful views. Not to mention the bragging rights you get for sleeping in a birdnest.

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G Bar M Ranch in Clyde Park, Montana

Price: $350 per night

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live and work as a cowboy? Stay at the G Bar M Ranch and you’ll find out. As a part of the “American Adventure” episode, the hosts spend two days working at this longtime family-owned cattle ranch in good ol’ Montana. Guests can join along on everyday ranch activities, including horseback riding through 30,000 acres of land, fishing at a nearby creek, and hiking the mountain trails.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQpKdvcgyYd/

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The Yellow Ferry in Sausalito, California

Price: $543 per night

This nautical three-bedroom Airbnb is the oldest surviving ferryboat on the West Coast, which was originally launched in 1888. With floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to the bay, a spacious living area, kitchen, and free kayaks to take out on the water, this rare vacation rental offers serene views for up to six guests at an affordable price.

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Lucky Ranch Snow Igloos in Pyhä, Finland

Price: Starts at $153.29 per night

Yes, you can stay in an actual igloo. How cool is that (no pun intended)? If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, then head to Lucky Ranch in the winter for a chance to experience one of the seven natural wonders of the world. But be sure to pack your heaviest coat because you’re going to be sleeping in below-freezing temperatures in an igloo. The chilly night’s sleep is totally worth it, though. Your stay at the ranch includes access to snowshoeing, dog sledding, and a warm base camp building where you can have a hot shower and breakfast. You can also defrost in the property’s traditional wood-heated sauna.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by LuckyRanchPyhä (@luckyranchpyha)

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Old House Cay in Hilton Head, South Carolina

Price: Starts at $624 per night

No, you don’t need to be a billionaire to stay on a private island. Old House Cay in South Carolina is a series of private islands that offer a secluded, relaxing getaway. In addition to the three-bedroom house that hosts up to six guests, (and three islands all to yourself), you’ll get access to boating, fishing, kayaking, and an observation tower where you can chill out and enjoy the view. The islands are only a 10-minute boat ride from Hilton Head, but the total privacy and extensive property will make you feel totally off the grid.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Linda Goss (@newhomegirl)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Private Isles of Old House Cay (@oldhousecay)

La Villa Bonita in Tepoztlàn, Mexico

Price: $1329 for 7 days

Whether you’re a self-proclaimed foodie or you just want to step up your cooking game, La Villa Bonita is the culinary vacation you’ve been craving. The owner, Chef Ana Garcia, hosts guests for week-long stays in her picturesque mountain home. On your first night in town, Chef Ana and her team serve dinner in the open-air kitchen. The rest of the week, you’ll join her in the kitchen to learn traditional family recipes, go on a food tour, enjoy the small-town vibes in Tepoztlàn, take an optional yoga class, and relax by the pool.

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Danville Treehouse in Orlando, Florida

Price: $230 per night

Make your childhood dreams come true by staying in this wacky treetop yurt. The owner built the entire structure out of repurposed items. There’s a hot tub made out of a jet engine cowling, a fire tower stairway from 1926, and even a fully functioning elevator made to look like the inside of a tree trunk. Eight-year-old me is losing her sh*t just thinking about this. Guests are also invited to the owner’s studio, which is basically a colorful wonderland of his artistic imagination.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Corrine & Yoel | Travel | Food | Art | FL Lifestyle (@falcons_take_flight)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lisa Dodez (@mother_of_griffons)

Inn at Kulaniapia Falls in Hilo, Hawaii

Price: Starts at $149 per night

Reconnect with nature in the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii at Inn at Kulaniapia Falls. For the most affordable and adventurous accommodations, guests can lodge in an ocean view cabin on the property’s farm. You can join in on guided tours, learn about the farm’s food sustainability practices, take a farm-to-table cooking class, and visit the privately accessible waterfall. For an additional cost, you can even rappel 120 feet down the Kulaniapia Falls.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kulaniapia Falls (@kulaniapia_falls)

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals’ On Netflix, Where 3 Travelers Pick Unique, Cheap And Luxurious Rentals All Over The World

Where to Stream:

• The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals

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The idea behind The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals is that hosts Luis D. Ortiz, Jo Franco and Megan Batoon visit accommodations available for rent around the world. Each host is tasked with a different kind of rental to look for; Ortiz seeks out high luxury rentals, Batoon seeks rentals that are affordable but give a lot of bang for the buck, and Franco looks for unique accommodations, ones that are either in unusual locations or tied to interesting local experiences.

THE WORLD’S MOST AMAZING VACATION RENTALS : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: “Are you ready to travel the world once again?” says host Louis D. Ortiz over shots of the vacation spots visited during the season. “We’re going to show you the most amazing way to do it.”

The Gist: While many of the episodes will be more based on a theme than a location, the first episode takes place in Bali. Near the city of Ubud, the trio visits a four-story bird-nest-like structure, which was Batoon’s find; it’s more or less part of a hostel that serves a communal meal and has a cocktail hour with all of the hostel’s guests. But it’s the nicest-looking hostel you’ll ever see, but Jo still gives the tip to wear flip-flops in the gorgeously-tiled communal showers.

Next up is Jo’s pick, a set of cottages owned by a local village chief. The cottages themselves are beautiful, and have a view of the rice fields nearby. But the chief also brings them to a Galungan Festival ceremony, which gives them firsthand experience with one of the biggest spiritual festivals in Indonesia.

Luis’ pick, a massive villa in the beach resort town of Seminyak, is big enough for parties of 200 people. The three of them tour the huge villa, do some yoga on surfboards in the pool, get massages and host a small dinner party. At the end of the episode, each host describes his or her favorite experience.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? While  The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals  tries to show travelers doing local experiences tries to evoke an Anthony Bourdain kind of vibe, but the production feels more like E!’s old travel series  Wild On… than anything else.

Our Take: Despite its attempts at trying to be informative, The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals  is pure eye candy. And that’s OK with us. The producers of the series have taken pains to put the locations where they shoot in the best light, using drone shots and other techniques to give viewers an idea of what they might see and experience if they went to these locations themselves.

That’s the most successful aspect of the show. The lush scenery made us want to spend some time in Bali during the fall, when the trio of hosts were there. The presence of the hosts is what we question. Don’t get us wrong: Ortiz, Batoon and Franco all are personable and are open to expanding their minds through interactions with local residents. The idea is that Ortiz, a former securities broker (and Million Dollar Listing: New York cast member), has the line on luxury, Franco, who has her own YouTube travel channel, is the most experienced at finding unique accommodations and that Batoon, ostensibly a design expert, is less experienced.

But all three seemed to go through each venue they visited acting like American tourists, saying “Nice!” and “Wow!” and “Look at this!” a lot, but not making much of an effort to really get to know the area in which they were staying. At least that’s what the first episode showed. It was mostly the three of them oohing and ahhing at where they were staying and not a ton of interaction with locals. Even when they were at the Galungan festival ceremony, they felt more like people checking an experience off a bucket list than people really absorbing themselves in what they were experiencing.

It would be easy to say that the show would work better without hosts, but then it would be just another clip show that you can see on the Travel Channel or another basic cable network any day of the week. Having the three hosts not only is an attempt to connect this kind of show to an aspirational millennial audience, but it also gives the perspective of pleasant surprise and enjoyment that you might experience if you were there.

But don’t expect a Bourdain-style rumination on what the country or people have been through;  Vacation Rentals comes off more like an infomercial than anything else. But at least it’s a good-looking infomercial.

Sex and Skin: Nothing.

Parting Shot: With shots of the three hosts relaxing at the luxury spot, we hear Megan say, “We really saw the best of Bali. And that’s what we came here to do!”

Sleeper Star: As we said, the photography in this series it top-notch, and really shows how beautiful each destination is.

Most Pilot-y Line: If we heard someone say “Nice!” one more time, we were going to rip what was left of our hair right out of our heads.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Yes,  The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals is as light as a feather, and you’ll likely forget all about an episode right after watching it. But the photography is pretty and the destinations are interesting enough to be a light watch in between heavier shows.

Should you stream or skip #TheWorldsMostAmazingVacationRentals on @netflix ? #SIOSI — Decider (@decider) June 20, 2021

Joel Keller ( @joelkeller ) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com , VanityFair.com , Fast Company and elsewhere.

Stream  The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals  On Netflix

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Host Jo Franco on Filming ‘The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals’

By Meredith Carey

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

If you've been itching to book a far-flung vacation to an over-the-top vacation rental —say, one shaped like a snake with a stained-glass coated room that makes you feel like you're inside a kaleidoscope—Netflix's new travel show will have you whipping out your credit card before you can say The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals . The show, which premiered on June 18, follows three hosts—Jo Franco, Megan Batoon, and Luis D. Ortiz—as they track down luxurious, unique, and budget vacation rentals, all bookable on sites like Airbnb and Vrbo, around the world. 

But it's more than just your average travel show—primarily because it adds two female hosts to the ever-growing (but still too small) list of women in the space. It also was filmed, in part, amid the pandemic, forcing the hosts to look local, at places like a Montana cattle ranch and a floating Miami mansion. 

We sat down with super-traveler and polyglot Franco , the host in charge of finding the most eccentric rental options, to chat about that pivot to domestic destinations, what it's been like bringing new perspectives into the travel space, and some of her favorite rentals from the show. 

You and your co-hosts filmed before the pandemic and then had to pause production last year. How did that impact the show, and those of you working on it?

You can tell in the show, like in Bali and Japan , that we were filming pre-pandemic. And then we had to take a four month break before we got back on the road. As a result of the pandemic, we rerouted to show options that we could travel safely to nearby [like Atlanta or Hawaii]. The filming was pretty wild, though. We're actually sleeping in these properties. You see shows like The World's Most Extraordinary Homes , where they build homes or show rentals, but you never see the host sleep and wake up in the property. Imagine filming a show for Netflix, and you're getting ready in an RV , right? I loved that. In some of the shots, I'm like, dang, I have my braids in, my retainer in, and my night creams on. And we're showing that because that's the truth of travel. The show's polished, it's beautiful—but we really wanted to convey the experience that you get when you travel.

When you travel on your own, what types of stays are you looking to book?

I've actually lived in tons of Airbnb before, all over the world. I'm one of those travelers that would rather go back to the same place 100 times and really live in that place. I've done that in Rome and Athens , in London and Paris , in São Paulo and Rio —all over. When I look for a stay, I look for a place that I can really call home for at least a month. And then to take it up a notch, I really love experiences where I can learn something, so I've stayed in homestays, too. [Once,] I was taking Italian classes and moved into a rental with a family and they taught me so much. That's my kind of travel. Travel doesn't need to be this thing that's just for vacation, it can be a way of life. It can be a way of learning and exploring and discovering so much about yourself and the world.

Jo Franco in Bali for Netflix's The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals

Why do you feel like the show is resonating at this moment, sitting as a top 10 show on Netflix for over a week now?

I think the timing of the show was unexpectedly great. People are itching to travel again. But on top of that, I think the show was made differently. We’re not only test driving the properties, but we’re hitting three properties per episode. You're living three trips with us in one 30-minute episode. So by the end of the season, there’s a lot of opportunity for viewers to see themselves living this experience. It's really cool to look at my DMs now and see screenshots of booking confirmations, like people who have booked an alpaca treehouse [in Atlanta]. And we're living in this social media age, so we can carry the conversation off the show—and that's really special to me.

Maddalena Fossati

Noo Saro-Wiwa

You mentioned a few times how the show feels different to other travel or home shows, and I think one of the major differences is that two of the three hosts are women, a rarity for travel TV. What does it mean to bring more gender diversity into the travel show space?

For me, it was two checkboxes, because I'm a woman of color. When was the last time you saw a woman of color as the host in the travel space on a Netflix show? There are women of color hosting travel shows, but to be on a show that is on the top 10 charts? Wow. I've never really looked at gender or my ethnicity as limitations, but I do understand that when you carry yourself in the world, you're carrying all of it with you. I always see it as an opportunity to introduce [the people I meet] to somebody that looks like me. Maybe you’ve just never seen a single woman traveling alone. So it starts with, Hi, I'm Jo, nice to meet you. It’s also exciting to see people's perspective shift, or for them to be aware that we're out there traveling—and [have been]. But in the travel space, for some reason, it's always been skewed toward white men. I'm happy that we're opening up opportunities for more perspectives, because when we show that we're traveling, we inspire others like us to travel as well.

Now that Americans are able to travel more freely and the show is released, what are your next trips?

The pandemic isn't over, but vaccinations are helping open things up. I just want people to travel responsibly both for themselves and for the communities where they're entering. My next trip is to Greece. It's a place that I've gone many times because I’m studying Greek. So I'll be taking classes again—it’s all along that travel-to-learn wavelength. And then another trip I'm taking this year will be to Egypt, which I've also been to before, because I'm learning Arabic. When the show ended filming in January, I was bummed because I was home with nothing planned. We couldn't travel, and the one thing that always brought me joy is learning languages . So I started learning Arabic in March, and I've been taking lessons ever since—so I'm excited to go to Egypt again, with some basic phrases. When you speak a language, you unlock experiences that you literally would not get access to otherwise.

Some of Jo's favorite rentals on the show

Courtesy Airbnb

“The igloo was really spectacular—going into Finland in the winter and seeing those beautiful trees. Sleeping in an igloo had always been on my bucket list. It was also a budget [Airbnb]. It was a place I might never have gone before and [I got to have] these ridiculous experiences of going into a smoke sauna and going into the cold plunge pool—called “avanto” in Finnish—where you go into a hole in the ice. It was amazing.”

Courtesy Netflix

“Another one that sticks out is the alpaca farm treehouse. Especially if you're based in the States, I think it gives you this exotic flair, it connects you to animals in this beautiful way, and grounds you. They even have a yoga studio on site. Plus, it's 10 minutes away from Atlanta. So it really can check everything off your list. Go there if you're into nature, but you also want to be by the city. You want to get outside, but you also want to go to a restaurant. You get all of that there.”

“I never expected myself to say, 'I've gone on a yacht.' I would have been like no, Joanna Franco grew up as an immigrant kid. That wasn't in my future. I'm not used to luxury. But when we got on that yacht, it was a much more grounded experience than I expected. And maybe it was the combo of being on the water and getting to do adventurous things. We went to this tiny secluded island, where there was no one on it. And just with that access, I get it. I understand luxury now, from that experience on the yacht alone.”

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• User reviews

The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals

With an eye for every budget, three travelers visit vacation rentals around the globe and share their expert tips and tricks in this reality series. With an eye for every budget, three travelers visit vacation rentals around the globe and share their expert tips and tricks in this reality series. With an eye for every budget, three travelers visit vacation rentals around the globe and share their expert tips and tricks in this reality series.

• Megan Batoon
• Luis D. Ortiz
• 136 User reviews
• 10 Critic reviews
• 1 nomination

Episodes 16

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Even the Host of Netflix's 'World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals' Learned a Lot About Traveling While Filming

"I really got out of my comfort travel zone. My mind is now more open," Megan Batoon told T+L.

Although the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel may be upon us when it comes to traveling, we could always use some wanderlust inspiration in the form of an adventurous TV show.

Cue Netflix's new series, "The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals" hosted by content creators Megan Batoon and Jo Franco and Bravo star Luis D. Ortiz. Through the eyes of the three hosts, viewers get to experience an array of amazing rental properties for every budget and every travel style.

In an interview with Travel + Leisure, YouTube star Batoon, explained how filming the show really opened her eyes to the unique options out there when it comes to accommodations — especially as someone who is used to traveling for work.

"I really got out of my comfort travel zone," she said. "My mind is now more open. You can find a property that feels across the country but is only two hours away from where you live! There are so many little gems lurking around the corner."

Filming began in crowded pre-pandemic Bali in January 2020 but then resumed again last summer. The series is currently available to stream.

From a treehouse in Atlanta on an alpaca farm to a cabin in Hawaii with a private waterfall to a snake-shaped apartment in Mexico City, the show helps the audience navigate their options and what they want to get out of their next trip — while swooning over some truly beautiful properties.

Plus, all of the rentals featured on the show are available!

As for her favorite properties, Batoon, who provided tips for those on a tighter budget on the show, did love one of the high-end properties on a private island in the Bahamas (but can you blame her?)

Waking up in the "bed of marshmallow pillows" in her secluded room ($15,000 per night) was one of the best things she ever felt, she recalled. However, she also immensely enjoyed sleeping in a little bamboo pod in Bali (only $24 per night) and meeting people from all over the world at communal dinners.

"All of the properties were unique in some way whether that be the location or the amenities or the experience," she told T+L.

The show also highlights the experiences in these destinations — whether it be activities, culture, or dining — a key point Batoon says to consider in the planning process.

"It comes down to intention when traveling," she explained. "Do I want a spa day or to feel like a kid again and be in a treehouse? Do you want to feel inspired and go to a bunch of museums or be somewhere with great nightlife or do you want to do absolutely nothing and just calm down? That is what travelers need to be asking themselves. This trip changed the definition of vacation for me."

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Passport up to date?

Friends and loved ones excited to gather in-person outside of backyard settings?

Tune into Netflix’s latest series “The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals” for ideas about locales, experiences and places to stay; it’ll have you jonesing for travel.

During the eight episodes, viewers are treated to adventures to Bali, the American Northwest/Southwest, Hawaii, gourmet food retreats, bizarre B & Bs and private islands. The audience gets to take the 30-minute escapes with YouTubers Megan Batoon (a design gal and self-professed DIY-er), Jo Franco (a lifestyle and travel influencer), and Luis Ortiz from the Bravo reality television series “Million Dollar Listing New York.” During each episode, the trio picks vacation rentals based on various price points: Batoon chooses the best budget vacation rentals; Franco shows us unique vacation rentals; and Ortiz handles luxury rentals. The group stays two nights in each property to test them out, while providing tips and cultural details about the area and property. The journeys range from a four-story “Bird’s Nest” in the middle of a rice field in Bali to an upscale resort in Alaska that makes cocktails with ice from a glacier.

“I think vacation rentals, especially going into summer travel and moving ahead, they’re a great option for people who want to be a little bit more secluded, who want to have more privacy and space,” Franco said. “There are so many options. So many of these kinds of shows where you’re seeing extraordinary homes or vacation rentals, the pricing is really not relatable, but in our show that’s not the case.”

We talked with Franco prior to the series premiere June 18 to find out what travelers can expect in a world that is still reeling from the pandemic and its effects. Franco has traveled to more than 50 countries and speaks six to seven languages (she’s currently learning Egyptian Arabic). The following interview has been condensed and edited.

Q: Are all of these properties on Airbnb and VRBO or are they hard to find?

A: These places are listed on these vacation rental platforms; it’s really just a matter of digging. What’s cool is the show is like a catalog of the best places. We did the searching, we found some really amazing stays and life-changing experiences — that’s my side of travel. I’ve traveled for a decade and when I travel, I look at it as, Let me go learn something new — learn a language, learn the culture, meet the people. So, the vacation rentals that I chose, you see that interaction with the hosts or you see us diving into the context there — that’s what was really special to me. These platforms are allowing us to look at the world as more of a classroom and less as a place to just stop in as a tourist.

Q: Has the pandemic shifted your travel perspective?

A: I think the pandemic has made safety top priority for most people, as it should. The pandemic showed us how global we really are: One thing would happen in one country, and then next month it’s happening in another, and that is a very tough thing to swallow. But it hasn’t necessarily changed my thinking that travel is the best education. If we’re doing it safely, if we’re protecting ourselves and others, it’s still how I personally live my life and how I encourage others to explore and to learn about themselves in the world. I’m excited to see travel opening up again. What I hope people get from the show is encouragement to just get out there, see the world and really look at travel not so much as this glitz-and-glam unattainable thing, but as an opportunity to experience a rich life, to learn things that you wouldn’t have ever learned. And to just realize how much bigger the world is.

Q: Do you envision, once the show premieres, that there will be waitlists to rent the locales in the series?

A: I do think that there’s gonna be some stiff competition for the rentals that you see in the show, so I recommend hopping on Airbnb now. I do think that what people might get out of the show is not necessarily specific places, but the idea that there are so many places to rent, because we only saw three properties per episode. So imagine how many more there are, and you could do this in all sorts of ways. Travel for food, travel for the bizarre, and you could continue doing that on and on, because there are endless amounts of categories, from small niche markets like paranormal, which is not that small anymore, to a big concept like gourmet stays. You can use your interest, find a home and attach it, so you get this well-rounded experience. I always say choose an interest or a passion, and let that guide your trip.

Q: Do you have a favorite experience from the show?

A: From the show, one of my favorite experiences has to be the igloo. It wasn’t the most comfortable sleep by any means, but I absolutely was moved by Finland and the tranquility of being there in the middle of winter. We’re in the northern part of Finland, by the Arctic Circle, and we see the northern lights and we’re on this beautiful frozen lake. It’s really cool sleeping in something that you know is going to melt come spring. So it’s this one-in-a-million kind of opportunity, like you’re staying in a one-of-a-kind home.

The first season of “The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals” premieres on Netflix June 18.

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If You Love Travel and Real Estate Porn, You’ll Love The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals on Netflix

By Rachel Wallace

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Are hotels over? Probably not, but the new Netflix show The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals certainly makes the case for staying in private homes instead. Part home design show , part travelogue, the eight-episode series follows three hosts as they stay in a total of 24 dwellings around the world, each with something different to offer. 

Aside from being a visually interesting show that lends itself to binge-watching, the best part about this program is probably that it serves as a de facto bucket list since each property is available to rent on Airbnb or other platforms. Each episode, the host is in charge of finding a place that serves a specific purpose. Former Million Dollar Listing realtor Luis Ortiz handles booking luxury properties, interior designer Megan Batoon finds budget rentals that don’t sacrifice design, and travel influencer Jo Franco brings the group to out-of-the-ordinary places like a condo inside a building near Mexico City that is shaped like the Aztec serpent god Quetzalcoatl, built by architect Javier Senosiain.

The Arkup floating house in Miami.

“What I love about this vacation rental world now is that there is a property for pretty much anyone. You can stay in a potato. It is evolving,” Ortiz tells AD. (He’s right—there is a potato-shaped Airbnb in Boise, Idaho.) So although all of his picks are architecturally striking and laden with amenities (among the luxe properties were an ultra-modern Balinese beach house, a private island in the Bahamas , a Japanese ski lodge called Seasons Niseko, and more), Ortiz was most excited about the “budget” and “unique” properties. 

One of the homes the group stayed at in Bali.

At these places, the draw was the immersion into local culture, something Franco, a professional traveler who has spent the last decade as a citizen of the world, prioritizes above all else. “Everywhere we went, I would look geographically where most people haven’t gone,” she says. “I looked for everything from a highly rated host to being out in the country where you have to drive a bit further away from a major city. So that is my trick. Avoid the top-10 list and look for the people, culture, and festivals. Sometimes that is the catalyst to get you somewhere you might not otherwise go.” This approach led the group to a Utah campsite in a tricked-out van, a remote home in Bali where they celebrated Galungan Day with their Airbnb host, a floating mansion in Miami, and more.

The group stayed in a converted cave in the Ozark mountains . 

Even Batoon’s budget properties were pretty spectacular. The affordable igloo in Finland where the group saw the Northern lights, the Montana cattle ranch, and the private Hawaiian waterfall were all reminders that you can see the world without splurging too much or sacrificing style. “I’d never pick a rental that didn’t offer something in design,” she says. “It doesn't need to be this gorgeous, museum-quality lodging, but how does it feel? What is the lighting like? How does it make you want to explore and connect with the people you are traveling with? The vacation rental hosts that have achieved that put themselves in the shoes of the client and offer amenities and small details. Everything with design is in the details.”

The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals is available to stream on Netflix now . 

By Katherine McLaughlin

By Perri Ormont Blumberg

By Katie Schultz

Best Netflix Travel Shows

The best Netflix travel shows on the streaming service right now

With a library as vast as Netflix has, it's hard to pick out the best Netflix travel shows, but we're here to help you with that. 

Of course, it's ironic that just as the world opens up again post-pandemic, the cost of living has sky-rocketed. We guess that means putting off that week by the beach in Barcelona once again. Sigh. 

Still, there’s always armchair travel…no, stay with us! Netflix has a stellar supply of shows to watch for those suffering from a bad case of wanderlust; from food-focused odysseys and challenge-based travels to light-hearted looks at other global cultures with some incredible scenery providing the backdrop.

Whether it’s European mini-breaks or South-East Asian vacations that get you dreaming of far-off places, here’s 10 of the best to inspire your next travels. Just think of them as extra research for that bucket list trip...

Ugly Delicious

A fast-paced travelogue fusing food and travel together - well, why mess with a classic combination? - sees David Chang, boss of noodle giant Momofuku, weigh in on all the most important food items and how different cultures across the globe make them. 

Obviously, that means pizza from Italy, but an elevated slice of the pie in Tokyo; tacos from a celebrated food truck in LA, but a twist on the traditional in Mexico from Noma restaurant. Good travel series push the imagination and our world views and this certainly gives us our fill. 

Waffles + Mochi

On the face of it, this is cute show for kids, which is executive-produced by and stars Michelle Obama, no less, but it's actually one of the best examples of a series doing the double by being both entertaining for children and adults. 

A show based around a moon boot-wearing creature made from frozen waffles and mochi ball made sentient might not make any sense whatsoever, but who cares when it’s this joyous? The two puppet buddies - who work at a supermarket, alongside Ms. Obama - learn about different foods, and travel the world doing it; from whizzing up high in the Andes to try potatoes to searching out the best herbs and spices from a market in Venice, Italy. 

The bromance of South Korean singer-actor Lee Seung-gi and Taiwanese favourite Jasper Liu is at the heart of this 2020 series; as the pair are challenged by fans to missions across Asia, despite speaking different languages. Challenge accepted! 

Taking in stunning locations across Indonesia, Thailand and Nepal the duo prove they’re more than just handsome faces as they triumph in treasure hunts and games like rock, paper, scissors to end up in the final destination of Seoul. Kind of like Squid Game, on the road, but without all the death.   

The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals

If your thumbs idly end up scrolling the Airbnb app in your down time; then this is the show for you. Three intrepid explorers - okay, hosts with seemingly unlimited expense accounts - travel the world to find the best places to rest your head on holiday. It’s not all luxury cabins on stilts in the Maldives though, as the series prides itself on catering for all budgets and all tastes. 

Top of our wishlist is the Area 55 prefab Futuro glamping pod ($225 a night), or the glass-domed eco-lodge - complete with sauna - in the heart of a Finnish winter wonderland (a casual $500 per night). Time to get saving.  

Down To Earth With Zac Efron

Zac Efron, you say? Tween heartthrob from High School Musical, Zac Efron? Yep, but he’s now the poster boy for sustainable travel, segueing into an unexpected career choice back in 2020's Down To Earth With Zac Efron. 

With big bro-on-a-gap-year energy, Zac travels to places like Iceland, Sardinia, Peru and the Amazon to learn about eco-living and renewable energy, which is much more interesting than it initially sounds, and is arguably the way we should all be thinking about travelling now.  

Big Narstie's Big Jamaica

“Man’s off on a mission to the motherland: Jamaica,” the big-selling rapper Big Narstie informs us at the beginning of this 2020 travel doc, and we’re honoured to be able to join him. Both the rapper’s parents hail from Jamaica, and he jets off home again with a candid and witty look into dancehall culture and the food scene. 

Cut to some incredible looking munchies: a mix of Jamaican and Chinese food from the Jamaican equivalent of a “motorway caff”. “My belly comes first!” Narstie says. Naturally.  

Travels With My Father

Like him or loathe him, there’s something quite enjoyable about Jack Whitehall travelling the world with his cantankerous old dad who “hates being away from home”. 

The father-and-son duo take on places like Thailand, Romania and Australia over five series, and even if you fall on the side of ‘loathe’ it’s always amusing watching Jack get cut down to size by his no-nonsense father, sorry, “Daddy”. Very much playing up to the ‘posh Brits on tour’ stereotype, this sometimes definitely scripted series won’t do much for our nation’s reputation around the world, but it does make for a fun watch. 

There’s light-entertainment travel japes like the Whitehall family’s adventures above: then there’s death-defying expeditions that could only be described as extreme holidaying. 14 Peaks is definitely the latter, as it follows British-Nepalese high-altitude climber, Nirmal Purja, as he tries to ascend all of the world’s 14 8,000-feet high mountains within seven months. 

Hiking up insanely dangerous summits - that require oxygen masks after 7,500 feet - across China, Pakistan and Nepal, this documentary also tracks the heady heights of human endurance. Does he manage what he sets out to achieve? Well, we’ll leave that up to you to find out.    

Expedition Happiness

A hipster German couple decide to sack off Berlin and take up #vanlife instead in this self-filmed documentary. Mogli - aka Selima - and her boyfriend Felix (who previously filmed himself cycling around the world for the Netflix doc Pedal The World) buy an old American school bus for $9,500, convert it into the most bijoux of apartments-on-wheels and as they plan to travel from Alaska to Argentina. 

After a hairy moment when it looks like US immigration won’t give them a visa, soon they’re on the road, travelling through gorgeous mountain vistas and turquoise lakes and the pretty, colourful small towns of Mexico. There are mishaps along the way - and they have to divert their trip at the last moment - but it’s nice to be along for the ride. 

Dark Tourist

 Still gutted you can’t hop on a plane to paradise right now? Honestly, watching this show you might well be glad your bum has made a permanent imprint on your sofa. 

The host, Kiwi journalist David Farrier, explores the dark underside of tourism; from border crossing re-enactments in Mexico and Manson family murder tours to a visit to the still highly radioactive Fukushima nuclear power plant and - disturbingly - being shown the latest military weapons in Phnom Penh. Perhaps another staycation isn’t so bad after all...

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Laura Martin is an entertainment journalist who covers TV, film, and music. She's written for numerous big publications, including TechRadar, Esquire, BBC Culture, The Guardian, and The i newspaper. Her favourite stories usually involve prestige TV drama, reality TV, or true-life documentaries. Basically, the more obscure, the better!

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