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The top 6… love
Family travel hub  >  Planning a family vacation  >  The top 6… love

The top 6 Airbnb Categories your kids will love

March 15, 2024 • 4 min read
Sometimes, finding a great place to travel with your kids is as much about your accommodation as it is about the destination. Maybe you’re hoping to show your little ones endless ocean views, towering mountain peaks, or even share bedtime stories inside a playful, yellow submarine. We’ve rounded up six Airbnb Categories with plenty of activities and surprises that your kids will love.

Points of interest

  • Explore 60+ Airbnb Category themes such as beaches or national parks
  • A great vacation rental can keep kids happily entertained from dawn to dusk
  • Keep your travel dates flexible to explore more options for your family

Dive in, the water’s great!

Searching for a private pool for your family? Homes in the Amazing Pools Category let you make a splash together, race your older kids to the deep end, or grab some overdue R&R in the shade, and then whip up a snack or full-sized meal in the kitchen. Go for mid-century swank in Palm Springs, California or pair your swim with bbq and inspiring new music in Austin, Texas.

OMG is that a spaceship?

Ahh, that unforgettable moment when you pull up to your personal… spaceship. Spark a lifelong love of travel at a young age with the OMG! Category. You’ll find buzzworthy homes with imaginative exteriors like potato and guitar-shaped houses and structures straight from your kids' wildest dreams, like decked-out buses and converted airplanes.

Family travel tip: Get flexible with your dates to explore more options

Leaving your destination open invites spontaneity to your search — especially with categories like OMG. If you’re also flexible about when you’re traveling, you can choose the “Flexible” option under your dates on Airbnb and select whether you want to stay for a weekend, week, or month. This gives you more choices for homes and opens up places that might otherwise be booked for your specific travel dates.

Kick back and relax

Wake up to salt air and soft sands without having to drive, park, and stake out a place on the beach. The Beachfront Category lets you stay near the shore, so you can dip your baby’s toes in the sea, or help your kids build the sandcastle of their dreams before making the (very) short trip home for meals and naptime. Try family-friendly vacation rentals in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, or Destin, Florida, for a beach trip closer to home that feels like paradise.

Adventure in the great outdoors

If you enter a park name in the destination field, the National Parks Category will show available homes within a 60-minute drive of a park’s entrance. Getting some fresh air can sharpen critical thinking in kids and even help them become better learners. Spot new plants and animals with your baby, or check out some kid-friendly hikes. Want some specific ideas of where to go? Check out this quick read on the best national parks for families or go for one of these underrated but amazing national parks to avoid the crowds of the more popular destinations.

Find a fun house

Bowl until you land a strike, mini golf without a curfew, or grab a bite with views of some (fake) dinosaurs. The Play Category rounds up homes with spectacular play-centered amenities or kid-friendly themes — like superheroes or giant indoor slides. You’ll find Play homes all over the U.S. and beyond, but Orlando, Florida, is the perfect place to explore if you’re wanting to make a big impression and have tons of kid-friendly activities nearby.

Make fairytale dreams come true

“Remember the time we stayed in a castle?” never gets old. Homes in the Castles Category give your kids a chance to study history up close. Some castles even come with moats and drawbridges and many are set on expansive, private grounds. Castles are perfect for that first trip abroad with your (slightly older) little one. Go for classic and idyllic stays in Scotland and Ireland — or head for one of our favorite European cities for families to find your fairytale destination.

Family travel tip: Say hi to your Host before you book

Want to make sure a home you’re considering is a good fit for the kids? You can message your Host to ask specific questions about the space and your family’s needs.
Find even more places to travel with your kids, from campers to cabins. You can narrow your results by adding family-friendly features like cribs — then let wanderlust take you and your crew away.
Two cute toddlers happily head to the beach.

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