Cool design and thoughtful amenities go a long way in making an AirBNB feel special, but at the end of the day, it’s all about the host. Bryan Chiang of Wogoxette Upstairs in Malaysia’s picturesque Cameron Highlands epitomizes what it means to be a “superhost.” He rents out a three-bedroom apartment on the second floor of the family home he shares with his retired farmer parents in the 200-person village of Kuala Terla. Vintage furnishings and clever touches, like a wall scribbled with messages from previous guests, are enough to charm anyone. And yet Bryan goes above and beyond, picking visitors up at the bus station, taking them around to chrysanthemum farms and tea plantations, to night markets and pau vendors and laksa shops, and on hikes through some of the Highlands’ most beautiful and rugged terrain. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to travel with an Anthony Bourdain-style fixer (and all-around awesome, funny, well-traveled dude), this is your chance.
Wogoxette Upstairs is bookable through AirBNB; rates start at $47 USD per night.