Discovering Airbnb on Martha’s Vineyard

Social media. Some people say it’s distancing us from reality, from our loved ones. Others, like me, say it brings people together. And that’s just what happened last month when I met a San Francisco team from Airbnb. Caroline connected with me through Instagram – her team was coming to Martha’s Vineyard and searching through the hashtag #marthasvineyard on Instagram, she knew we had to meet.

Do you know of Airbnb? “Founded in August of 2008 and based in San Francisco, California, Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world — online or from a mobile phone. Whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 33,000 cities and 192 countries. And with world-class customer service and a growing community of users, Airbnb is the easiest way for people to monetize their extra space and showcase it to an audience of millions.” And so when the team from San Francisco visited Martha’s Vineyard, they had to taste the best food on island: Water Street restaurant at The Harborview Hotel!

There are dozens of hosts on Martha’s Vineyard, which works so well since housing is SO limited during the summer on island. Need housing in Edgartown? Check out what the Airbnb hosts have to offer! But since I wanted to share the with San Francisco team what Martha’s Vineyard had to offer travelers, we chatted for an hour about local businesses on island. They had already met with Chilmark Coffee, were having breakfast with Not Your Sugar Mamas at the Artclif Diner, and were hosting a community get-together at The Wharf. Couldn’t get any better, or so they thought.

We walked around Edgartown and headed to the Harborview Hotel – I wanted to treat them to desserts and drinks at one of my favorite spots in town. As we walked in, we met with Nathan, the sous chef of Water St. and Henry’s Bar and he graciously gave us a private tour of the kitchens and gardens. Not only does the Harborview do its own charcuterie (smoked and cured meats), but it’s also growing herbs and vegetables to use in their seasonal and locally oriented menus. We sat down at a 6-top and Nathan told our waiter, “they don’t need menus”, which in my world means that you’re about to taste the best that the chefs have to offer. Between Executive Chef Shaun, Sous Chef Nathan, and Pastry Chef Nicolas, they showcased some of the new dishes from the menu, as well as cocktails.

If you haven’t discovered Airbnb, be sure to book a stay with a host on your next travel adventure! I’m already planning our off-season trips and can’t wait to experience Airbnb. Oh and if you’re ever on Martha’s Vineyard, be sure to stop by and say hello to the chefs at the Harborview, here’s a link to their latest seasonal menu (summer 2013) to entice your tastebuds! Now, to help you get started on your plans, thanks to the generous San Francisco Airbnb team, we’re giving away US$150 worth of credit to Airbnb! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway