Whenever you imagine booking a camping trip on Airbnb, you may have visions of glamping under the celebrities in an expensive bell tent.
Perhaps there’s even a country hot tub waiting so that you can take a dip, before you cozy up by a crackling fire, marshmallow stick in hand.
But then, as you scroll through the listings, wanting to make this dream a reality, you come upon an Airbnb offering that brings you crashing back right down to earth.
Titled “Large Tent Near The Beach,” this listing guarantees an experience far faraway from your luxurious glamping fantasies.
A camping getaway in someone’s backyard
Here, you’re invited to pitch an old tent in someone’s backyard, surrounded by half-dead grass and a rusty Hills Hoist.
In the best way of bedding, you’ll be sleeping on a single mattress on the ground and when it comes to al fresco dining, there’s a six-seater dining table situated next to a transportable clothesline.
The tent in Seaton, South Australia. AirBnB
Yes, you read that right.
Your holiday abode under the celebrities is, in truth, a DIY situation in someone’s garden, with the beach as its only redeeming feature – that’s, should you squint hard enough through the fence.
That much for a tent?
The web was left scratching their heads when someone shared this listing, situated in Seaton, South Australia, on Reddit.
The listing features access to a “shared bathroom” throughout the house. AirBnB
“Surely this will’t be legal?” someone asked.
One other eloquently remarked, “They’re taking the p*ss.”
The poster also shared how much it might cost to book the tent, with prices ranging from $295 AUD (about $193 USD) for a one-week stay in February.
“It’s gross how expensive that’s,” one user wrote, while another person stated, “$295 for a tent?!”
“That’s so expensive for what it’s for,” one other agreed. “Truthfully, we’ve a large housing crisis and don’t even get me began on the fee of living. That is disgusting.”
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“On par with a caravan park”
But alternatively, others argued that the value was justified.
“Okay but that’s for every week not an evening…” someone identified. “That’s on par with a caravan park minus having to establish a tent yourself.”
And another person emphasized, “Yeah, it’s cheaper than a camping ground.”
The host, William, calls himself a businessman and an entrepreneur. AirBnB
“I wouldn’t personally stay there but what’s the difference between this and truly camping? Some people would really like this,” one other asked.
But someone replied, “Oh I don’t know, possibly the proven fact that that is in some random backyard and never out within the forest by a lake or within the bush with a lookout and mountaineering trails, which is the entire point of camping.”
“For that price, you could as well rent a unit,” one other mentioned.
The Airbnb host, William, described himself as a “businessman” and “entrepreneur” who has “been in business his whole life” and “goals for perfection.”
The tent sits within the backyard of an Aussie home. AirBnB
The listing has since been removed however it’s uncertain whether this was done by William or Airbnb.
Camping is one among Airbnb’s 50 categories, so it looks as if the listing is technically permitted.
Based on the website, the camping category could allow you to find “a lotus tent within the south of France to a yurt on the northern California coast.”
It adds: “Browse a wide range of holiday camping rentals and choose your spot under the celebrities.”
