After an initial test in the LA and SF markets, the Weekend Getaways product has been rolled out globally by accommodations behemoth Airbnb.
The Getaways product was born out of the desire to promote the Instant Booking feature, which are listings that can be booked immediately without back-and-forth with the host. The idea, which was originally started on mobile, was to provide a place for last-minute travelers to discover places to stay at the last minute.
Getaways now includes all kinds of listings, and is a way for users to explore nearby destinations. The target user is a traveler or local looking for a quick getaway to nearby(ish) destinations.
The page features a large image slider, weather, and a short tease about the city's features. Three selected listings are placed beneath the slider, so the user can be directed immediately into a listing. There's also a button to "See All Available Places" if the user wants to explore more than the three featured listings. Above the slider is a small map that shows how far the getaway is from the current city.
With Facebook connection, the page also shows if any friends have been to that particular destination for social proof and potential questions.
Some of the city suggestions are a bit far out, and are more flights rather than drives - such as the Miami page, which lists Atlanta and New Orleans as a weekend getaway, which would be a relatively short flight but still requiring the expense of a flight. A small icon in the top left of each city section designates a "fly" or "drive" distance, and many of the suggested destinations are further afoot.
The Getaways product sits alongside Wishlists as one of the ways to browse and discover interesting listings on the site.
Last year's Neighborhoods is also being gradually expanded to offer a means of exploration reminiscent more of a travel guide than an accommodation site. The objective is to create several discovery avenues for users to select destinations - and hopefully book an Airbnb for the stay.
NB:Hat-tip - Matteo Gamba.