If you're a nomad who loves to travel, COVID-19 has surely thrown you for more than a loop. Either you've had to cancel trips you'd planned months ago, or you've spent hours on the phone with airlines and third-party travel sites trying to get refunds. You might have even had to re-up on the airline credits and miles to reschedule that baecation or girls' trip for next year.
Things may seem like they're going back to some semblance of normal---borders are re-opening and travel restrictions are being lifted---but some of us wanderlusters are still proceeding with caution. If you're looking for a quick change of scenery and don't plan to take any flights any time soon, here are 10 great Airbnbs that are perfect for a staycation to remember.
10. New Orleans: Vibrant Art Space
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This is a colorful, brightly lit spot that comes equipped with ample outdoor garden space for lounging, vibrant artwork in the indoor seating area, and a rainfall showerhead in the full bathroom. It's also touted as a short drive to local must-see places and has a "homey" feel.
9.East Point, GA: Grown & Sexy Tree House
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A tree house with grown-folk amenities including Wifi, a full kitchen, and garden seating? Who wouldn't love that? Vaulted ceilings and modern touches provide a nice contrast to the vibe of the outdoors. This spot even offers hot tub access and places to sit and take in the simplicity of nature.
8.Joshua Tree, California: Desert Vibes
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Three good signs of a great experience: It's managed by a superhost, has almost a perfect 5-star rating, and has multiple detailed, positive reviews. This desert retreat embodies bohemian minimalist chic and has 2 full bathrooms. Take a trip to Joshua Tree National Park for sightseeing or hiking, or simply enjoy the peace of a sunset right at home.
7.Nashville: Country Slick
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Hosted by Sonder Stays, this listing has modern and airy decor, an outdoor terrace, and a Bocce ball court. It also offers the convenience of self-check-in (so no face-to-face meetings or missed coordination). Nashville is near several black history landmarks and sites including the National Museum of African American Music.
6.Austin, Texas: Lone Star Adventure
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This home features a stone fireplace and a patio where you can relax and enjoy the outdoors. You can bike and hike at nearby trails in the city. If you're looking for something other than nature to take in, explore the local black history landmarks or support black-owned restaurants and food trucks in the city center.
5.Phoenix: Global Oasis
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A private pool, ceiling-to-floor windows, and global-inspired art make this quite the top pick for Arizona. It's casual but offers a resort feel, and guests have said it's a great spot to venture out to nearby attractions like Echo Canyon Trailhead.
4.Park City, Utah: Sleek Luxury
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If you want to go full luxury, this bungalow might be the perfect fit. You can enjoy the rustic-glam decor that includes an Apple TV, a Sonos sound system, spa-like bathroom details, an open floor plan, and an outdoor deck. You can also request extras including a helicopter charter and chef services.
3.Atlanta: Barn Chic
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This listing gives new meaning to rustic living, and you might even forget you're actually staying inside a barn. There's a hot tub and fire pit, and the hosts even offer chef services by request.
2.Bentonville, Arkansas: Ozarks Beauty
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Since this home boasts amenities including a 60-inch TV, a master suite with private backyard access, and a bed that has massage features, you might never want to leave the house during your stay. But if you do decide to go outside, you can visit nearby Beaver Lake or other beautiful parts of the Ozarks, a beautiful natural treasure of mountain trails, hot springs, and rivers.
1.Tampa, Florida: Riverside Fun
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You've got a screened-in porch with a hammock where you can lay and enjoy a water view. Guests have enjoyed canoeing literally steps away from the property and if you're a fan of breweries, there are several good ones nearby. You can also check out to Busch Gardens or several local beaches (social distancing in practice, of course).
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While an evolution is a natural progression that happens as businesses grow, a rebrand is a total change. Lola tells xoNecole, "A total rebrand is necessary when a business’s current reputation/what it’s known for is at odds with the business’s vision or direction.
"For example, if you’ve fundamentally changed what your product is and does, it’s likely that your brand is out of alignment with the business. Or, if you find your company is developing a reputation that doesn’t serve it, it might be time to pump the brakes and figure out what needs to change.
She continues, "Sometimes you’ll see companies (especially startups) announce a name change that comes with updated messaging, visuals, etc. That usually means their vision has changed or expanded, and their previous branding was too narrow/couldn’t encompass everything they planned to do."
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The Brand Doula was born in 2019, and its focus is on putting "the experiences, goals, and needs of women of color founders first," as well as brands with "culture-shifting missions."
According to Lola, culture-shifting is "the act of influencing dominant behavior, beliefs, or experiences in a community or group (ideally, for the better)."
"At The Brand Doula, we work with companies and leaders that set out to challenge the status quo in their industries and communities. They’re here to make an impact that sends ripples across the market," she says.
"We help the problem solvers of the world — the ones who aren't satisfied with 'this is how it's always been' and instead ask 'how could this be better?' Our clients build for impact, reimagining tools, systems, and ways of living to move cultures forward."
The Brand Doula has worked with many brands, including Too Collective, to assist with their collaboration with Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty and Balanced Black Girl for a "refresh," aka rebrand. For businesses looking to rebrand, Lola shares four essential steps.
1. Do an audit of your current brand experience — what’s still relevant and what needs to change? Reflect on why you’re doing the rebrand in the first place and what success would look like after relaunching.
2. Tackle the overall strategy first — before you start redesigning logos and websites, align on a new vision for your brand. How do you want your company to be positioned moving forward? Has your audience changed at all? Will your company have a fresh personality and voice?
3. Bring your audience along the journey — there’s no need to move in secret. Inviting your current audience into the journey can actually help them feel more connected to and invested in your story, enough to stick around as changes are being made.
4. Keep business moving — one of my biggest pet peeves is when companies take down their websites as soon as they have the idea to rebrand, then have a Coming Soon page up for months! You lose a lot of momentum and interest by doing that. If you’re still in business and generating income, continue to operate while you work on your rebrand behind the scenes. You don’t want to cut existing customers off out of the blue, and you also don’t want so much downtime that folks forget your business exists or start looking for other solutions.
While determining whether the rebrand was successful may take a few months, Lola says a clear sign that it is unsuccessful is negative feedback from your target audience. "Customers are typically more vocal about what they don’t like more than what they do like," she says.
But some good signs to look out for are improvements in engagement with your marketing, positive reviews, press and increase in retention, and overall feeling aligned with the new branding.
For more information about Lola and The Brand Doula, visit her website, thebranddoula.com.
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