How to Build an Airbnb-Like App with Experiences Guide
Anuraag Jain
Last Updated on November 29, 2025
Key Takeaways What You’ll Learn A stays plus experiences app lets travelers plan trips completely in one place. Offering both accommodations and activities increases user spending and platform revenue. Travelers prefer apps that provide authentic local experiences with trusted hosts. A smooth, simple booking flow keeps users engaged and encourages repeat use. Stats That Matter Domestic travel bookings in India grew over 30 percent year over year. Airbnb has over 8 million active listings, 150 million users, and billions in revenue. The Online Travel Market was USD 625.89 billion in 2024 and will reach USD 1457.52 billion by 2032.
Looking to create the next big travel app? You can combine cozy stays with unforgettable local experiences in a rental marketplace like Airbnb. Today’s travelers want more than just a place to sleep; they seek authentic adventures, cultural immersion, and easy access to unique activities. Building an app that offers both accommodations and experiences is not just smart, it’s essential to stand out in a crowded market. The demand proves it. The Online Travel Market was USD 625.89 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1457.52 billion by 2032. This blog will guide you step by step to build a successful rental marketplace like Airbnb that captivates users and drives growth. A platform that combines accommodations and activities delivers much more than convenience, it creates an entire ecosystem that simplifies travel planning and enhances the overall journey. Here’s why integrating both stays and experiences can be a game-changer for your app Today’s travelers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, prioritize authenticity over generic sightseeing. They want to connect with local cultures, try unique activities, and discover places through the eyes of residents. According to Airbnb’s latest insights on India’s evolving travel trends, overall domestic bookings have grown by more than 30% year-over-year. This data clearly reflects the surging demand for immersive travel options. When users book both their stay and local experiences through your app, their total spend increases naturally. This not only boosts the average order value but also amplifies your commission and service fee income. Offering bundled services encourages longer stays and multiple bookings, increasing lifetime customer value and overall platform profitability. This trend is already visible in the market. According to a 2025 report, Airbnb has grown into a global booking giant with over 8 million active listings, 150 million users, and billions in annual revenue, proving how combined offerings can drive stronger spending and higher platform earnings. A platform that covers all aspects of a trip keeps users engaged for longer periods. When travelers can plan accommodations and activities in one place, they’re more likely to explore additional offerings, try new experiences, and return to your app for future trips. This improved engagement reduces churn and builds a loyal user base. The more hosts, experience providers, and travelers you attract, the more valuable your platform becomes for everyone involved. Hosts benefit from more visibility, experience providers reach larger audiences, and users enjoy a richer selection. This growing ecosystem fuels organic growth, word-of-mouth marketing, and long-term traction, key factors for scaling your business. Also Read: Why Startups Prefer Ready-Made Rental Platform To successfully launch a platform that brings together accommodation bookings and curated local experiences, it’s essential to approach development with a structured and strategic plan. Below is a comprehensive step-by-step roadmap that covers everything from ideation to post-launch scaling: Start by identifying your niche within the travel and hospitality market. Is your platform focused on eco-friendly stays, luxury getaways, adventure tourism, or cultural immersion? Study competitors like Airbnb, Viator, and regional players to understand what’s working and where the gaps are. Conduct surveys, interviews, and beta testing with travelers and hosts to validate demand and refine your concept based on real user needs. Clearly map out the primary user roles: Some users may take on multiple roles, so build the system to support multi-role accounts. Then, define your MVP features, such as user onboarding, listings, availability calendars, search, bookings, reviews, and payments. Focus on building a frictionless, intuitive flow across all touchpoints. The scalability and performance of your platform depend heavily on your technology choices. Your design must cater to users who expect intuitive booking flows, rich visuals, and easy navigation. Develop wireframes and prototypes to map out how users will search, view listings, book, and communicate. Prioritize simplicity especially on mobile devices and ensure accessibility for global users. Tools like Figma can be used for iterative design and user testing. Now begin building the minimum viable product that includes core functionalities: Start with one or two core regions or categories to keep things focused. Perform extensive QA to identify bugs, fix usability issues, and ensure that features like calendar syncing, real-time availability, and notifications function as expected. Incorporate trusted payment providers like Stripe, Razorpay, or PayPal for secure transactions. Allow users to save cards, use discount codes, and view transparent fee breakdowns. For availability management, implement calendar syncing with iCal or Google Calendar, especially important for hosts and experience providers managing multiple channels. Start with a soft launch in a specific city, region, or travel niche. Onboard a small group of trusted hosts and providers to seed the platform with quality listings. Encourage early adopters to leave detailed reviews and provide feedback on performance, ease of use, and desired features. Use this data to make iterative improvements before scaling widely. Once your MVP is stable and well-received, focus on scaling user acquisition and enhancing the platform through data insights. Analyze booking behavior, listing engagement, drop-off points, and user feedback. Improve personalization, introduce loyalty programs, and begin regional expansions. Invest in SEO, content marketing, affiliate partnerships, and influencer outreach to drive both supply and demand. Also Read: How to Build a Vacation Rental App Building a platform that successfully combines accommodation bookings and experiences requires a thoughtful set of features. The app must be user-friendly, scalable, and offer seamless functionality for all user types, guests, hosts, and experience providers. Below is a detailed breakdown of the key features your platform must include: 1. User Registration & Profile Management Your platform will serve multiple user roles: guests booking stays and experiences, hosts listing properties, and experience providers offering activities. Each user should have a comprehensive profile containing a personal photo, a bio, and identity verification to build trust. The profile must also display user reviews and ratings along with booking history. Additionally, it’s important to support multi-role accounts, so users can act as both hosts and experience providers if they choose. Key points: 2. Dual Listing System (Stays + Experiences) The platform needs a dual listing system that accommodates both accommodations and experiences. Hosts should be able to list properties by providing location, amenities, photos, house rules, availability, and dynamic pricing. Experience providers should list activities with relevant details such as title, category, duration, group size, skill level, what’s included, photos/videos, price per person, and schedules. Offering both instant booking and approval-based workflows makes the platform flexible for different provider preferences. Key points: 3. Search and Discovery To help users find exactly what they want, your platform should feature a powerful search engine with intelligent filters. Users should be able to search by location, date, and category (stay or experience), and refine results by price, rating, guest capacity, and amenities. An interactive map view allows users to explore nearby listings, while personalized recommendations based on user interests and past searches increase engagement. Using advanced search tools like Algolia or Elasticsearch ensures fast and relevant results. Key points: 4. Unified Booking Engine A streamlined booking experience is critical when combining stays and experiences. Your platform should let users add multiple listings—both accommodations and activities—into a single itinerary. Real-time availability syncing, clear date and time selection, and a transparent pricing breakdown (including service and host fees) are essential. A multi-step checkout process supporting saved payment methods, discount codes, and clear cancellation policies will make the booking seamless and trustworthy. Key points: 5. Calendar & Scheduling Management Hosts and experience providers must efficiently manage their availability with a dynamic calendar system. They should be able to set availability by day or hour, block off unavailable periods, and sync with external calendars like Google Calendar or iCal. This is especially important for experience providers who often need time-slot based bookings for group sessions or private activities. Key points: At Oyelabs, we specialize in building powerful travel platforms inspired by Airbnb’s winning formula, combining unique stays with authentic, curated experiences. Whether you want a lean MVP or a full-featured custom app, we deliver scalable solutions that ensure smooth booking flows, secure payments, and location-based discovery tailored for today’s travelers. With proven experience creating rental app like Airbnb, we understand the challenges and opportunities of this market. Ready to build a seamless travel ecosystem that delights users and drives revenue? Let’s bring your vision to life. Book your free consultation with Oyelabs and start building an Airbnb-like app your users will love and return to again and again. Combining accommodations and experiences into a single travel app is a powerful strategy to meet modern traveler expectations. This integrated model not only boosts user engagement and encourages repeat bookings but also opens up multiple revenue streams. By catering to the full journey, from stays to immersive local activities, you create a richer, more valuable user experience. Additionally, a growing user base of hosts, experience providers, and guests enhances your platform’s network effect. Success, however, hinges on solid technology, intuitive design, and scalable infrastructure. With the right execution, your Airbnb-like app can emerge as a trusted, all-in-one solution for global travelers. 1. Can a new app compete with Airbnb? 2. How can I attract trusted hosts and experience providers? 3. Is it necessary to start with both stays and experiences? 4. Can the app support global bookings? 5. How can small startups compete with giants like Airbnb?
Why Offering Both Stays and Experiences Matters
Strong Consumer Demand for Authentic Experiences
Higher Average Order Value Means More Revenue
Better User Engagement and Retention
Network Effects That Drive Growth
Guide to Build a Rental App with Integrated Experiences
1. Conduct Market Research and Validate the Idea
2. Define User Roles and Core Features
3. Select the Right Tech Stack
Choosing tools that can grow with your platform will save you from costly rewrites later.
4. Design Seamless UX and UI
5. Develop and Test the MVP
Secure payments
6. Integrate Payment Gateways and Calendar Sync
7. Launch Softly and Gather User Feedback
8. Scale and Optimize with Data
Essential Features for a Combined Stays + Experiences Platform
Support for multi-role accounts
Experience listings: category, duration, group size, price
Launch Your Travel App Like Airbnb Today
Conclusion
FAQs
Yes, by focusing on niche experiences or underserved locations.
Offer easy onboarding, multi-role accounts, fair fees, and clear support..
Not always; starting with one and expanding later can work if niche-focused.
Yes, with multi-currency support, language localization, and region-specific listings.
Focus on niche markets, local experiences, and personalized, flexible services.
