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Airbnb Is Sending 4 People to Live in Italy

Jan. 15, 2019
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3 min read
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Airbnb Is Sending 4 People to Live in Italy
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These lucky volunteers will learn how to run an Airbnb in a remote Italian village.

If you've ever fantasized about quitting your day job and jetting off to some super scenic locale to live out your dreams of owning a bed and breakfast, well, you're in luck.

On Tuesday morning, Airbnb announced that it would be sending four lucky volunteers on an all-expense paid three-month sabbatical. Winners will settle down in the Italian village of Grottole to learn how to become Airbnb Home and Experience hosts.

The volunteers chosen for this gig will become integral members of the community in this small village (the population is only 300 people). But they won't be on their own: Airbnb will connect these travelers with locals, including the resident beekeeper and olive oil producer, who can help them learn how to lead craft workshops.

But why Grottole? Airbnb chose this village with the goal of giving it new life. With more than 600 empty homes currently sitting unused in Grottole, the hope is that introducing Airbnb to the region will help revitalize this town. The volunteers will not only host guests in the city center, but they will also lead "social impact experiences" spanning from (you guessed it) honey harvesting and olive oil production to vegetable farming and pasta making.

All revenue generated from the experiences will be invested back into the city. "Italy is an extraordinary country with a strong and vibrant rural community, countless hilltop villages and a passionate and welcoming culture," Airbnb cofounder Joe Gebbia said in a statement. "We want to help preserve these communities so they continue for generations to come ... [and] we hope it shines a light on the beauty of rural Italy."

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Italy is a perennially popular destination for travelers, and this year is clearly no exception. In addition to it being the focus of Airbnb's sabbatical campaign, it was also recognized as one of the top trending destinations of 2019 by a number of travel companies, including Kayak, Expedia and American Express.

Airbnb is looking for volunteers that possess a number of qualities and skills. Among them? An interest in contributing to village life and the availability to move to Grotolle from June 2019 through August 2019. Volunteers must also be older than 18 and, because the application is open to residents of Mexico, Argentina (except the province of Mendoza), Italy, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Australia, India and Japan and the US. Conversational English is also a requirement.

Sound like your dream come true? Apply to be one of the volunteers at ItalianSabbatical.com. The four volunteers will be announced on March 29 of this year.

If you're not selected, or can't commit to spending three months on holiday in Italy, consider visiting one of the nation's other gorgeous towns instead, such as Matera, Soave or Cinque Valli.

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  • Intro Offer

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.