An advertisement on Airbnb has gone viral in Tenerife, promoting itself as a “luxury journey” that bears little resemblance to conventional accommodations. The proposal entails spending the night in a 1986 Mercedes-Benz 260SE, equipped with a rooftop tent from Decathlon.
The price for this experience ranges between €80 and €90 per night, with a minimum booking requirement of two nights. According to the description, the accommodation can host up to five guests, although the tent only provides one bed.
An “Adventure on Four Wheels”
The owners define the experience with the slogan: “Your adventure on four wheels!” The package includes use of the classic car, featuring leather seats described as “rolling sofas”, an automatic transmission for hassle-free driving, and a spacious boot furnished with kitchenware, a gas stove, plates, cutlery, camping chairs, and a picnic blanket.
The tent is provided “freshly cleaned” and comes equipped with blankets, pillows, ventilation, and double coverage to protect against heat. According to the hosts, the nights offer “complete darkness and panoramic views”.
Additional Services and Airport Pickup
The advertisement further states that travellers will have access to complementary activities such as surfing, diving, or exclusive guided tours through company partners. Additionally, they offer a complimentary pickup service from Tenerife South Airport, while transfers from Adeje (€50) or the north of the island (€100) incur an additional charge.
The rental requires a €150 deposit, which is refundable provided there are no damages or delays in return. The vehicle is insured; however, in cases of “gross negligence”, costs will fall upon the traveller.
An Alternative “Luxury” on Airbnb
The proposal combines the notion of travelling in style in a classic car with the spirit of camping. Although marketed as a “luxury journey”, the reality is that the accommodation is based on a tent perched atop a car, a fact not overlooked by users commenting on the advertisement across social media platforms.
Traveller Opinions
With a rating of 4.39 stars out of 5, up to 18 travellers have reviewed their stay in this ‘classic’.
One customer warns: “I advise you not to rent the car with your heart. I had rented it before and everything was fine. But this time the car was in a deplorable condition. If your life means anything to you, don’t book it! We just lost the brakes and nearly died. The car has over 200,000 kilometres on it and is in very poor shape.”
Meanwhile, another user recounted coordination issues: “When we rented the Mercedes, we were picked up in Playa de las Américas as indicated, but then the co-host left us 40 minutes away without explaining why or where we were headed. We had to argue a bit to sort things out at checkout when we insisted on dropping the car off where it was advertised.”
A third testimony adds that the experience ended in frustration: “Once we landed in Tenerife, we were picked up in another car and told there was a delay in the delivery. We were taken to a nearby village to wait, but then the host stopped responding for several hours. In the afternoon, he cancelled the reservation citing vehicle problems, leaving us in that village with no way to return or accommodation for the night. It could have been a great experience but instead it just caused us trouble.”
Despite these criticisms, several travellers agree that the host initially seemed “very friendly and accommodating”.
