Epic Death Valley Airbnb comes with an Audi R8 and chef-prepared meals

By Andrew Hard September 15, 2016

Sometimes, the worst part about taking a vacation is renting a car. You spend your hard-earned money to get away from the stresses of daily life only to encounter long lines, hidden fees, and little in the way of engaging transportation. Audi can help with that. The German automaker is sponsoring the Emmy Awards again this year, and to celebrate, the brand is teaming up with Airbnb to give a lucky few the vacation of a lifetime, no rental car needed.

Starting on September 18, Airbnb will begin taking reservations for the gorgeous Rondolino Residence in Death Valley, Nevada, but even though the home itself is stunning, it’s not the most alluring aspect of the trip. That’s because a 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus Coupe will be waiting for you outside, and you’ll have 80 acres of dry lakebed as your personal supercar playground. You don’t get that at Enterprise.

“Travel on Airbnb is all about experiences that liven up your sense of adventure and ultimately become a way of life,” said Airbnb CMO Jonathan Mildenhall. “We love that Audi shares that same spirit and are excited to offer this experience with them to those who live to drive, live to travel and live to adventure.”

1 of 11

Audi R8 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Audi R8 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Audi R8 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Audi R8 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Audi R8 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Audi Virtual Cockpit — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rondolino Residence — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rondolino Residence — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rondolino Residence — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rondolino Residence — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rondolino Residence — Image used with permission by copyright holder

As if the car and residence weren’t enough, booking the Rondolino Residence comes with a full VIP treatment courtesy of Audi, which includes a luxury chauffeur from the airport, meals prepared by a personal chef, and a myriad of evening activities and entertainment. The house itself is quite secluded, in fact it doesn’t even have an address — the only way to find it is by using GPS coordinates.

Read more: Audi’s RS7 Performance is a secret supercar disguised as a luxury car

Audi and Airbnb will offer seven three-day guest stays in October for $610 a night, with reservations being taken on a first come, first served basis. The first booking day will be September 18, with a new set of dates being released each day after at 6 p.m. PT until September 24. For more information on the trip, click here, and if you’d like to know more about the R8, check out our full review.

Bucket lists, you’ve met your match.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.