When my husband, two friends and I started planning our two-week trip to Europe last year, we were led by two simple desires: partake of great food and wine, and get to know a few locals. We knew that most of our budget would go toward tasting this, that and anything made with truffles, so we expected we’d have to pull back the reins a bit on the quality of our lodging. But that was before we heard of Airbnb.com.

Airbnb is a short-term rental service, offering travelers worldwide an alternative means for accommodations — at any price point. Here’s how it works:

Property owners (or “hosts”) list their unused spaces online — anything from spare bedrooms and teeny apartments to ample villas and luxurious castles. Travelers looking for a place to stay cull through such listings, categorized by location, availability, type of accommodation and more, and then contact potential hosts to get specific quotes. If both sides are in agreement, the reservation is booked.

Following a stay, travelers and hosts review one another online, ensuring that future travelers to that location and hosts of that guest are fully informed before a reservation is confirmed.

Since its founding in 2008, Airbnb (short for “an airbed and breakfast,” as the first iteration of the site offered) has added more than 300,000 listings in 34,000 cities and 192 countries. Guests have booked more than 10 million nights — including the 10 that my party and I spent traversing France and Italy.

At each of the six places we rented, we experienced the hospitality of a hotel while enjoying the comforts of a home, all for little more than the cost of a hostel.

Thanks to Airbnb, we ended up keeping enough euros in our wallet to fully enjoy the gastronomic delights we were seeking, and we met many an incredible host who enriched our travels: like Walter, the Italian bed-and-breakfast owner who showed us around his family’s 50-year-old vineyard before leaving us with a bottle of his homegrown Barbera; and Robert, who surely spent more on the wine-and-cheese party he threw for us than we spent on our entire stay in the apartment attached to his French countryside cottage.

At the end of that European adventure, we returned home begrudgingly (of course) yet satisfied, grateful for every taste savored, site seen, room rented and friend made. And though it’s now been more than a year since we were together, we’ve made sure that our great hosts are aware of the beds available in our own abodes — humble as they may be — and the aging bottles of wine just waiting to be shared.

Airbnb.com includes listings in scores of cities served by Ethiopian Airlines — ranging from the quirky to the opulent — but here are a few of our favorite picks >>

Modern dwelling Toronto, Canada

From US$121/night

Live the life of an urbanite in this two-story loft, situated at the heart of Toronto’s King West neighborhood. Though just shy of 600 square feet, the open-plan layout, modular furniture and private balcony have an aggrandizing effect on the space — proving the old adage that less is sometimes more. selamta.co/airbnbToronto

Boat abode Paris, France

From US$270/night

Step aboard this charming houseboat for a rather cozy and unique holiday in Paris. With spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower and conveniently located near the iconic Champs Elysées, the “Soleil” offers the classic City of Light experience from an artful, atypical abode. selamta.co/airbnbParis

Rustic retreat Mombasa, Kenya

From US$220/night

Escape to the Mombasa coast for a camping trip unlike any other. This time, your “tent” is a luxurious, open-air private house, boasting beautiful wood furniture, airy breezes and an ocean view. And with your own personal chef on-site to prepare the day’s fresh catch, you’ll camp and eat like kings and queens. selamta.co/airbnbMombasa

Beachfront property Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

From US$392/night

Relax in seaside style at this refined beach-block flat. Located in Rio’s Ipanema — the trendy neighborhood famed for the 1960s hit “Girl From Ipanema” — this crisp and comfortable three-bedroom apartment will have you singing your own tune. selamta.co/airbnbRio

Campsite quarters Hong Kong, China

From US$122/night

Embark on a real “wild camping” experience in the middle of a concrete jungle — inside a Native American Teepee, no less. Palm Beach Teepee Village is located on the south side of Hong Kong’s Lantau Island, offering outdoor barbecue stoves, bonfire pits and, most importantly, starry nights. selamta.co/airbnbHongKong

Room with a view Dubai, UAE

From US$150/night

Tower above the City of Gold in this luxury apartment along the Dubai Marina. With the clean-lined décor and views of the teal-blue waterfront, you might vow never to descend from your lofty post — until you realize the beach is but a mere 50 meters away. selamta.co/airbnbDubai