Starry stays: Vrbos with a claim to fame
From Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness (and their dog!) to rock stars and literary figures, these storied stays were once inhabited by artists and celebrities, and are now all available to rent
We may not have their fame or fortune, but we can live just like some of our favorite celebrities—even if it’s just for a few days. These Vrbo properties were each once home to well-known authors, TV personalities, and musicians, and some even served as backdrops for the creation of some of their most seminal works. Book one now and see if you can take some of that star power back home with you.
A Fab 5-worthy pool house
Las Vegas, NV
Sleeps 10
While filming season nine of Netflix’s Queer Eye in Las Vegas (streaming Dec 11), three of the Fab 5 opted to make Vrbo homes their own. The show’s grooming guru Jonathan Van Ness (seen top) chose this spacious five-bedroom home just 15 minutes from the Strip. The property has a pet-friendly policy—meaning Van Ness could bring their dogs and cats, including shelter pup, Pablo. As JVN told fans on Instagram, “Having a proper house gave us the space and comfort we needed… and the pool was necessaryyy for the desert!”
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A great American writer’s studio
Pacific Grove, CA
Sleeps 2
Experience the rugged Monterey Bay coastline—and the sweet blue-and-white cottage—that may well have inspired John Steinbeck’s novels, such as The Grapes of Wrath. The author’s adorable one-bedroom, one-bathroom former writer’s studio, which can only be rented by the month, includes a garden and patio. The real Cannery Row is just minutes away, making for the ultimate stay for Steinbeck fans.
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A literary stay, no Persuasion needed
Bath, UK
Sleeps 3
Any literary fan with ample sense and aesthetic sensibility would want to rent this charming apartment, where Jane Austen lived from 1801 to 1805. Located in Bath, southwest England’s ancient Roman spa town, the two-bedroom, one-bathroom top-floor abode offers expansive views over town and the surrounding hillside.
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The most-liked homes on Vrbo’s Instagram
A famous duo’s villa that’s got room, babe
Palm Springs, CA
Sleeps 10
Palm Springs is bathed in retro cool, so why not turn back time and stay in Sonny and Cher’s former home? Their star power aside, the romantically decorated mid-century gated estate includes a courtyard swimming pool, hot tub, and table tennis. With five bedrooms and three bathrooms, the home is perfect for big reunions.
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The Big Pink home of a folk superstar
Catskills, NY
Sleeps 6
The modest exterior of this home in Upstate New York belies its crucial place in rock ’n’ roll history, but lo and behold: It’s the venue where Bob Dylan and The Band recorded their legendary Basement Tapes in 1967. See what kind of creative genius strikes you during a stay in the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house, still painted the iconic pink shade from Dylan’s time.
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Martina Sheehan is a Chicago-based travel writer-editor who has written for The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Budget Travel, Forbes Travel Guides, and Time Out guidebooks, among others. She has traveled to 38 countries and 46 states, and never leaves home without a good map app, a themed playlist, and her daughter.
