Wimdu.com, the new social marketplace that pairs adventurous and discriminating globetrotters with unique properties and interesting hosts to create extraordinary travel experiences, is now expanding into Asia Pacific. The company is breaking new ground in the hot online community marketplace for private spaces, by offering unique accommodations which drive home travel experiences like none other.

Steven Kim, co-founder of Wimdu Asia says “Today’s travel is not just about staying at a faceless hotel room, Wimdu opens up experiential travel, for instance, some of our listings can be as unusual as a castle in UK for USD$12,000 or a hut in the Philippines jungle for just USD$6. Of course, many hosts with apartments/rooms in popular cities do add interesting facets to travel in their own way. This is a whole new social movement for both guests and hosts – it allows you to travel like a local.”

Wimdu has grown quickly to expand its global reach. The open platform allows anyone to list their space for free, be it a room, an apartment or a house, and invite travelers from around the world to come stay with them. Wimdu manages the booking and payment processes online, making it easy for guests to design their travel experiences and efficient for hosts to manage reservations. The benefits are many: hosts can earn extra cash while providing travelers with a unique perspective on their hometown.

When planning our trips in Europe, we have always tried to arrange for apartment stays e.g. our stay at InnerCity apartments in Budapest as they are not only affordable (especially if travelling in a group of 3 or more) but also provide convenient amenities e.g. washing machine, kitchen.  During our upcoming trip to Amsterdam and Brussels in September, PassportChop.com will be reviewing apartments in these cities, which are on offer in Wimdu.

Even when not travelling overseas, Wimdu is still relevant for Singaporeans keen on a local weekend staycation. Not comfortable staying in other people’s houses, there are options for bungalows and private accommodations at Turf Club where one could enjoy colonial-style bedroom which is surrounded by lush greenery for just USD$160 a night or an island getaway at Pulau Ubin with a Duplex suite for just USD200 a night. Compared to hotel stays, these unique accommodation certainly makes for interesting staycation experiences.

Stay tuned to PassportChop.com for reviews for our apartment in Brussels as well as more on how Wimdu facilitated the process of finding and booking affordable apartments.  Meanwhile, check out Wimdu.com and their Singapore Facebook page for more interesting offers.