Airbnb Testing Travel Packages in San Francisco

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As Airbnb continues to gain in popularity, the lodging rental platform continues to search for ways to evolve and expand.

This winter, Airbnb plans to test new travel package offerings in its hometown of San Francisco known as Airbnb Journeys. Because the service is in a testing phase, it remains to be seen whether Journeys will take off and eventually be rolled out to a wider audience.

"We're reinventing travel — again — and we'd love you to be a part of history," the company said in a beta invitation recently sent to select users via Owen Williams of The New Web. "During the first two weeks of December, we're piloting a new Airbnb experience: handcrafted trips. We're extending a limited number of invitations to friends of friends and travelers who are excited to explore the city of San Francisco in an entirely new way — with the locals who live here."

These handcrafted trips include not only accommodations (picked out by Airbnb) but a ride from the airport to your temporary digs (via Lyft) and one daily meal. From there, users participating in the beta phase will engage with their destination as if they were a local.

Experiences include exploring San Francisco's natural attractions and scenery, tasting the city's top culinary offerings and touring the city's coolest attractions.

How it works is, Airbnb hosts create the experiences and then the company picks one out.

Examples of the type of excursions offered include popular outdoor activities like hiking and biking, bar and restaurant tours and relaxing activities including picnics and yoga, according to draft terms of service via Williams.

For now, Airbnb Journeys are only available to users who have been invited to try it out, with a one-person trip costing $500 and a two-person journey priced at $750.

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