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☆ A 33-year-old man turned a Japanese farmhouse into a mountainside Airbnb retreat for $25,000 — here's how he did it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewSingaporean Xian Jie Lee, 33, moved to Japan in 2012 to study political science. Xian Jie LeeShu told Lee that he could rent a farmhouse in a village called Ryujinmura. "I removed the tatami (traditional straw floor covering) in the inner room and fell through the floor," Lee said. Xian Jie LeeWhile renovating the guesthouse, Lee turned his own home into a café three days a week to earn extra income. Xian Jie LeeLee has also been able to participate in unique experiences himself.

Persons: —, Jie Lee, Lee, Shu, Wayakama, Xian Jie Lee Shu, who'd, shoji, Lance Yeo, Xian Jie Lee, he'd, Xian Jie Lee Lee Organizations: Service, Business, YouTube Locations: Japan, Kyoto, Wakayama, Singapore

☆ I steered ships like the Dali for 13 years. Entering and leaving a port is extremely challenging — here's what should have been done in Baltimore.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sachin Saxena is a former ship captain who spent 13 years navigating the globe on large ships. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sachin Saxena, a 45-year-old former ship captain from Singapore. I captained ships transporting liquid petroleum gas from Asia to the United States for 13 years, from 1997 to 2010. Entering or leaving a port is one of the most challenging parts of any voyage. This will start about 45 seconds after the ship's power has failed.

Persons: Sachin Saxena, —, Dali, Francis Scott Key, aren't, I'd Organizations: Service, Baltimore Locations: Dali, Singapore, Asia, United States, Baltimore

☆ Retiree Travels the World As a House-Sitter, Rents Own Home on Airbnb
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I resigned from my job and booked my first house sit that winter in Breckenridge, Colorado. How to choose a good house sitI have now completed over 25 house sits. When I take on a house sit, I make sure I'm close to public transport or have access to a car. However, I've been so busy with house sits recently I haven't stayed there for almost a year. My last house sit in Naples, Florida, included two dogs, two cats, a guinea pig, two geckos, and a tortoise.

Persons: —, Bernadine, you'd, would've, I'd, wouldn't, shih, I've, haven't Organizations: Service, Business, Lady, Social Security, Virgin Islands, New Zealand Locations: Bernadine Swale, Swale, Denver, Breckenridge , Colorado, New Zealand, New York, Botswana, St Croix, Virgin, Caribbean, Japan, States, Airbnb, United States, Naples , Florida

☆ I moved to Dubai from the UK and love it. Life is safer and easier here.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In July, Harrison Granger moved with his partner from Maidstone, England, to Dubai. He says conveniences such as gas delivery and amenities like a private gym make life much easier. In July, my partner and I moved to the United Arab Emirates, and we love it. When I visited my uncle who used to live in Dubai, I spent most of my time at the beach or the waterparks. We also weren't clear on where we wanted to live in Dubai, so we cast our net wider.

Persons: Harrison Granger, —, I'd, Brit who's, wasn't, we'd, I've, haven't, they'll, We've Organizations: Service, United Arab, of, Dubai Marina, Dubai Production City, Dubai Locations: Maidstone, England, Dubai, Kent, United Arab Emirates, of England, It's, There's, Irish

☆ An Australian couple bought land on an Indonesian island and built a luxury hotel. Here's how they did it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Two Australians, Jess and Daniel Baldock, bought a plot on the Indonesian island of Sumba. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn April 2018, Jess and Daniel Baldock flew from their native Australia to the Indonesian island of Sumba — and never left. He encouraged Jess Baldock to buy a plot of land, sight unseen, in the beachside village of Kerewe, which is surrounded by mangroves and waterfalls. "The only time we left the site was on everyone's lunch break or after work," Jess Baldock said. Some walls were built, knocked down, and rebuilt until workers reached the standard that Daniel Baldock knew they needed to achieve.

Persons: Jess, Daniel Baldock, —, Jess Baldock, who'd, Jess Baldock's, You'd, Alamayah Jess Baldock Organizations: Service, Investors Locations: Indonesian, Sumba, Australia, beachside, Kerewe, Melbourne, Mongol, kayaked, England, France, Tasmania, Indonesia, Bali, Java

☆ I converted a sheep barn into an Airbnb with $2,000. Now, I manage over 100 listings. Here's how I grew my business and weathered the Airbnb apocalypse.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Jamie Inlow saw the Airbnb potential of her neighbor's sheep barn, and the two went into business. A property Inlow manages in Charlottesville, Virginia. In late 2020, the business took a real shift when a local real estate agent sent me a DM on Instagram. My partner and I run this Airbnb business full timeI didn't leave my consultancy job until July 2022 as my husband and I were also building our family home. The stylish interior of a Be Still Getaways property.

Persons: Jamie Inlow, Inlow, —, Airbnb, influencers, messaged, who'd, I'm, Inlow's, We're, we've Organizations: Service, Be, Appalachian State University, Facebook, House Locations: Scottsville , Virginia, Scottsville, Charlottesville , Virginia, Staunton , Virginia, Instagram

☆ A couple left Miami and downsized to a tiny home in a Georgia forest. They found happiness through building more tiny homes in their backyard and renting them on Airbnb.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

John and Fin Kernohan are Airbnb hosts who rent out eight units in their backyard in Georgia. They live in a tiny cabin on the property and built a community around tiny living. The tiny firehouse, tiny houses, yurts, and domes that they rent out range from $99 to $148 a night. They went on to build a tiny firehouse on wheels to take to fundraising events to raise money for firefighters. "What I love most about living in the Beloved Cabin is how simple your life is," she said.

Persons: John, Fin, —, Fin Kernohan, wasn't, John Kernohan, They'd, didn't, they'd, Rocco, they've, who's, They're Organizations: Service, Tiny, Tiny House Association, United Tiny, Facebook Locations: Georgia, Miami, London, Lake Oconee, Zillow, Thailand, Moroccan, Atlanta, Vietnam, South Korea

☆ I throw parties at sea for a living. Here's what it's like sailing the world as a cruise director for Royal Caribbean.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I was then promoted to activities manager, and in 2020, I became Royal Caribbean's second-youngest cruise director on Spectrum of the Seas. People may think of a cruise ship as a mode of transportation to a different country, but really, it's another destination. We regularly throw big parties onboard, but one of the most memorable parties was when the Spectrum of the Seas was christened in 2019 by the actress Angelababy in Shanghai. My favorite port is BarcelonaThe cruise port is at the bottom of Las Ramblas, a large boulevard that runs through the city. Do you work on a cruise ship and want to share your story?

Persons: Bonnie Bai, I've, Angelababy, we're, I'm, there's, Lauryn Haas Organizations: Royal Caribbean's, Service, Royal, Royal Caribbean, Entertainment Locations: Barcelona, Wall, Silicon, Dalian, China, Royal Caribbean, Caribbean, Singapore, Shanghai, Champagne, Japan, Osaka, it's, Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, lhaas@insider.com

☆ How a couple turned a plot of land on the island of Sumba into a 4-level resort with suites and villas that go for up to $1,100 a night
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Fabrice and Eve Ivara bought a plot of land in 2017 on the wild island of Sumba in Indonesia. Guests can stay in suites and villas on the beach at Cap Karoso for up to $1,100 a night. "I didn't speak any of it at the time, so I learned my speech by heart," Eve Ivara said. They hired a luxury-travel public-relations company to work with the media, and Eve Ivara curated the Instagram page. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Our guests have already done things we haven't yet had the chance to do, as we've been so busy," Eve Ivara said.

Persons: Fabrice, Eve Ivara, Eve, Fabrice Ivara, Moët Hennessy, they'd, Ivara, we'd, Karoso, Gary Fell, Fell, Cap Karoso, couldn't, Philippe Guiglionda, De, lockdowns, we've Organizations: Karoso, Service, KPMG, GFAB Architects, Design Locations: Sumba, Indonesia, Wall, Silicon, France, Spain, Norway, Bali, Seminyak, Maldives, Paris, British, London, Singapore, Indonesian, Karoso, Asia

☆ A couple hasn't paid for flights since 2018 and lives in homes for free. Here's how they quit their corporate jobs for house-sitting gigs all over the world.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Marco Ilagan, 42, and Fran Cassaniti, 30, left their jobs at Accenture to travel in 2018. The couple live in other people's homes for free in return for looking after their pets. The couple needed to look after a dog and a cockatiel called Tweetie who would fly free around the house. They also spent four months looking after two relaxed German Shepherds in a beach retreat in Grenada, as the retired owners would go sailing during the winter months. They are currently driving it in Costa Rica, where they will spend the next four months looking after two dogs and ticking off those goals they created.

Persons: Marco Ilagan, Fran Cassaniti, Ilagan, they'd, Instagram, Cassaniti, Tweetie, They've, they've, hasn't Organizations: Accenture, Service, Thrones Locations: Wall, Silicon, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chicago , Illinois, India, Thailand, Brazil, Krabi, Philippines, Hawaii, Anchorage , Alaska, TrustedHousesitters, Utah, Grenada, Chicago, Florida, Scotland, Inveraray, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, England, Ireland, Europe, America, Cozumel , Mexico, Mexico, US, Texas, Belize, Costa Rica

☆ A father-son duo built 2 vacation homes on a remote Australian island that rent for $6,200 a night — and Chris Hemsworth was their first guest
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Michael and Timmy Maxwell run Island House on Lord Howe Island, Australia. "Even before I got to the shore, I was completely in love with the island," Maxwell told Insider. Courtesy of Island HouseThe Maxwells completed the South House and the North House and opened them as Island House in October 2020. "As Chris Hemsworth is famously a pretty large guy, when he saw Island House, he said, 'OK, this is my kind of place.'" Timmy Maxwell's partner, Cecile, also runs an Instagram account to market Island House, which is open from September to May each year.

Persons: Michael, Timmy Maxwell, Chris Hemsworth, Michael Maxwell, Lord, he'd, Maxwell, Howe, Timmy, Lord Howe, you've, they'd, Michael Maxwell liaised, Ken, Timmy Maxwell's, Cecile, who'd Organizations: Service, UNESCO —, Tourism Australia, North, House Locations: Howe, Australia, Wall, Silicon, Lord Howe, Sydney, North, Denmark, Hemsworth

☆ I became a superyacht chef without any formal training. Here's how I turned my hobby into cooking for celebrities like Pharrell Williams while traveling the world.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Since then, I've worked on 20 different superyachts in Asia, in the Caribbean, and in the Mediterranean. The yachts I've worked on have personal submarines, helipads, and spas. Dinner reservations can fall through, or once they get to the restaurant, the yacht owners may decide the vibes are off and that they no longer want to eat there. But I don't just cook for the owners, the guests, and the crew — sometimes, I cook for the owner's pets. I get my jobs through word of mouth, but to help people who are starting out to connect with other yacht chefs, I launched thesuperyachtchef.com in 2019.

Persons: Rachel Cunningham, Niki Lauda, Pharrell Williams, she'd, I've, I'd, wouldn't, must've, documentarian, Barts, Jeong Kwan, I'm Organizations: Service, Michelin, Netflix, Rachel Cunningham Chefs Locations: Asia, Caribbean, Wall, Silicon, Europe, Australia, Palma, Mallorca, Spain, France, London, Bluewater, Florida, Monaco, Seychelles, Bali, Malta, LordHenriVoton, Miami, Alaska, St, Devon, South Korea, Japan, Antigua

☆ I'm a former Navy SEAL who protects rich people on vacation. I've taken them everywhere from French Polynesia to Mt. Everest.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I used to move US Special Forces troops around Iraq and Afghanistan. As a Navy SEAL, I was awarded a Bronze Star Medal in Iraq and a Bronze Star with V for Valor in Afghanistan. While our services are expensive, we can make our clients' travel insurance cheaper. We protect the family, but we can also protect the yacht's contents — some of our client's yachts have multi-million-dollar art collections on board. If we have a guest who has never skydived before, we'll hook them up with a Special Forces instructor.

Persons: Servius, —, They've, — we've, We've, we'll, we're, he's Organizations: Navy SEAL, Special Forces, Service, Valor, Monaco, Navy, Rangers, Marines, Everest Base, ex, extractions Locations: Iraq, Afghanistan, Polynesia, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, South Africa, Miami, South America

☆ A couple bought a crumbling 700-year-old medieval farmstead and turned it into a fairytale retreat where guests can stay in treehouses overlooking the English countryside
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A classified ad for a dilapidated 12th-century farmhouse with a medieval tithe barn immediately caught her eye. Rainwater running through the roofA farmer had lived in the three-bedroom house until the moment the couple took the keys. "I don't know how, as it was in such a state of disrepair," Nicki Beavan said. Giving a medieval barn a new lease on lifeThe tithe barn before renovations. The tithe barn took four years to complete, and they now hire it out for weddings.

☆ I'm a butler on a luxury cruise where tickets cost up to $150K. I've traveled to Antarctica and enjoyed perks like submarine rides — here's what my job is like.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nehad Popovic, the cruise butler for the Scenic Eclipse. Since then, I've traveled to the Arctic and Antarctica, among other destinations, as a cruise butler. Scenic EclipseI started as a steward on fairy-tale river cruises across EuropeIn September 2014, I applied to Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours to be a restaurant steward on its river cruises. In March 2015, I started stewarding the river cruises for Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours. Moving from steward to butler gave me more opportunitiesAfter two years as a steward, I was promoted to cruise butler.

☆ 6 essential tips for surviving long flights, from a former Air Force pilot who now flies one of the longest commercial flights in the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Emirates pilot Yusri Abu Bakar used to be in the Singapore Air Force before switching to commercial. He now flies an A380, piloting one of the longest flights in the world from Dubai to New Zealand. A former Republic of Singapore Air Force pilot, Yusri Abu Bakar pivoted from flying an F-16 fighter jet to an A380 as a commercial pilot for Emirates airline out of Dubai, where he is based. Yusri flies this long-haul flight two or three times a month, in line with regulations regarding how many hours a pilot can fly a month. Pack noise-canceling headphones and an eye maskPacking a well-thought-out carry-on can improve your long-haul flight experience, Yusri said.

☆ I made $2 million in revenue selling my study notes. Here's how I grew my business into merch, brand deals, and YouTube.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Beggs now works full time as an ER nurse at UCLA, posts on YouTube and TikTok, and runs her store. Here's how I expanded my business from selling notes to creating merchandise, working with brands, and filming YouTube content. As I created more notes, I started selling bundles on similar topics from $20 to $40 each. Expanding my offeringsOnce I'd completed all the study notes, I started to think about what else nurses might need. I also launched an Amazon storefront filled with nursing products, and I get a percentage of the sale if anyone uses my link.

☆ The 14-slide pitch deck a Los Angeles-based fintech startup used to raise $10 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Users can borrow up to $1,000 each time, and they have the option to tip the lender and SoLo Funds. It showcases how simple the SoLo Funds design is, how borrowers have control, and how they set their own terms." After meeting the SoLo Funds team, he invested $1.6 million. SoLo Funds now has more than 100 employees and is a registered B Corp. Here's the original pitch deck that the team used to raise a $1.2 million pre-seed round, which led to raising $10 million in January 2021.

☆ I quit my job as a nurse to house-sit — and I've now lived rent-free in LA, Portugal, Costa Rica, and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Costa Rica and Mexico were the top two. We booked a trip to Costa Rica, but in March 2020, the pandemic hit and all our travel plans were put on hold. We checked out the site, and we typed in "Costa Rica" when it asked "Where do you want to go?" So far, we've stayed in 10 homes in landscapes as varied as the desert of Palm Springs and the jungle of Costa Rica. Our first house-sit was at a jungle casita in Costa Rica, where we looked after a little rescue dogIt proved to be one of our favorites.

☆ I started an Instagram fan page for luxury watches and turned it into an $8 million resale business — here's how
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

He launched the company in 2020 and opened a brick-and-mortar store in a mall in Hong Kong in 2021. When I was being interviewed by Hypebeast in Hong Kong, I met my future cofounder and ecommerce expert Sean Wong. By July 2020, Sean had left his job, and I'd moved to Hong Kong to launch the brand. The Wristcheck store in the Landmark Atrium mall in Hong Kong. By November 2022, we'd raised $8 million, with our lead investors being Gobi Partners, who manage the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Investment Fund.

☆ I'm a general manager on a $450-million cruise ship. I'm on duty 24 hours but it's worth it to travel the world in a floating 5-star hotel.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He is now the general manager for the $450-million Regent Seven Seas Explorer. Now I'm the general manager on the $450-million Regent Seven Seas Explorer. Courtesy of Six Star CruisesThe first time I joined a cruise ship crew was in Los Angeles in May 1997. I worked on MSC Cruises for four years until I became food and beverage director for Regent Seven Seas in 2014. In December 2021, I was promoted to general manager for Regent Seven Seas Explorer.

☆ I'm a general manager on a $450 million cruise ship. I'm on duty 24 hours a day, but it's worth it to travel the world in a floating 5-star hotel.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He is now the general manager for the $450 million Regent Seven Seas Explorer. Now I'm the general manager on the $450 million Regent Seven Seas Explorer. The Regent Seven Seas Explorer is called "the world's most luxurious" by the cruise line. I worked on MSC Cruises for four years until I became the food-and-beverage director for Regent Seven Seas in 2014. In December 2021, I was promoted to general manager for Regent Seven Seas Explorer.

☆ These van-lifers stay in scenic mansions for free as traveling house-sitters — here's how
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Danielle Gross and Gunnar Michels got married as strangers on TikTok on Valentine's Day in 2021. Michels posted a video on TikTok for a stranger to be his bride and selected Gross from around 1,000 responses. Courtesy of Danielle Gross and Gunnar Michels"The house was absolutely gorgeous," Gross said. "We pull up with our ambulance and then we slowly bring our belongings into the house," Michels said. Courtesy of Danielle Gross and Gunnar MichelsMichels and Gross said horse-sitting at another house was a breeze.

☆ I quit teaching after 20 years to open an ice-pop franchise. I make $150,000 more a year and work fewer hours.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

She now owns the rights to sell Frios gourmet ice pops at $4 each in parts of Georgia. At the end of that summer, I took a trip to the Frios gourmet ice-pop store she told me about. I used my savings to buy the Frios territory for my townFrios ice pops. I also bought a refrigerated cart and 1,000 ice pops that I stored in a new freezer I bought for my home. I opened my second Frios store on May 7, 2022, in Auburn, Alabama, which my sister now runs.

☆ An architect bought a crumbling 19th-century French château and restored it to match the original owners' plans. Now you can rent it for up to $600 a night — see inside.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Sibylle Thomke, a Swiss architect, bought a 19th-century château in France with her savings in 2017. Sibylle Thomke. "You could buy a three-bedroom apartment in Zurich for the price that I paid for this property," Thomke said. "My biggest concern was how to make sense of the château," Thomke said. As they offer the luxury of a dinner service four nights a week at the château, Thomke chose not to place it on Airbnb.

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