Here’s a dream summer day in Los Angeles:
9 a.m.: Pick up your Jeep Wrangler with the top off, throw your bags and the dog in the back, and hit the road.
10:30 a.m.: You arrive at Malibu Beach, hop on your electric hydrofoil and spend the morning literally flying over the ocean waves.
3 p.m.: After a couple of hours chilling on the beach, you head inland to a private oasis where your dog can run around in complete privacy.
4:30 p.m.: While the doggy naps, you cool off swimming laps in a pristine, private pool complete with a manmade lagoon and waterfall.
8:30 p.m.: You drive up into the starlit canyons to pitch your tent on a stunning private coastal ranch or secluded farm plot, far from the crowds at the public parks.
If you bought all this stuff yourself, it would cost more than a million bucks—houses with nice pools aren’t cheap around here—but you can experience that exact million-dollar summer itinerary for around $470. Welcome to your “asset-light luxury” summer: Thanks to the peer-to-peer rental economy, you can have a rich person’s summer for very little money.
Where to rent a peer-to-peer boat
They say the two best days of a boater’s life are the day they buy their boat and the day they sell it, but you can bypass the endless hassle and expense of boat ownership with boat rentership through Boatsetter. This P2P boat rental app lets you rent everything from a jet boat to a 106-foot yacht. Pro tip: Boatsetter allows renters to hire a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain as part of the rental, too; but if you’re a DIY person, you can get a boating license here.
Where to rent a peer-to-peer dream car
If you’re taking a road trip this summer, Turo is the spot for renting your summertime dream car. Whether you want to drive to the mountain in a new Jeep or cruise the beach in an old Mercury Meteor, you can probably find it on Turo. It’s so much cooler than that beige, baseline minivan from Alamo. Pro tip: Scroll down to the “extras” section; some Turo hosts offer add-on packages with things like beach chairs and coolers.
Where to rent a peer-to-peer pool
I love the idea of Swimply. Swimming in someone else’s pool is just better than the hassle of having your own. It’s really easy to do: Just enter your address and check out what pools you can swim in for a fee. They have everything from above-ground pools in someone’s backyard to exotic manmade lagoons with waterfalls. Pro Tip: Look for the “Instant Book” lightning bolt icon. Many hosts require up to 24 hours of notice to review your request, but “Instant Book” listings let you lock down a spot immediately. Perfect for “I gotta get in some water, now!” moments.
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Where to rent a peer-to-peer recreational vehicle
Maybe you like camping but hate being uncomfortable. If so, you can have a recreational vehicle without dropping $60,000. RVShare connects you directly with local owners who are willing to hand over the keys to their luxury Class A motorhomes, nimble Class B campervans, or classic towable Airstreams. Pro-tip: If you want to skip the driving anxiety of piloting one of these barges, many hosts offer a delivery service so you can have your Winnebago dropped off at the campground.
Where to rent a peer-to-peer private campsite
If you’ve ever tried to rent a campsite from a state or national park, you’ve no doubt said, “There must be a better way;” enter, Hipcamp, the Airbnb of camping. Hipcamp connects you with people who own land and will rent it to you for camping, so you can pitch your tent on a coastal estate or just some dude’s backyard. Pro-tip: Many Hipcamp hosts offer hyper-local add-ons like fresh eggs from their chicken coops.
Where to rent peer-to-peer adventure gear
If you’re going on vacation and you need a bike, board, or scooter, don’t bring it from home, and definitely don’t ride those clunky cruisers that came with the Airbnb. Check out FriendWithA first. Along with power tools and cameras, you can “borrow” all kinds of fun things, like e-bikes, golf clubs, stand-up paddleboards, or a “high-performance” pogo stick. Pro-tip: Every rental on FriendWithA includes up to $10,000 in property protection (and up to $125,000 for higher-value gear) so you don’t need to worry about wrecking that expensive gravel bike.
Where to rent a peer-to-peer dog park
“Airbnb for dogs” sounds like a joke about the glory days of Silicon Valley, but it’s a real app where you can rent backyards, pools, and dog amusement parks, so your furry pal can enjoy some off-the-leash entertainment. Pro-tip: The more I think about Sniffspot, the less ridiculous it seems, especially if your doggy doesn’t play well with other dogs.
Where to rent peer-to-peer fashion
The last time I rented clothing was my senior prom, but if you need the perfect outfit for a summer wedding or rooftop cocktail party, don’t drop $400 on a new dress. Instead, check out Pickle, the breakout app for peer-to-peer clothing rentals. Pro-tip: If you’re traveling to New York, Los Angeles, or Miami for a formal occasion, Pickle offers a courier service to have that designer dress dropped right at your hotel room.
