While some think this floating tiki hut would be the epitome of relaxation, others have compared it to "the start of a horror movie."
@outsidewithanya/TikTokGuests have to take a boat just to get to the Airbnb in Key West’s Man of War Harbor.
Unique Airbnbs have become their own genre of internet content. Someone finds an unconventional but picturesque listing like a treehouse, boathouse, or igloo, and it goes viral. An Airbnb in Florida is currently sparking debate online, with some people saying it would be beautiful in the daytime — but there’s no way they’d stick around once it starts to get dark.
In the viral video, content creator Lizzie (@lizziedaydream) shows a bungalow entirely surrounded by open water off the coast of Key West, Florida.
“This is your sign to book a floating tiki Airbnb in the middle of the ocean,” she says in the text overlay.
In the video, there are chairs out front to enjoy the view, a hammock to sway in, and dolphins gliding past in the distance. There’s no dry land in sight. “Yes we did have to take a boat to get here. Forever changed by this Airbnb!” the caption reads.
But not everyone is rushing to book the non-conventional stay.
A Floating Tiki Hut Off The Coast Of Key West
The property is listed on Airbnb as “Tiki Suites ~ Original Tiki ~ Private Water Stay,” and it’s described as a houseboat in Key West. Prices for an overnight stay range from $600 to $900.
While the hut does have air conditioning and a full bathroom, the host describes it as off-the-grid living, similar to camping. Guests are asked to use power and water thoughtfully, since it’s in limited supply, and to bring their own food, drinks, and essentials.
Two paddle boards are included, and guests can expect to see dolphins, manatees, rays, and schools of tropical fish passing beneath the structure on any given day.
Of course, getting to the property requires a boat. While some may see this as a perk — the pinnacle of peace and serenity — others have questioned just how safe such a stay could really be.
@outsidewithanya/TikTokThe interior of the houseboat, which costs between $600 and $900 per night.
The TikTok video has more than 3,200 comments, and they’re split.
Many commenters brought up The Requin, a 2022 horror film in which a couple’s overwater bungalow is destroyed by a storm, and they’re left to survive shark attacks in the open ocean. “Not trying to live out The Requin movie,” one user wrote. “After watching The Requin, I’ll pass,” another said.
Some viewers were preoccupied with their fear of open water. “People who aren’t afraid of the ocean amaze me,” one commenter wrote. Another noted that the stay would be relaxing “until a boat with no lights on pulls up next to you at 4 a.m.”
“During the day? Very fun. Overnight? Nah,” one user concluded.
Why This Type Of Listing Keeps Going Viral
While unique, this tiki hut isn’t just a quirky one-off. It’s part of a broader shift in how people are traveling and what they’re willing to pay for.
According to AirDNA, which tracks rental market data, the number of non-conventional stay listings on Airbnb grew by 123 percent between 2020 and 2024, rising from roughly 25,000 listings to nearly 56,000. In 2021 alone, unique properties earned hosts nearly $1 billion. Among the most popular stays of this kind were campers or RVs, tiny houses, farms, campsites, tents, barns, yurts, nature lodges, treehouses, and boats.
AirbnbThe view from the remote Airbnb in the Florida Keys.
Airbnb has leaned hard into the trend, launching its OMG! category in 2022. This is a dedicated section for its most unusual listings, and they backed it with a $10 million fund, offering 100 people $100,000 grants to design and build new one-of-a-kind properties.
Condé Nast Traveler reported in 2026 that over half of poll respondents said a unique listing would inspire them to visit a destination they hadn’t previously considered, and 86 percent expressed interest in visiting remote or rural destinations.
It’s worth noting that Florida’s most wish-listed Airbnb overall, according to that same Condé Nast Traveler roundup, is also a Key West houseboat.
@itslivinglizzie yes we did have to take a boat to get here 🚤🏝️ forever changed by this Airbnb! #uniqueairbnb #airbnbfinds #floridakeys #travelinspo #couplestrip
After reading about the floating tiki hut Airbnb in Key West that’s going viral, learn about another Key West curiosity: Robert the haunted doll. Then, explore Point Nemo, the most remote place on the planet.
