The Rise of the Anywhere Class - Why Modern Travelers Are Choosing Homes Over Hotels for Extended Stays

Over the last 25 years in luxury hospitality, we’ve had a front-row seat to how people travel, and we can tell you with confidence that something fundamental has changed. When we first got into this business, especially here in Wine Country, travelers often arrived with a checklist in hand and a race against the clock. Two nights in town. Multiple wineries in a single day. Dinner reservations stacked back-to-back. Maybe a spa treatment squeezed in between tastings if there was time. The goal was simple: see as much as possible, as quickly as possible.

And honestly? By the time many guests checked out, they were exhausted.

They had technically “done” Wine Country, but they hadn’t really experienced it.

Over the last several years, we began noticing a very different kind of traveler emerging. Guests started staying longer. Three nights became five. Five nights became ten. And more importantly, travelers stopped asking, “How much can we fit in?” and started asking a much better question: “How deeply can we connect?” Instead of rushing through multiple wineries in a day, guests now might spend an entire afternoon with one producer. Tastings that used to last an hour now stretch to three or four. Conversations get deeper. Meals last longer. Hikes replace packed itineraries. Farmers markets, neighborhood coffee shops, local trails, and quiet evenings on the porch begin to matter just as much as the marquee attractions.

That’s when we realized something bigger was happening.

At The Joes, we had been watching a different kind of traveler quietly emerge, one who didn’t fit infinitely into the old categories of vacationer, business traveler, or second-home owner. These people move differently. They travel differently. And perhaps most importantly, they experience places differently. Long before there was a name for it, we saw it happening. Because The Joes was built by hospitality people who understand not just where travel has been, but where it’s going, we decided it was time to put words around what we were seeing.

We call it the Anywhere Class.

And we believe The Joes is helping pioneer this movement.

The Anywhere Class is not defined by age, career, income, or status. It’s not an exclusive club reserved for the ultra-wealthy, retirees, or people with endless free time. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite. The Anywhere Class is inclusive. It’s a mindset. It’s for anyone willing to challenge the old idea that life, work, and travel all have to happen separately. It’s for people who are beginning to realize that maybe they don’t have to wait until retirement to spend a month somewhere inspiring. Maybe they don’t have to save meaningful travel for one big vacation a year. Maybe with a little creativity, a little flexibility, and a willingness to think differently, they can start living richer experiences right now.

More and more, we’re seeing people realize they can stay longer. They can work remotely. They can take the deeper dive. They can experience a place in a way most travelers never do. They can get creative with their time. They can stack a week or two of remote work with vacation time. They can take a project from somewhere beautiful instead of from their kitchen table. And yes, they can absolutely do this.

Maybe that means working from a vineyard in Healdsburg. Maybe it means spending a month in Napa. Maybe it means trying out a mountain town, a beach town, or a city you’ve always dreamed about but never gave yourself enough time to truly know. Suddenly, a long weekend becomes a month. A quick trip becomes a chapter. And a destination becomes a place that actually starts to feel like part of your story.

What we’ve found is that the people who travel this way almost always come back happier, more grounded, healthier, and more fulfilled. They stop trying to do more and instead start feeling more. They begin to realize that the richest travel experiences don’t happen when you race through a destination. They happen when you finally give yourself enough time to settle in, connect, and live.

And with that kind of travel comes a very practical realization: hotels, as much as we love them, simply weren’t designed for this lifestyle.

A beautifully designed 500-square-foot hotel room may feel exciting for two nights, but when your stay becomes a week, two weeks, or a month, your needs change. When you join the Anywhere Class, you’re not just traveling, you’re living. You need a real kitchen, not room service menus and takeout containers. You need a dedicated workspace, not a laptop balanced on the edge of a bed. You need a deep closet, a washer and dryer, room to unpack not just your suitcase, but your life. You need outdoor space that’s yours - a porch for morning coffee, a patio for sunset wine, a backyard where the dog can run, or simply a quiet place to recharge.

When you’re blending everyday life with deeper, more experiential travel, these things are no longer luxuries. They’re not optional. They’re essential.

That’s exactly why more travelers are turning to 30+ day rentals, monthly rentals, furnished rentals, and thoughtfully curated midterm rentals instead of traditional hotels for extended stays. Because the Anywhere Class doesn’t just need a place to sleep. They need a place to live.

And that’s exactly why we built The Joes. We didn’t build this platform for rushed weekends or generic vacation rentals. We built it for people who want to stay long enough to actually belong. For travelers who want to connect with local communities, build routines, discover hidden trails, find their favorite neighborhood coffee shop, and experience what it truly feels like to live somewhere, not just visit. 

We believe this isn’t a niche travel trend. We believe it’s the future of travel. And we believe the future belongs to the Anywhere Class. 

And our challenge to you is simple: now that you know, you know. Stop telling yourself why you can’t be part of the Anywhere Class, and start asking yourself how you can. That one shift in mindset can be transformative - opening doors, creating deeper experiences, and unlocking possibilities you may have never even considered. 

Now we want to hear from you.

If you truly had the freedom to live anywhere for the next 30 days, where would you go first and why?

Drop your answer in the comments. Tell us your story. Tell us what’s holding you back or what’s inspiring you to take the leap.

Because chances are… you may already be closer to joining the Anywhere Class than you think.