Who We Are
A Haven Away is a small portfolio of vacation rentals run by Blair, Nadia (and toddler Miral!), a family team who love to travel almost as much as we love designing and hosting. Several of our homes started out as our own, which is exactly why they're so well equipped — comfortable, well-stocked, and ready for you to settle in the moment you arrive. We're committed to creating exceptional guest experiences and paying attention to the details that make a stay feel effortless. We also know what it's like to travel with kids in tow and a dog who needs a yard, so finding (and creating) places that welcome the whole family is personal to us.
Our Story
A Haven Away began the way most good stories do — almost by accident. Blair started hosting his apartment in Washington, DC back in 2012, not long after Airbnb itself got off the ground, and quickly discovered he loved welcoming travelers into his home. Years later, after Nadia moved to Pakistan and the two were married, they opened their own home there to guests in 2020 — and that's when hosting turned from a side project into something they wanted to build together.
A Haven Away officially launched in 2021, and many of our homes started out exactly the way you'd guess: as our own. We lived in them, renovated them from the bottom up — new flooring, paint, artwork, lighting — and filled them with the things that make a house feel like home. Because we love to cook, well-equipped kitchens are a priority in every home. Each property has its own personality and inspiration: our beach homes draw subtle influence from time spent in Southeast Asia, while our West Virginia retreat takes its cues from African safaris. We aim to create spaces that feel welcoming, memorable, and just far enough removed from everyday life to help you truly unwind. If you want to see the before-and-afters, they're all on Instagram at @ahavenaway.
Somewhere along the way, our family grew to include a toddler and Pasha, our Yorkie — and that changed how we think about hosting. We know how hard it can be to find a getaway that's actually relaxing when you're working around a nap schedule or trying to find somewhere that'll take the dog. So we built our homes, and choose our amenities, with exactly that kind of traveler in mind.
These days we split our time between Mauritius, the UK, and the US, which means we lean heavily on our wonderful local team — Karen and Beth — to keep things running smoothly. But no matter where in the world we are, we're hands-on with every stay. Nothing is too much trouble, and we genuinely go out of our way to make sure every guest has an incredible time — not because we have to, but because we care. Honestly? Reading a glowing review from a happy traveler never gets old. It's still the best part of doing this.
Blair&Nadia
Blair is the one transforming the outdoors: the landscaping, the fire pits and hot tubs, the outdoor seating areas guests love. He also stocks every kitchen and is constantly adding the thoughtful touches that make a home feel cared-for. By day he leads Accountability Lab, a non-profit working with the next generation of leaders worldwide. His easygoing, generous nature sets the tone for how we host: warmly, attentively, and without much fuss.
Nadia is Pakistani-American, raised in Tennessee — which explains her enduring love of country music, small towns, and all things Southern. At A Haven Away she handles the interiors: the bold color palettes, the artwork, the design choices that make our homes feel layered and lived-in rather than staged. A South Asian love of color that has no patience for beige — and it shows in every painted wall. She volunteers for The Citizens Foundation, a non-profit that builds schools in villages across Pakistan, and she's usually the one fielding a "just checking in!" message from a guest, wherever in the world she happens to be.
As one guest put it, they're "superduper hosts" — and they'll take it.
Follow along (and catch the before-and-afters) at @ahavenaway.
