What essentials do you appreciate in an airbnb

[Holidayscoming]

We got a place we rent as an airbnb. What sort of things you like to find when you get there. What make it a top review.

We usually spot our guests on arrival, and if they're early we take their luggage so they can go into town, and/or offer them coffee at our place if the BnB is not quite ready. It's always ready on time, but people often turn up two hours early!

We also don't really have any rules, and zero expectations or charges for cleaning. We expect it to be left a mess, and see that as part of our job. We have a working small holding so they get eggs, veg, fruit and milk delivered throughout the stay from our land, if they want it.

People often take an interest in our small farm, and love seeing where the produce comes from. We regularly have guests kids chasing the chickens around, and they even get a bit of free childcare from us, as our kids invariably play with the guests kids. It takes subtle watching of boundaries and expectations to get it just right though. Some people totally want to be left alone, which is great too.

The right number of mugs and glasses - ie, if it sleeps 8, there are at least 10 of everything. Wine glasses at minimum, and preferably champagne flutes too now that prosecco is so ubiquitous.

Seating for the number of people likely to be there. I go away in a group of 6 adults quite often, and the number of living rooms where there’s only seating for 4, or it’s arranged with a group of sofa and armchair at one end of the room and another sofa miles back so you can’t actually sit in a group is ridiculous. Doesn’t tend to be a problem with dining tables/outdoor tables, but it definitely is with living room furniture.

Don’t tell people to clean the whole place for you. Doing your dishes/taking the bins out is fine, but I’ve stayed in places where they expect you to hoover. I’m also not keen on stripping beds, but not sure if that’s reasonable.

Oh, and a dustpan and brush! I’ve dropped a glass before or knocked over a packet of cereal, and sometimes you just can’t find anything to clean up.

Clear WiFi instructions and good WiFi. Plenty of dishwasher tablets to cover the stay, kitchen paper, tea towels and a cleaning sponge, toilet paper, a few bin bags.

Plugs near mirrors.

We’ve just stayed in the best cottage, they’d thought of everything!

They had framed pictures on the walls explaining the history of the village and house.

They’d got neatly stored away leaflets and OS maps for the local area.

In the kitchen there was cleaning sprays, tea towels, foil, cling film, bags, clips for bags etc. Handwash in every bathroom and kitchen. A tassimo machine with pods, dishwasher tablets, usb plugs, spare charging leads.

A key safe is brilliant so you don’t have to wait for the key holder to arrive to let you in. Our owner seemed to love a label maker! There were little instructions stuck on most things eg switches for various things.

They had a user friendly thermostat as well so it was easy to boost the heating.

They also had a cupboard filled with condiments, herbs, oils, tea bags. They had also left a small bottle of milk in the fridge too.

In the kitchen there was a big whiteboard where previous guests could leave their recommendations for places to eat out or pin up leaflets and cards.

In the cupboard under the stairs they had a cordless dyson in its charging station, so easy to just lift off and use.

The essential to me is its sale so it can be a full time home for someone. Unless something such as renting it out for a week or two for a local large event, or just one room whilst the hosts are in the home.

People are saying milk but that could be a minefield I have soya my partner cows for instance. for just a welcome you can get those mini pots like hotels have they sell them on Amazon so if people want them they are there if not they will not spoil
decent towels and maybe some travel size toiletries like shower gel soap etc
a welcome pack vase of flowers maybe a few local products like a cake or biscuits
a folder with where to go actually up to date not advertising things with no longer exist or dirty creased dog eared leaflets.

Toilet paper, dishwasher tablets, coffee

If it's family friendly then a bobby basic high chair and travel cot would be amazing. Last place I stayed at had all kinds and it made our trip! Bouncers and everything. Very happy

Nespresso machine with a decent number of capsules including decaf
Tea bags
Olive oil
Cooking oil
Salt
Pepper
Ketchup
Enough toilet paper, kitchen roll and tea towels

Appliances that work and don't need complex instructions. If it's not genuinely idiot proof then leave the instructions somewhere they can easily be found.

If it's the type of place families will rent then get one of those cheap IKEA high chairs.

That's fine so long as it is all removed for people who don't need it, we stayed somewhere that had an awkward stairgate (if you left it open it was across one of the bedroom doors), one of those Ikea high chairs cluttering up the kitchen and a travel cot taking up most of the hall cupboard, all of these things were of no use to us and in the way.

To get a Top review: being very responsive to any issues, very clean ,exactly as described.

If you try to meet every suggestion you'll end up being higher priced and then people have higher expectations to get that higher review, so safer to not provide everything but do be specific and responsive (in plain English). Then you set expections in line with price they were willing to pay and provide good service.

Essential for me personally: Easy checkin, good comms.

Usually essential: Working WiFi, ideally with password stated in the checkin instructions. I tend to exclude the ones without WiFi. I also excluded one with no windows or outdoor space, too.

What I want most is for the place to match what it said it would have.

If the listing says quiet & kitchen & wifi... I want quiet and the others in working order. Although it's fine if owner not there even though they said they would be there, lol.

In general I like a microwave, a kettle, cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, a way to wash up, but not always essential.

breakfast, muesli
coffee tea sugar

we went to one that offered a mini bottle of wine
proper pint of milk
loved it

One we stayed in provided a welcome pack that contained local beer, eggs bacon and sausage with milk and a bottle of wine & a nice uncut loaf. There was also sharp knives, tea, coffee, washing up liquid and dishwasher tablets.

Superhost here with 3 properties, all over 4.8*

Honestly, it’s not the stuff, it’s the communication. My ratings are high because as well as offering a good product, my comms are excellent and I’ve usually built up a rapport with the guests before they arrive.

The 3 properties are very different but the same principle holds across all three. Warm and welcoming comms, simple instructions, and asking do they have any requests I can sort to make life easier.

If there is something not quite right (last week gardener didn’t turn up so the grass at one place was long) I highlight it straightaway and that usually heads off any complaints.

I also make any communication sort of personal too - like what’s going on nearby that week, or that there’s a birds’ nest by the summer house if you want to peep in etc.

And I listen to my gut. Without exception the people who are the biggest pains in the bum are the ones who ask endless detailed questions beforehand instead of just getting on with things. At the slightest whiff of trouble I report it to airbnb so it’s me that’s driving the narrative just in case there’s a retaliatory complaint.

All that said, maybe 3% of bookings are tricky. The rest are generally normal people and behave likewise.

Comfortable beds, all least one king size and a twin room. Good quality bedding and towels that actually dry you. A hair dryer, enough toilet rolls for the stay. Washing up liquid, enough dishwasher tablets for one a day, basics like oil, salt, pepper, tin foil. A sharp knife and knife sharpener. Proper mugs, wine glasses and water glasses. Enough comfortable seating in the sitting room for all guests. Plugs next to the bed so you can charge phones. If it’s somewhere that people are going to stay for more than a day or 2 then an empty cupboard so you have somewhere to put food.

No huge list of cleaning that needs to be done before you leave. Basic instructions for heating, WiFi and recycling.

It’s amazing to me how many accommodation providers in the UK don’t have a mirror with a power socket nearby.

I’ve stayed in many hotels and airbnbs where I’ve had to have someone stand there with a hand mirror so I can do my hair.

I find it pointless when an airbnb provides these "little extras" but didn't tell me in advance so I already sorted our sourcing and packing my own, only to arrive and find that not only was that wasted effort, but also the costs of providing those things have already been charged to me as part of the rental. So please, I beg you, whatever else you do please provide a list of "You don't need to bring:" items at the top of your arrivals information document where I will see it before I start packing.

I guess it's the sort of thing you don't think of unless you blowdry or straighten your hair, I don't so would never notice this. I like a plug by the bed so I can charge my watch and phone there though.

Thank you all. I am going to make a list with the things people mentioned the most.

Definitely lamps! Once stayed in a beautiful Airbnb but there was only the ‘big light’ in the living room. As we were there for 8 days, I went to Argos and bought a couple of super cheap lamps to use. 😂

No heaps of unnecessary cushions on the beds. They are just a nuisance and I stash them on the floor in a corner.

God, yes.

Why?

My request is that double beds are king sized and don't have a footboard. We are both tall.

Not listing it on Airbnb. heard so many horror stories and feel it isn't properly regulated so I won't use it to search for holiday properties.