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.

A decent check out time - why everyone insists on a morning check out of say 10 is beyond me. Getting packed up and having breakfast then tidying what you have used is a last day strain. No need for it.
Locks on bathroom doors if a larger house that friends may share
coffee machine with some pods. Tea/sugar
General cleanliness
if four pillows on a double bed, perhaps two slightly firmer and two softer so there is a choice

I always think it's lovely when there's a few things in the kitchen when you arrive like milk, eggs, butter, chocolate and bread so if you're arriving late you can at least make a cuppa and a sandwich or have breakfast.

Board games and dvds or Cds and a player for each in case of a wash out. A fire with wood etc for burning. I once went to a place where they had a book that went alongside the guest book and every guest took turns to continue a part of a story. Also went somewhere and they had a little charcoal drawing set and things for watercolour painting etc.

The main thing for me really is that it's really clean and bright, smells fresh and that the kitchen is well stocked with all the utensils you'd need. And no crazy list of rules - you want to be able to feel you can relax and it be your space while you're there.

Stairgates and high chair/cot and a safe outdoor space for little ones to play is ideal. And flexible check in/out times

A teapot
blackout blinds or curtains in bedrooms
sharp kitchen knives
oil and vinegar

Clean to high standards, including under the bed and behind the bed side tables. It's very unusual in a holiday place for these to be dust free!

Good pillows and at least 2 per person. We always read in bed and it's impossible with a single crappy pilow.

No.knick knacks and nothing on the bed that isn't washed for each new guest! Can't stand decorative throws and pillows!

Problem with a welcome pack is that you are never sure if you're going to get one or not, so I usually end up bringing milk / teabags etc so I don't arrive to nothing.

I miss cling film / foil when I don't have it, also kitchen roll.

• Very clean - that's the most important thing. By 'clean', I mean also clean the kitchen drawers and cabinets once in a while...
• Different pillow options. I have to travel with a pillow of my own, because NO places offer the option of an ergonomic pillow. I don't understand why, because it's not hard or expensive to just get different types of pillow people can choose from to suit their comfort
• WiFi code placed somewhere very obvious and clear - hate having to go on a treasure hunt to find it
• Basic ammenities - and enough of them. Like soap, dishwasher liquid, tabs for the dishwasher, hand towels, washing powder if there's a washing machine, kitchen cloths, washing up sponges and gloves, aluminium foil, clingfilm, frost bags, bin bags, toilet paper, more than enouch cutlery, plates, cups, glasses, pots, pans, and crockery in general. Can't tell you how many times I have experienced that hosts leave JUST enough cutlery for 4 people - I don't think it will break your bank to, maybe, double up. It just comes off super stingy and ungenerous, as cutlery, plates and cups are so cheap...
• No "welcome" bottle of wine - not everyone drinks alcohol, so a bottle of wine is useless. But also, after being stuck on an airplane for half a a day, a decent amount of bottles of still water in the fridge, and maybe some fresh fruits or salty treats, is MUCH more appreciated than alcohol
• A short list of recommended supermarkets, pharmacies, bakeries and coffee shops within very near proximity is always much appreciated

Oh, and make sure that the appliances you advertise that you have are actually plugged in and WORK! Otherwise, get rid of it.

This may be a controversial one, but don't go overboard on home fragrances or febreze the place, I end up sneezing at the waft of artificial scents and it makes me wonder what they're trying to cover up!

From a host point of view, I’ve found them absolutely far and away the best. I came off Booking.com because of their awful support and also the different expectations of their client group. Cottages.com - god only knows how they are still in business!

If you have a same day turnover, as we often do, every second counts! I allow for a late checkout if I can but sometimes there’s just no way. My checkout is 10, checkin is 3. That’s not long to do it all properly.

@FlatEricaits not a hotel! I would not expect nor do I provide in my Airbnb toiletries.
OP I do provide a welcome basket of milk, locally made cake/bread and butter. It’s not always appreciated.
Always provide plenty of toilet roll, washing up liquid, dishwasher and laundry pods, aluminium foil, cling film, basic condiments, tea and coffee. Tea towels, sponges, etc. Double the cutlery/dinnerware as max occupancy.
One set of towels per person, extras in cupboard if needed, ditto sheets in case of an accident. Specify if they need to bring their own pool/beach towels.

Not to mention it affecting allergy suffers!!

Also, accurate bed / sleeps listing. There seems to be an increasing trend of "sleeps 2, 2 beds" but only 1 double bed (and it's not a zip-link king). That is not 2 beds! It's 1 bed that sleeps 2 people! Sleeps 2, 2 beds, I'd expect to be 2 single beds.
King sized bed rather than double too please if your rooms are big enough.

@mondaytosunday what do you mean by "it's not always appreciated"? It's nice that you leave things but not everyone uses such items so leaving me milk and butter is just a waste of fresh food. We stayed in a rental property recently and they left us 2 bottles of local beer, a packet of nice biscuits and a large bag of nice crisps.....all of which we could take home if we didn't eat them over the weekend or could have been left for the next guests if we hadn't used them or taken them away with us.

I don’t mind so much what is and isn’t included, but it’s really helpful to know exactly what it is in advance. It’s annoying to not bring something you need, or to bring something and then find out it’s already provided.

Cleanliness. We stayed in an Air Bnb last year where the filters in the cooker extractor hood were filthy and made the whole place smell of stale grease, when the rest of the house was superficially clean.

No decorative cushions, pillows or throws on the beds please.

More than one chopping board, more than one tea towel, reasonable cooking knives.

I look forward homeliness in an Airbnb, so I like pictures on the wall, mood lighting, a few interesting ornaments, and books.

I check out the bed in the listing to see whether or not in looks comfy or not, ditto the sofa. So that's on me if they're not.

When I arrive, I like there to be milk in the fridge. I always take my own tea bags anyway, but if there are a few different ones, such as mint or chamomile, that's nice.

I always appreciate a bottle of wine or chocs or biscuits or whatever, but it's not a necessity.

I absolutely hate it when the place stinks of air fresheners, or too much lemony/beach cleaning fluids, or the beddings smells strongly of washing products. It needs to be clean but not disinfected.

Good communication and a flexible check in/out will get you a good review.

Make sure that both sides of the big bed have spare sockets for charging a mobile. Too many places have just one socket each side so you have to choose either a lamp or your mobile, not both. Add a multiplug if necessary.

Speaking of which, one of those charger wires that has an end for every type of chargable device would be great to find in an airbnb, it's a frequently-forgotten thing.

Enough empty space in a kitchen cupboard to take a supermarket shop of larder items needed for a few days of self-catering.

More than one glass/plate/knife/teaspoon per bedspace so if 4 bedspaces then at least 8 of each item.

Good quality towels and bedding.
Basic washing up equipment and dishwasher tablets etc.
Dining/comfy seating appropriate for number of beds.
Not endless rules listed out!

Make sure that both sides of the big bed have spare sockets for charging a mobile

Or in our case a CPAP machine.

DH always has to take a long extension lead with him every time we travel.

Another vote for big cups and glasses.
Hand soap, bin bags, washing up stuff - all a pain to buy for just a week.
Milk, tea, coffee and ideally some biscuits or similar
Oil and salt and pepper
Hand towels and tea towels
Hangers (not those awful ones like hotels that are fixed in the cupboard)
Clothes airer
Sharp knives, just one or two really good ones
Blankets for the sofas (for colder locations)

Knife sharpener

I absolutely agree with @Fusedspur communication is incredibly important. My house is large and all 5 star reviews, and I’m sure, other than it being super clean and pretty much fulfilling every requirement on here, it’s communication that is key. I message guests as soon as the booking comes in, letting them know they will receive details, directions etc a few days before the holiday. I also give them my phone number so if the have any questions they can get in touch directly.

Where there have been issues guests have let me know privately after their stay rather than putting it in a review. I also have a “housekeeping book” for guests to mention if they’ve broken anything or if something isn’t working properly - this seems to help dissipate dissatisfaction.

I never ask guests to clean - just set the dishwasher off on a certain programme (a 2 rather than 4.5 hour one) and leave the keys.

I love these threads as I used to have an air bnb but they are so contradictory as not everyone wants the same thing. Leave milk / don’t. Travel cots but don’t leave to clutter up the place. Essentially I would say know your market and cater to them.

The most important thing people want is cleanliness. Followed by good beds with price appropriate linen. Enough crockery, glasses, cutlery etc. I always included cleaning essentials spray cleaner kitchen roll, microfibre cloths, tea towels, dishwasher tabs, washing pods and toilet paper. I refilled a salad set with oil, balsamic, salt and pepper but didn’t provide other food,

We prefer good beds, good lamps, good WiFi, enough sockets, enough cutlery, enough cups. A nice and clean place.

Check in at 3pm check out at 11am. Not neing ask to clean at lot/do beds.

= a lower price than paying for wine, shampoo, milk and all sorts of fuss.

A lot of B&Bs are too expensive for what it is but if people want it to be a mini hotels it explains a lot.

Oil, salt and pepper