HOW TO ELEVATE YOUR AIRBNB RENTAL AND GET MORE GUESTS

I have done some traveling in my life, and I love the experience and inspirations that are brought back with me. Recently I prefer to choose Airbnb over a standard hotel option for a couple of reasons that you may agree with: it feels like home when you are abroad; and I am obsessed with discovering how people design their homes (or sometimes their investments slash homes).

For my friends who rent their homes already or who are thinking of doing it, I have listed 10 thoughtful tricks to elevate the experience of their guests’ stay. These are not interior design tricks, although they are important as well. For my friends who are looking to make improvements or know someone who are, you can always contact me in person.

Photo Credit @misssinterpreted

1) White sheets, comfortable pillows  and a duvet cover. It is a common sense to show that the sheets were washed. I know a lot of places use synthetic fibers, but natural sateen or cotton feel a whole lot better! And please wash the duvet covers.

2) White towels and a robe. I actually love waffle towels. It is easier to clean them thus better for the environment, and they dry faster. If you would like to take it a step further, offer a couple of bath robes to your guests. Do not forget about a foot towel. For myself, I’d prefer it over a bathroom mat. I have to confess, I am a bit of a germaphobe… So I ask myself how many times if any a bathroom rug has been washed before my stay. Does anyone else think the same?

3) Soap, shampoo and shower gel dispensers. It shows you care if you can offer some bath products to your guest. I feel like doing it in a triple chamber dispenser is very neat. Don’t forget to inform your guests what products you use: Brand, Ingredients etc.. It breaks my heart how much waste individually packaged products contribute to, and the standard package does not look as immaculate. You can also add cotton swabs, cotton pads etc.

4) Shoe policy. I actually have a shoe policy in my house, and I know not all cultures are accustomed to that. Knowing that the previous guests were asked to follow the same rules, will make me more comfortable to walk bare feet, and your place will stay cleaner.

5) New dish soap sponge for each new guest. I would recommend a recycled scoring pad. It just feels so unpleasant to touch a saturated sponge from the previous guest. Besides, you do not know if this sponge was used only for dishes or something else.

Photo Credit to @haticehuma

6) Pantry basics: Good quality Coffee, Tea, Sugar, Olive Oil and Sea-salt. For coffee, please go one step above the standard drip coffee machine or Keureg. A lot of you might disagree with me, but apart from how much plastic waste Keureg creates, it also tastes like plastic. I can go on and on about the taste, so I will just stop. I love such options as the classic Bialetti Moca pot for a gas stove or a pour over coffee makers such as Hario or Chemex.

7) A welcoming bottle of wine and a special treat from your region. It feels like someone really waited for you and knew that the road might have been long and tiring.

8) Drinking water. Update your guests if it is safe to drink tap water or if you have a filtered water dispenser installed. Being a bit of an environmentalist, I would prefer one of these options. If not possible, provide a bigger size bottle since a small bottle is more of a waste.

9) List of suggestions of your favorite places for coffee, drinks and food, as well as grocery shops in the nearest proximity. I stayed in one place where the host was a graphic designer. He created such a useful map of local places he himself goes often to.

10) Spotless clean and NO harsh chemical smell! This is by far the most important thing. Who would not like a clean place. Also be mindful of harsh smells or strong fragrance of cleaning supplies. They are overused and overpowering! They are harmful in the first place for our health, but they also tarnish the enjoyment of the stay. I have also observed that the level of cleanliness depends on the country of visit. And I generally notice (and I might be totally biased) that the places in Europe are generally cleaner.

I hope you enjoyed reading these food for thought ideas, and I’d love to hear your comments. Perhaps, it is good to pause for now and reflect on your life journey in pictures.